Health and safety executive inspection of U.K. semiconductor manufacturers.
Europe plays a major role in the international semiconductor industry, but has conducted few studies of the occupational health of its workers. An exception is in the United Kingdom, where, in two small studies, the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) evaluated some health effects of semiconductor work. Neither of these studies, largely restricted to Scotland, produced definitive results, and both were misused by industry to assert that they demonstrated no adverse health effect on workers. The results of the studies prompted semiconductor industry inspections recently completed by the HSE that included chip manufacturers in Scotland and other U.K. areas. The results of these inspections are disappointing.
Watterson
Andrew
A
Occupational, Environmental and Health Research Group, RG Bomont Building (R3T11), University of Stirling, Stirling, Scotland FK9 4LA. aew1@stir.ac.uk
LaDou
Joseph
J
D000022:Abortion, Spontaneous; D001932:Brain Neoplasms / Q000401:mortality; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000401:mortality; D004784:Environmental Monitoring / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D062665:Epidemiological Monitoring; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007221:Industry / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000401:mortality; D008297:Male; D016273:Occupational Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000517:prevention & control; D016272:Occupational Health / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D009786:Occupational Health Services / Q000458:organization & administration*; D009787:Occupational Medicine; D011247:Pregnancy; D012606:Scotland / Q000453:epidemiology; D012666:Semiconductors / Q000009:adverse effects*