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Chemical Technology • November/December 2016
A
s chemicals are everywhere, including in our work-
places, it is necessary to ensure that each chemical
product comes to market only after it has been prop-
erly identified, an assessment of any possible hazardous
properties has been carried out and safe-handling methods
have been developed to manage risks. Chemicals can be
released at every stage of their life cycle, from production
or importation and processing, through manufacturing and
use, to disposal. At all stages, this may lead to exposure
of workers and the general population and pollution. It
makes sense that an integrated approach be taken to
assess and manage these risks rather than isolated mea-
sures, as some of these risks may have a global impact.
Here we look at some of the challenges that lie ahead.
Global initiatives on the sound
management of chemicals
The International Labour Organization (ILO) constituents
have participated for many decades in the development
of international policies and commitments on the sound
management of chemicals. These efforts have led to the
birth of Multilateral Environmental Agreements (MEAs),
which include the ILO Chemicals Convention, 1990
(No. 170), the Basel Convention on the Control of Trans-
boundary Movements of Hazardous Wastes and their
Disposal, and the Stockholm Convention on Persistent
Organic Pollutants.
However, one disadvantage of these Conventions is that,
with the exception of ILO Convention No. 170, MEAs are
designed to protect one particular mediumwithout address-
ing others, which leads to inconsistencies. A recent report
from the Center for International Environmental Law (CIEL)
advocates the promotion of synergy across multilateral en-
vironmental agreements (MEAs), with a lifecycle approach
to the sound management of chemicals.
In addition, following the resolution concerning the har-
monisation of systems of classification and labelling for the
use of hazardous chemicals at work, adopted by the ILO in
1989, the issue was taken up at the United Nations Confer-
ence on Environment and Development (UNCED), held in
Rio de Janeiro in 1992 (also known as the Earth Summit).
Subsequent work was coordinated and The Strategic Ap-
proach to International Chemicals Management (SAICM)
was developed as a voluntary mechanism to fill the gaps
not covered by MEAs.
Established by the ICCM in 2006, the SAICM was con-
ceived as a policy framework to guide efforts to achieve the
goal set out in the Johannesburg Plan of Implementation
of the World Summit on Sustainable Development that, by
2020, chemicals would be produced and used in ways that
Initiatives in the management of chemicals
in the chemical industry
Chemicals are an integral part of our natural and urban environments. Their
contribution to society is invaluable, but unless we manage them well they can
cause harm to humans and the environment.
HEALTHY AND SAFETY