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Estimated Risk of Occupational Fatalities Associated with Hazardous Waste Site Remediation

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  • Alan F. Hoskin
  • J. Paul Leigh
  • Thomas W. Planek

Abstract

This study presents a method to assess short term traumatic fatality risks for workers involved in hazardous waste site remediation to provide a quantitative, rather than qualitative, basis for evaluating occupational exposures in remediation feasibility studies. Occupational employment and fatality data for the years 1979–1981 and 1983 were compiled from Bureau of Labor Statistics data for 11 states. These data were analyzed for 17 occupations associated with three common remediation alternatives: excavation and landfill, capping, and capping plus slurry wall. The two occupations with the highest death rates, truck driver and laborer, contributed most to total exposure hours in each alternative. Weighted average death rates were produced for each alternative and multiplied by respective total person‐years of exposure. The resultant expected number of fatalities was converted, using the Poisson distribution, to the risk of experiencing at least one fatality, as follows: 0.149 for excavation and landfill, 0.012 for capping, and 0.014 for capping plus slurry wall. These risks were discussed in light of the need to obtain more reliable and comprehensive data than are currently available on the occupational safety and health risks associated with hazardous waste site remediation and the need for a more scientific, quantitative approach to remediation decisions involving risks to workers.

Suggested Citation

  • Alan F. Hoskin & J. Paul Leigh & Thomas W. Planek, 1994. "Estimated Risk of Occupational Fatalities Associated with Hazardous Waste Site Remediation," Risk Analysis, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 14(6), pages 1011-1017, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:wly:riskan:v:14:y:1994:i:6:p:1011-1017
    DOI: 10.1111/j.1539-6924.1994.tb00070.x
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Curtis C. Travis & Sheri T. Hester, 1990. "Background Exposure to Chemicals: What Is the Risk?," Risk Analysis, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 10(4), pages 463-466, December.
    2. Stout, N. & Bell, C., 1991. "Effectiveness of source documents for identifying fatal occupational injuries: A synthesis of studies," American Journal of Public Health, American Public Health Association, vol. 81(6), pages 725-728.
    3. William S. Pease, 1992. "The Role of Cancer Risk in the Regulation of Industrial Pollution," Risk Analysis, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 12(2), pages 253-265, June.
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    Cited by:

    1. Michael Gochfeld, 2004. "Risk‐Risk Balancing for Hazardous Waste Workers: Alternative Work, Traffic Fatalities, and Unemployment," Risk Analysis, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 24(2), pages 347-348, April.
    2. Joshua T. Cohen & Barbara D. Beck & Ruthann Rudel, 1997. "Life Years Lost at Hazardous Waste Sites: Remediation Worker Fatalities vs. Cancer Deaths to Nearby Residents," Risk Analysis, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 17(4), pages 419-425, August.

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