By leo Knight Msc.,
Bsc, Graduate member105H
Health, Safety and Environment Professional- Petrotrin

It is globally accepted that work forms an important aspect in the quality of our lives. In spite of the tremendous benefits associated with work, an unfavorable environment can adversely impact on the social, emotional and physiological well-being of individuals. This is of major concern when one considers the data in the work of the European Agency on Health and Safety at Work (2007). The study revealed the prevalence of increased work pace, more high-skilled jobs coupled with the introduction of new communication technology, which have added to the present dilemma.

Research examining the relationship between work-stress and employee well-being has documented empirical evidence of the damage stress can induce on the health of both employees and organisations. although a significant amount of research is added yearly to the scientific database, the concept of work-related stress continues to be a evasive phenomenon in many organisations. Bodies like the World Health Organisation and Canada Statistics have provided realistic confirmation that represents a Clear and present danger to our human resource. in Canada alone, 30.8% of employees confirm that most of their working days considerably or extremely stressful(Canada Statistics, 2003).

By Kizzy Alfred

Trinidad and Tobago are the two most southerly islands in the Caribbean. The republic lies just northeast and 19 kilometres from the South American country – Venezuela (TT Connect, 2013). Trinidad was once part of the South American mainland (Central Statistical Office, 2013) and it is situated on that continental shelf (TT Connect, 2013). Consequently, Trinidad and Tobago has similar climate, flora and fauna to that of Venezuela (Central Statistical Office, 2013), and has a high species diversity to surface area ratio for its size, which makes it unique to the Caribbean (Convention of Biological Diversity, 2002). Coupled with the fact that Trinidad and Tobago is a signatory to the Rio Convention in 1992 and Rio +20 in 2012, serious emphasis should be placed on protecting our environment.

One logical approach to protecting the environment is through legislation – by passing, implementing and enforcing laws that safeguard this precious commodity. Environmental laws have been implemented in many countries with great effect (European Environmental Agency, 1998). Health and Safety Executive (2013) states that “risk assessment is simply a careful examination of what, in your work, could cause harm to people, so that you can weigh up whether you have taken enough precautions or should do more to prevent harm.” Risk assessment and management has been used for many years in other disciplines such as health but have more recently been introduced to the environmental field (European Environmental Agency, 1998). The United Kingdom’s Environmental Protection Act 1990 describes the environment as consisting of “all, or any, of the following media, namely the air, water and land” (Legislation.gov.uk 2013). According to the Royal Society of Chemistry (2008), environmental risk assessment “covers the risk to all ecosystems, including humans, exposed via, or impacted via, these media. The term environmental risk assessment does not normally cover the risks to individuals or the general public from consumer products or from exposure in the work place, where other specific legislation applies.” This research paper thus, would highlight and critically assess the provisions for environmental risk assessment to deal with hazards in Trinidad and Tobago.

A Literature Review

By Leo Knights MSc., BSc., Graduate Member IOSH Health,
Safety and Environment Professional - Petrotrin

Preserving the health of workers has proven to be a worldwide challenge in the work environment. The World Health Organisation, in establishing its global mandate, has determined that the philosophy of occupational health is to seek, promote and maintain the highest quality of physical, mental and social well-being amongst workers in all occupations (International labour Organisation, 2000).

Collective initiative on a global scale, though the implementation of Health and Safety Legislations, Codes of Practice and Approved Standards, have all led to improvements in the area of Industrial Hygiene. Regardless of these notable successes, workers employed in high-risk occupations are yet vulnerable to varied occupational diseases, which certainly continue to engage the interest of the scientific community.

Stored within the annals of scientific literature are many studies that have attempted to provide a true interpretation regarding the toxicological and epidemiological effects associated with the discernible myriad of air pollutants. Many issues relating to the synergistic characteristics of some chemicals; the extent to which increased pulmonary ventilation impacts on dose- response relationship and, the factors which influence the migration of chemicals across the blood gas barrier, have remained unresolved.

The wide cross section of empirical studies examined in this literature review, will be critically evaluated with a view to ascertain whether there is possible correlation between exposure to air pollutants and human pathology.

By John Hart BSc (Hons., UK)
Occupational Consultant
IHMAS Industrial hygiene Systems and Services

Occupational Hygiene (or Industrial Hygiene, as it is called in some countries) has been defined as “the Science of Anticipating, Recognizing, Evaluating, and Controlling workplace conditions that may cause workers injuries or illnesses.” (The Occupational Safety and Health Administration, U.S.A.) Some definitions refer to this field as both “art and a science”, acknowledging the additional skills needed for the successful practice of this profession.

By Dr. Deryck D. Pattron
Public Health Educator and Consultant

Albert Skair
Chair/Head of the Department of Public Health and Safety,
COSTAATT

Health Education is education for health that equips the individual with necessary knowledge that influences behavioural and attitude changes and reduces, prevents or controls the incidence and prevalence of diseases. Health educators use a wide range of methodologies to bring about healthy behavioural changes. Some of these methodologies include theories and principles derived from psychology, sociology and cultural anthropology. The health educator is a specialist as distinct from the generalist and performs a range of functions. The purpose of the paper is to determine the role and functions of health Educators, with particular reference to the required needs and implications for Health educators in Trinidad and Tobago and the Caribbean Region.

By Eric Kipps

Does safety and health management improve a company's bottom line? This question is most frequently asked by business owners and executives. The answer is a resounding "YES", although benefits may be somewhat hard to quantify. In addition to outright savings on worker's compensation benefit claims, civil liability, and litigation expenses, having a solid safety and health management program with senior management commitment will improve productivity and employee morale. It can also make the difference between winning and losing tenders and even government contracts.

Within recent times in Trinidad and Tobago there have been a number of initiatives by member organisations in the energy and industrial sectors aimed at increasing the levels of safety and health compliance among contractors. This will ultimately enhance their ability to win contracts in the energy sector.

By Kelli Danglad
Senior Environmental Specialist
Green Engineering

Contaminated land can be defined as land that contains (hazardous) substances in, on or under the land, which has the potential to cause harm to human beings, property, wildlife and surface and/or ground water. Whether or not a site poses a risk to receptors is determined by the presence of a pollutant linkage (source-pathway-receptor). Based on this description it is estimated that there are over 300 contaminated land sites in Trinidad alone.

Ms. Kandiss Edwards is passionate about Spanish. As a result, she has spent almost half of her life studying the language. This passion has resulted in her attaining a BA Degree in Spanish with Lingustics from the University of West Indies. As a secondary school teacher, on a daily basis she shares her passion with students and hopes that they would embrace the language just as she did.

Ms. Edwards has a deep interest in Occupational Health and Safety and Environmental issues. Knowing that man is limited in their capacity to care for the environment even being unable to address or even remedy all environmental issues, she applauds the work of those who seek to protect the environment.

Serving as an editor for the HSE Quarterly has certainly satisfied her hunger in the search for knowledge in environmental, occupational safety and health, not just in Trinidad and Tobago, but the Caribbean and by extension the wider world.

Dr. Anthony J. Joseph was born in Baratria and spent his formative years attending Barataria Boys' RC and St. Georges College in addition to partaking in several groups and sporting activities. He completed tertiary education at the University of the West Indies (UWI) earning a B.Sc. in Environmental Physics, Physics and Mathematics, and a Ph.D. in Civil Engineering, 1985. He also pursued a M.Sc. in Environmental Pollution Control at the University of Leeds in 1979; and a M.S. in Safety Sciences at Indiana University of Pennsylvania in 1993.

Dr. Joseph has provided technical support and advice on issues related to environmental, occupational safety and health, emergency and disaster management to governments and businesses both nationally and internationally such as Grenada, Angola, South Africa, Zimbabwe and India, for over twenty-five years. He has served on Committees, Delegations and Boards for National, State and Local bodies. Dr. Joseph has spent the past thirty years providing academic leadership, insights and mentorship to students, Tertiary Educational Institutions, and Non-Governmental Organizations, and achieved professorship in 2001.

He is an acclaimed author of over fifty publications including textbooks, book chapters, technical reports and peered reviewed several articles. Dr. Joseph has been a member and chaired several committees and professional organizations, such Critical Infrastructure Protection, USA; Safe Community, Canada; Fellow - National Safety Council, and Member - Association of Professional Engineers of TT.

Promoting injuries and illnesses prevention and protecting the environment is his professional and personal focus, which started in 1981 when he pioneered the formation of the National Safety Council of Trinidad and Tobago and subsequently developed university programs in Environmental, Safety and Health at UWI Trinidad, Pennsylvania USA, Connecticut USA, and UTT Trinidad.

Editor-in-Chief

Ms Smith is the Administrative Director of Jaric Group of companies and Editor-in-Chief of the HSE Quarterly. An Environmental consultant and experienced Safety, Tourism and Green Globe auditor with over 8 years of extensive experience in the implementation of standards, auditing and training.

Janice is the holder of a Master of Science Degree in Environmental Science and Management from the University of the West Indies, a Bachelor of Science Degree in Chemistry, is a Stat-a-Matrix Certified ISO 14001 Environmental Management System Lead Auditor, an internationally registered RABQSA Registered ISO 14001 EMS Auditor -E052836, a Green Globe 21 Assessor - 275 and a Hospitality Assured Auditor.

Extensive experience has been gained by reviewing and auditing systems in the oil and gas, machine shop operations, engineering design, janitorial, construction, service, and tourism sectors.

One for detail Janice brings to the magazine her administrative skills and the keen eyes of an experienced auditor.