Economic Sustainability in Industries Using Chemicals in Zhejiang Province, China

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The most common chemical hazards in industries in the Zhejiang Province in PR China are lead, benzine, hydrogen sulfide and dimethylformamide. Information from the Health Bureau of Zhejiang Province, the Zhejiang Institute of Chemical Industry, the Zhejiang Provincial Center for Disease Control and Prevention and the Bureau of Worksafe Supervision and Administration Government of Zhejiang Province P.R. China have identified that accidents and resultant ill health from exposure to these substances are the top occupational health and safety issues as well as causes of economic loss for the local industries, community and the government in the Zhejiang Province. Research is currently being conducted to identify ways to improve the economic sustainability of industries that use these substances and to enhance the occupational health of the people who work in the workplaces where these chemicals are used. This research based paper describes the survey work that is being conducted to identify the causes of economic loss and employee ill health, potential solutions to minimize this from occurring and ways to improve occupational health and safety, business profits and sustainability for industries in China that use these substances.

Stream: Economic Sustainability

Paper: A paper has not yet been submitted.

Dr. Le Jian is a Research Fellow at School of Public Health and a Consultant of the World Health Organisation Collaboration Centre for Environmental Health Impact Assessment at Curtin University of Technology. Her current work involves identification and assessment of air pollutants exposure and their impacts on employees’ health. Jian has been in academia for over 20 years (Australia and China) as a senior researcher and lecturer conducting research and teaching occupational health and medicine. Dr Jian’s unique research on chemical hazards has gained international recognition. She was nominated and selected by top scientists in China in the area as a member of several national professional committees including the Chinese National Environmental & Biological Monitoring Committee and Chinese National Free Radical Occupational Medicine Committee.

Professor GengDong Yao gained his Master degree in occupational health area at Zhejiang Medical University in 1983. His expertise is in electromagnetic field and its impact on occupational health. He has gained 9 research grants in different capacities and has 48 peer-reviewed publications and 2 monographs as the chief editor. He is the recipient of 7 awards for the contribution in advanced science and technology from the Ministry of Health of the People’s Republic of China or the Zhejiang Province.

Dr Jansz is a Senior Lecturer in Occupational Health & Safety / Environmental Health at Curtin University of Technology. She has an Adjunct Senior Lecture appointment in the School of Communications & Arts at Edith Cowan University and is the Director of the International Labour Organisation (ILO) Collaboration Research Centre for Western Australia. Janis is a Fellow of the Safety Institute of Australia, Director of World Safety Organisation National Office for Australia and an Accreditation Evaluator for Occupational Safety, Health & Environmental Programs for Australia & South East Asia for the World Safety Organisation Examination Centre. Janis has supervised to completion over 100 student research studies and worked both in Australia and internationally conducting research and teaching occupational safety and health. She has written over 100 research-based articles, book chapters and units of study related to occupational safety and health and been an invited speaker at 37 international and national conferences. Janis has been presented with Awards for excellence in research leadership, supervision and support, educational awards and has been awarded Membership of the Safety Institute of Australia College of Fellows.