ABSTRACT
Investigation into the frequency of compensation for occupational diseases (ODs) caused by hazardous chemicals revealed an important opportunity for the improvement and further development of occupational health and safety systems in Korea. In response to concerns after outbreaks of disease due to chemical exposure, specific criteria for recognition of ODs were established and included in the Enforcement Decree of the Labor Standard Act (LSA) and the Industrial Accident Compensation Insurance Act (IACIA) on June 28, 2013. However, the original versions of the LSA and IACIA contain several limitations. First, the criteria was listed inconsistently according to the symptoms or signs of acute poisoning. Second, all newly recognized hazardous chemicals and chemicals recognized as hazardous by the International Labor Organization (ILO) were not included in the LSA and IACIA. Although recent amendments have addressed these shortcomings, future amendments should strive to include all chemicals listed by the ILO and continuously add newly discovered hazardous chemicals as they are introduced into the workplace.
Subject(s)
Adolescent , Female , Humans , Burns, Chemical/economics , Metals, Heavy/economics , Occupational Diseases/chemically induced , Occupational Exposure/adverse effects , Poisoning/economics , Republic of Korea , Workers' Compensation/economicsABSTRACT
Procurou-se obter uma primeira estimativa do impacto econômico das lesöes e envenenamentos no Brasil, medido através dos gastos hopitalares com internaçäo - dias de permanência geral e em Unidades de Terapia Intensiva. Säo analisadas internaçöes em hospitais conveniados com o Sistema Unico de Saúde, através das AIH - Autorizaçäo de Internaçäo Hospitalar, sendo verificado que essas internaçöes geram um gasto anual, correspondendo a, aproximadamente, 0,07 do Produto Interno Bruto do País. Com relaçäo à mortalidade, o impacto econômico foi analisado por meio do indicador Anos Potenciais de Vida Perdidos. Os acidentes e violências representaram cerca de 2,6 milhöes de anos de vida perdidos, em 1981, e 3,4 milhöes, em 1991. O aumento verificado foi cerca de 30 por cento, enquanto que para o conjunto de dados os óbitos apresentaram-se em queda. Apesar de algumas limitaçöes, é possível estimar a dimensäo geral do impacto econômico das causas externas. Espera-se que essas limitaçöes sirvam de estímulo a novas investigaçöes e aprofundamentos.