Browse > Article
http://dx.doi.org/10.5668/JEHS.2017.43.5.431

Economic Analysis of Providing Personal Protective Equipment for Residents near Chemical Plants  

Han, Don-Hee (Department of Occupational Health and Safety Engineering, Inje University)
Chang, Young-Jae (Department of Management, Inje University)
Park, Min Soo (Department of Occupational Health and Safety Engineering, Inje University)
Publication Information
Journal of Environmental Health Sciences / v.43, no.5, 2017 , pp. 431-437 More about this Journal
Abstract
Objectives: To protect the health and safety of residents during chemical accidents, the governmental authorities need to provide personal protective equipment (PPE) to citizens who desire it. This study aims to investigate residents'awareness of PPE and perform an economic analysis on providing PPE to residents near chemical plants prior to the establishment of a related law. Methods: This study was carried out through a questionnaire completed by 600 residents composed of items such as residents'awareness of PPE, what type of PPE they need, and how to purchase PPE. Economic analysis (cost-benefit analysis) was conducted on providing PPE to residents near chemical plants on basis of the Gumi City hydrogen fluoride accident of 2012. Results: The results of the questionnaire showed that most residents recognized the need for PPE preparedness for chemical accidents, in particular, for respirators. The level of expense that respondents were prepared to shoulder to share the burden was $25. Except for chemicals of hazard level 2, the benefit of all kinds of chemical accident preparedness considerably exceeded costs in the cost-benefit analysis on providing PPE. An estimated government budget of $20 million per year would be required to provide PPE (hood-type mask) for all residents within a one-kilometer radius of chemical plants in Korea, but only $5.8 million when residents share the expenses. Conclusion: The results of this study suggest that programs for providing PPE for residents near chemical plants should be established by law.
Keywords
Personal protective equipment (PPE); chemical accident; cost-benefit analysis; chemical plant; resident;
Citations & Related Records
Times Cited By KSCI : 2  (Citation Analysis)
연도 인용수 순위
1 The Korean Ministry of Employment and Labor (KMEL). Industrial accident statistics, 2017.
2 Korea Environment Institute. A study on the Improvement of Environmental Impact Assessment of Industrial Complex Based on Risk Assessment of Chemical Leakage Accidents, 2013.
3 The Korean Ministry of Environment. Chemicals Control Act, 2015.
4 Gumi City. Hydrofluoric Acid, Change of Gumi City. 2013.
5 United States Environmental Protection Agency (US EPA), Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-know Act, 2012.
6 European Committee for Standardization (EN). Commission Staff Working Paper: Risk Assessment and Mapping Guidelines for Disaster Management, Brussels, Belgium, 2010.
7 National Institute of Environmental Research (NIER). Key Info Guide. 2012.
8 Reid RC, Prausnitz JM, Sherwood TK. The properties of gases and liquids, 3rd ed.North Miami Beach: McGraw-Hill; 1997: 184.
9 Don-Hee Han, Sang-Tae Chung, Jong-il Kim, Yong-Sung Cho, Chung-Soo Lee. A Study on Selecting Personal Protective Equipment for Listed Hazardous Chemicals(1): Analysis of Hazard Ranks and Workplace Exposure Risks. J Environ Health Sci. 2016; 42(6): 419-429.
10 Don-Hee Han, Sang-Tae Chung, Jong-il Kim, Yong-Sung Cho, Chung-Soo Lee. A Study on Selecting Personal Protective Equipment for Listed Hazardous Chemicals(2): Analysis Using an Exposure Risk Matrix. J Environ Health Sci. 2016; 42(6): 430-437.
11 The Report of Inspection of State Administration in South Korea. Survey of Number of Population Exposed to Hazardous Chemicals the Whole Country. 2016.