Knowledge of Chemical Workers on the Occupational Disease Prevention and Control Act of the People's Republic of China

Editor's Note

In this Case Study, Dr. Rongzhu and his colleagues have made an effort to ascertain how well Chinese workers understand the Occupational Disease Prevention and Control Act of the People's Republic of China, as well as their rights under that Act. In their Conclusion, Dr. Rongzhu and his colleagues suggest that a lack of knowledge of the Act may pose “… a barrier to reducing workplace illness and injuries.”

Given the fact that the Chinese legislation to protect worker health and safety has only been in effect since 2002, it is understandable that Chinese workers may not yet have a clear understanding of the scope and purpose of this Act. This leads to the obvious question: How well do American workers understand the scope and intent of the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Act and their rights to “… safe and healthful working conditions …” (PL 91-596, The Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970)?

Having just passed the 25th anniversary of the Occupational Safety and Health Act, it may be a useful time to ask ourselves, as stewards of the effort to make American workplaces safe and healthful: Do American workers have a clear knowledge of their rights and responsibilities under the Act, or, as Dr. Rongzhu and his colleagues suggest, does their lack of knowledge pose “… a barrier to reducing workplace illnesses and injuries”

Column Editor Lawrence F. Mazzuckelli

Notes

Column Editor Lawrence F. Mazzuckelli