Health and safety executive inspection of U.K. semiconductor manufacturers

Int J Occup Environ Health. 2003 Oct-Dec;9(4):392-5. doi: 10.1179/oeh.2003.9.4.392.

Abstract

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.

MeSH terms

  • Abortion, Spontaneous
  • Brain Neoplasms / mortality
  • Breast Neoplasms / mortality
  • Environmental Monitoring / legislation & jurisprudence*
  • Epidemiological Monitoring
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Industry / legislation & jurisprudence*
  • Lung Neoplasms / mortality
  • Male
  • Occupational Exposure / adverse effects*
  • Occupational Exposure / prevention & control
  • Occupational Health / legislation & jurisprudence*
  • Occupational Health Services / organization & administration*
  • Occupational Medicine
  • Pregnancy
  • Scotland / epidemiology
  • Semiconductors / adverse effects*