A participação social é um elemento essencial para que se possa garantir legitimidade e governabilidade no planejamento e implantação de políticas públicas. O presente trabalho teve como objetivo analisar a participação da população no processo de gerenciamento de riscos ambientais, e também avaliar se a percepção dos cidadãos pode contribuir para o diagnóstico da vulnerabilidade e riscos, e desta forma subsidiar a gestão do problema em nível local. O estudo foi realizado na bacia hidrográfica do rio Indaiá - Ubatuba, São Paulo Brasil, com área de 37,6 Km2, abrangendo os bairros do Perequê-açu, Barra Seca, Taquaral, Casanga e Sumidouro. Conforme o mapeamento realizado pelo Instituto Geológico do Estado de São Paulo (SÃO PAULO, 2006), esta bacia possui extensas áreas com riscos de inundações, escorregamentos de terra e queda de blocos. Para contextualizar a questão da participação social na gestão de riscos, foram analisados os instrumentos legais e políticas públicas em nível federal, estadual e municipal a partir da Constituição de 1988, tendo como foco principal a etapa de prevenção. O estudo da percepção ambiental teve como base teórica e conceitual as obras de Tuan (1983) e Del Rio e Oliveira (1996). Acompanhou-se também a tendência dos estudos da vulnerabilidade do lugar de Marandola Jr.; Hogan (2004a; 2004b; 2005). Para o levantamento das informações junto à população utilizou-se diversas metodologias. Na consulta junto à população foram aplicados 209 questionários, e realizadas entrevistas com educadores e lideranças locais. As atividades participantes incluíram a realização de um curso e de uma reunião comunitária sobre mapeamento e prevenção de riscos ambientais. Os resultados da análise da percepção dos participantes sobre elementos da vulnerabilidade e riscos foram representados cartograficamente e correlacionados com as informações do mapeamento técnico existente, sendo analisados seis casos específicos que demonstram problemas quanto à gestão de riscos. A falta de informações e orientações sobre a questão e o desconhecimento de grande parte dos entrevistados sobre os instrumentos de gestão e o mapeamento técnico existente, demonstram que a população local não participa do processo de gestão de riscos ambientais na área de estudo, comprovando-se a hipótese inicialmente formulada. Os recursos utilizados para coleta e espacialização dos dados se mostraram eficazes, propiciando o levantamento de informações relevantes sobre a vulnerabilidade, os perigos e riscos ambientais a partir do olhar da comunidade sobre o lugar. Estas informações podem subsidiar diretrizes e ações do poder público na prevenção de riscos ambientais. Recomenda-se a adoção de um processo participativo de gestão de riscos, com canais de diálogo e de educação aproximando a sociedade do Sistema de Proteção e Defesa Civil. / Social participation is an essential element that can ensure legitimacy and governance in the planning and implementation of public policies. This study aims to analyze the participation of the population in the process of environmental risk management, and evaluate the perception of the citizens can contribute to the diagnosis of vulnerability and risk, and thus support the management of the problem at the local scale. The study was conducted in the river basin Indaiá - Ubatuba, Sao Paulo - Brazil, with an area of 37.6 km2, covering the districts of Perequê-açu, Barra Seca, Taquaral Casanga and Sink. As the mapping done by the Geological Institute of the State of São Paulo (SAO PAULO, 2006), this basin has large areas at risk of flooding, landslides and land falling blocks. To contextualize the issue of social participation in risk management, the legal and public policy at the federal, state and municipal governments, were analyzed from the Constitution of 1988, focusing primarily on the prevention stage. The study of environmental perception was based on theoretical and conceptual works of Tuan (1983) and Del Rio and Oliveira (1996). It is also followed the trend of studies of the vulnerability of the place of Marandola Jr.; Hogan (2004a, 20 04b, 2005). For collecting the information on the population, 209 questionnaires and interviews were applied with educators and local leaders. The activities included the realization of a course and a community meeting on mapping and environmental risk prevention. The results of the analysis of the participants\' perceptions about aspects of vulnerability and risks were represented cartographically and correlated with technical information mapping existing, and six cases were analyzed that demonstrate specific issues regarding the management of risks. The lack of information and guidance on the issue and ignorance of most of the interviewees regarding the management tools and mapping existing technical, demonstrate that the local population does not participate in the process of environmental risk management in the study area, confirming the hypothesis initially formulated. The resources used for data collection and data mapping are efficient, providing a survey of relevant information about the vulnerability, hazards and environmental risks from the look of the community about the place. These informations can support policies and government actions to prevent environmental hazards. It is recommended the adoption of a participatory risk management, channels of dialogue and education society approaching Protection System and Civil Defense.

The management of clinical waste is of great importance due to its infectious and hazardous nature that can cause risks on environment and public health. The study was conducted to evaluate clinical waste management practices and to determine the amount of waste generated in five purposively selected healthcare facilities in Gaborone City Council. The surveyed healthcare facilities were of different size, specialization and category and included a referral hospital, two clinics and two health posts. To examine clinical waste management practices the study employed a range of methods including questionnaire survey which targeted 105 stratified randomly selected healthcare workers and ancillary staff, formal interviews with facility managers, field observations and literature reviews. Compliance with the Botswana Clinical Waste Management Code of Practice, 1996 and Waste Management Act, 1998 and other related documents were used as standards to assess clinical waste management practices. The waste management practices were analysed for a week in each healthcare facility to capture the daily management practices. The generated clinical waste was weighed to compute the generation rates and was followed through the various management practices to the final disposal. Findings of the study revealed that clinical waste generation rates were: 0.75kg/patient/day for Princess Marina Hospital and 0.1 - 0.3kg/patient/day for clinics and health posts. Numerous aspects of clinical waste management were found to comply with the expected rules and standards at Princess Marina Hospital, but the clinics and health posts had less appropriate practices. Clinical waste generated at Princess Marina Hospital is quantified in reliable records and dedicated Infectious Control Officers are responsible for monitoring the management of clinical waste. The study revealed that clinics and health posts do not quantify clinical waste and there are no officers responsible for monitoring clinical waste and there are no documents for monitoring the management of clinical waste. The main treatment method of clinical waste for the surveyed healthcare facilities is incineration and it is being done properly. The study established that at least 80% of healthcare workers and ancillary staff have been vaccinated against hepatitis B and have received training in clinical waste management. Recommendations are given with the aim of improving clinical waste management practices in Gaborone City Council healthcare facilities. / Environmental Management / M. Sc. (Environmental Management)

[pt] O gerenciamento de riscos é um dos tópicos de pesquisa mais atraentes dentro do campo da gestão da cadeia de suprimentos. Devido à crescente diversidade e à extensão das cadeias, as questões ambientais tornaram-se hoje um tópico de pesquisa desafiador dentro deste contexto. Além disso, os recentes escândalos ambientais trazem à tona a negligência acerca das questões ambientais por parte de grandes empresas. O presente estudo explora, portanto, a gestão de riscos ambientais na cadeia de suprimentos. Para isso, foi realizada, inicialmente, uma revisão sistemática da literatura a fim de identificar os riscos ambientais presentes nas cadeias de suprimentos de uma empresa, a reação dos stakeholders perante esses riscos, que se desdobram em consequências para as empresas, bem como as estratégias ambientais para mitigação dos riscos. São identificados quatorze riscos ambientais, três principais consequências e dezenove estratégias que se relacionam através de um framework proposto. Posteriormente, um múltiplo estudo de caso é conduzido em três empresas situadas no Brasil, com a finalidade de verificar a relação das variáveis identificadas na literatura com as realidades organizacionais. Constata-se que a maioria dos riscos e estratégias ambientais advindas da revisão da literatura é também observada nas empresas estudadas e, dentre as consequências, as mais citadas pelas organizações são perdas reputacionais e financeiras. A partir dos estudos de casos, é possível complementar e validar os estudos acadêmicos existentes, endossando, assim, a discussão sobre o gerenciamento de riscos ambientais na cadeia de suprimentos. / [en] Risk management in supply chains has emerged as one of the most attractive research topics in the supply chain management field. Due to increasing diversity and the growing size of supply chains, environmental issues have today become a challenging research topic in supply chain risk management. Besides that, the recent environmental accidents bring to light the neglect of environmental issues by large companies. Thus, the present study explores the environmental risk management in supply chains. For this, a systematic literature review is carried out in order to identify the environmental risks present in the supply chain of a company, the reaction of the stakeholders to these risks, which unfold as consequences for the companies, as well as the strategies for mitigating these risks. It is identified fourteen environmental risks, three main consequences and nineteen strategies that are related by a proposed framework. Subsequently, a multiple case study is conducted in three companies located in Brazil, with the purpose of verifying the relationship of the variables identified in the literature with the organizational realities. It is verified that most of the risks and environmental strategies coming from the academic literature are observed by the companies and, among the consequences, the most cited ones are related to the company s reputation and financial consequences. From the cases studies, it is possible to complement and validate the existing academic studies, in order to endorse the discussion about environmental risk management in the supply chain.

This dissertation addresses the complex challenge of communicating knowledge about environmental risks from toxic chemicals. Modern environmental risks are often invisible and technically complex, making the management of these risks highly dependent on data and information. Reliance on risk knowledge necessitates effective dissemination and communication by government agencies, yet the public's engagement with this information remains unclear due to limited real-world studies. This dissertation is comprised of three standalone papers bridging this gap. Each focuses on different aspects of risk knowledge communication using news dialogues as data sources. The first paper investigates the communication of location-specific risk information through a case study of the Radford Army Ammunition Plant (RAAP). Using content analysis and logistic regression, the study examines how scientific information about local environmental issues is presented in news articles and what factors influence its inclusion. Findings highlight the varying capacities among different stakeholder groups to access and utilize scientific information, underscoring the need for governmental and research support for less-resourced groups. The second paper explores chemical-specific risk knowledge, focusing on the environmental risks associated with per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). Employing a structural topic model (STM) and multinomial logistic regression, the study assesses the impact of the United States Environmental Protection Agency (US EPA)'s Draft Toxicity Assessment for GenX, one of the PFAS chemicals, on news topics. Results indicate that the influence of new risk knowledge on news topics varies depending on community context, with significant impacts observed when communities are ready for governmental action or legislation using the new assessment. The third paper examines the use of the US EPA's Toxics Release Inventory (TRI) database in news media. Through exploratory analysis, it reveals how different stakeholders use TRI data to make claims about environmental risks, highlighting that environmental organizations are primary users who often reconstruct TRI data to make it more relevant to the public. This suggests their potential role as intermediaries in risk knowledge communication. This dissertation provides empirical evidence of the limited news coverage of environmental risk knowledge, the dominance of government sources, and the significant role of intermediary groups. The findings suggest policy implications for government agencies and other organizations, highlighting the need to improve the conveyance and communication of risk knowledge. Recommendations include providing more contextual information and training for communities and intermediary groups on interpreting and utilizing risk data and information. These aim to bolster public comprehension and responsiveness to environmental risks, thereby protecting public safety and health. / Doctor of Philosophy / Toxic chemicals in our environment pose serious risks, but these dangers are often invisible and complex, making them hard to understand and manage without data and information about them. This dissertation explores how information about these risks is shared with the public through printed and online news coverage, aiming to enhance communication and our understanding of these environmental threats. This dissertation presents findings from three studies, each focusing on different types of risk information. The first looks at scientific information about local environmental risks at the Radford Army Ammunition Plant communicated in the news. It shows that not all groups have the same ability to access and use scientific data, and people tend to or feel compelled to bring up scientific information when they claim that risks exist, while the same level of scientific proof is not deemed necessary when denying the risks. The second study identifies topics in the news coverage of a specific chemical risk, per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) contamination across the United States. This study also reveals how the publication of a new risk assessment for GenX – one type of PFAS chemical that was found to be more harmful than previously thought – changes the topics covered in the news. It finds that the impact of the new risk assessment depends on the readiness of communities to engage with the information and take action. The third study examines how a broad database of toxic chemical releases – the United States Environmental Protection Agency's Toxics Release Inventory – is used by various groups speaking in the news. It finds that environmental organizations play a crucial role in making complex data understandable and relevant to the public. Overall, this dissertation highlights the challenges and importance of effectively sharing information about toxic chemicals. It suggests ways for government agencies and other organizations to improve how they communicate these risk data and information, such as providing more context and training for those who advocate or report on these issues. By doing so, we can help the public better understand and respond to environmental risks, ultimately protecting our health and the planet.

Les systèmes de gestion intégrée en environnement et en santé et sécurité du travail (SGI) sont un nouveau paradigme de gestion dans les organisations modernes. Ces systèmes sont construits à partir des normes ISO 14001 et d’OHSAS 18001, basées sur la prévention des risques et le principe de précaution. La littérature sur les SGI témoigne d’un marasme conceptuel prédominant depuis plus de 10 ans; elle insiste sur l’urgence d’un consensus taxinomique et conceptuel afin de définir les systèmes de gestion intégrée et de différencier le mécanisme d’intégration de celui de l’implantation. Cette lacune conceptuelle enlise les connaissances dans un fossé épistémologique, retardant ainsi le débat dans ce nouveau champ d’études. Les rares connaissances dont nous disposons dans ce domaine proviennent de quelques études théoriques et de six études empiriques, toutes préoccupées par la compatibilité des multiples systèmes et des avantages économiques de leur intégration. Les évidences engendrées par ces études sont insuffisantes pour appréhender la dynamique du nouveau paradigme dont les effets demeurent peu connus. Cette situation révèle l’urgence d’agir dans un contexte où l’utilisation des SGI se multiplie, et où leur tendance à minimiser l’importance des risques devient de plus en plus préoccupante. Aucune étude ne s’est encore penchée sur l’implantation d’un SGI en environnement et en santé et sécurité du travail construit uniquement à partir des normes ISO 14001 et d’OHSAS 18001. Cette connaissance est importante pour expliquer les effets de tels systèmes. C’est dans cette perspective que nous avons réalisé cette première étude empirique d’un SGI selon les normes ISO 14001 et d’OHSAS 18001. Nos questions de recherche portent sur le mode, le degré d’implantation, les effets du SGI, ainsi que sur les facteurs contextuels qui interviennent pour expliquer les variations dans le degré d’implantation et les effets du SGI. Il s’agit d’une recherche à prélèvement qualitatif qui repose sur un devis d’étude de cas, avec des niveaux d’analyse imbriqués, et comportant une double visée descriptive et explicative. Notre échantillon, de type raisonné, regroupait trente-cinq intervenants provenant de différentes instances hiérarchiques ; il incluait également des représentants syndicaux. Notre échantillon était composé de 7 usines, accréditées aux normes ISO 14001, OHSAS 18001, et dispersées dans différentes villes du Québec. Ces usines différaient tant par leur technologie, leur âge, leur taille, et leurs types de production. Nos données ont été recueillies en 2004; elles sont basées sur des entrevues semi dirigées, sur des observations directes lors de la visite des lieux; elles s’appuient aussi sur des consultations de documents internes et sur des outils électroniques implantés. La transcription des entrevues effectuée, le contenu des discours a été catégorisé selon les cinq dimensions du SGI: engagement, planification, mise en opération, contrôle et revue de la direction. Une condensation horizontale avait précédé l’analyse de chaque cas et l’analyse transversale des cas selon une approche à la fois inductive et déductive. Les résultats de notre recherche ont révélé deux modes d’implantation : le mode d’enrichissement et le mode de fusion. Ces modes dépendaient de la nature des structures fonctionnelles en place. La visée d’amélioration continue à la base du SGI n’avait pas réussi à concilier les approches traditionnelles bottom up et top down qui ont dominé cette implantation; son mécanisme était guidé par 4 types de stratégies : l’économie des ressources, le contrôle des forces d’influences, la stratégie des fruits faciles à cueillir et la stratégie à petits pas. Pour analyser le degré d’implantation, nous avons tenu compte de l’effort de structuration du SGI et de la force d’utilisation des processus implantés à chacune des cinq dimensions du SGI. Les résultats de notre recherche révèlent une variabilité certaine du degré d’implantation entre les usines d’une part, et entre les processus associés aux cinq dimensions du SGI d’autre part. L’analyse des discours a permis de produire cinq hypothèses qui soutiennent l’effort de structuration et la force d’utilisation du SGI: (i) l’hypothèse de la force de cohésion, (ii) l’hypothèse de la spécificité du processus, (iii) l’hypothèse de la portée du processus, (iv) l’hypothèse de la capacité organisationnelle, (v) l’hypothèse de l’acceptation du changement. L’implantation du SGI était soumise à l’influence de multiples facteurs; ils étaient de nature politique, structurelle et organisationnelle. Ces facteurs avaient agi sur le processus d’implantation en amorçant une cascade d’interactions au cours desquelles leurs forces d’influences se renforçaient, se neutralisaient ou s’additionnaient pour affecter le degré d’implantation. Les facteurs facilitant touchaient surtout l’effort de structuration ; ils incluaient : l’expérience des systèmes de gestion, l’implication de la direction, celle du syndicat ou du CSS, la structure organisationnelle, le niveau d’éducation, l’âge et la taille de l’usine. Quant aux facteurs contraignants, ils agissaient sur la force d’utilisation ; ils incluaient : la lourdeur procédurale, le manque de temps, le manque de formation, le manque de ressources, la culture organisationnelle, la structure organisationnelle, le fossé intergénérationnel, l’absence du syndicat et l’âge de l’usine. Trois effets proximaux escomptés par l’entreprise ont été observés. (i) La rigueur de la gestion était associée à l’application des exigences du SGI; elle touchait la gouvernance en environnement et en santé et sécurité du travail, les mécanismes de gestion et les procédés de production. (ii) La standardisation était reliée au mode d’implantation du SGI; elle concernait les pratiques, les outils, les méthodes de travail et l’organisation des ressources. (iii) La rupture des silos est un effet relié au mode d’implantation du SGI; elle touchait les structures départementales, les frontières professionnelles, les relations et climat de travail. Ces effets proximaux avaient provoqué plusieurs effets émergents, plus distaux: une augmentation du pouvoir de contrôle syndical, un renforcement de la légitimité des recommandations soumises par les spécialistes professionnels, la création de réseaux inter organisationnels et le transfert du savoir. L’implantation du SGI avait transformé la gouvernance et les pratiques en environnement et en santé et sécurité du travail dans les sept usines. Toutefois, elle ne semblait pas garantir l’immunité du processus de gestion des risques à l’environnement ni à la santé et sécurité du travail. Sa capacité à diluer les risques devait retenir l’attention des politiques de santé publiques et des programmes de prévention des risques à l’environnement et à la santé et sécurité du travail. L’amélioration de la gestion des risques demeurait un effet attendu non observé et soumis à des facteurs contextuels qui pourraient l’empêcher de se concrétiser. À cet égard, le transfert du savoir, renforcé par l’émergence des réseaux inter organisationnels, semblait offrir une avenue beaucoup plus prometteuse et accessible. C’est l’une des contributions de cette recherche. Elle a aussi (i) proposé une typologie des modes d’implantation et des effets du SGI (ii) préconisé une méthode détaillée d’une meilleure appréciation du degré d’implantation (iii) précisé le rôle des facteurs contextuels dans l’explication des variations du degré d’implantation et dans la production des effets, (iv) proposé des hypothèses sur la structuration et l’utilisation du SGI (v) offert une perspective plurielle et approfondie de la dynamique de l’implantation du SGI grâce à la variété de l’échantillon des répondants et des usines. Il s’agit de la première étude de terrain dans le domaine. À notre connaissance, aucune autre étude n’a eu de tels résultats. Mots Clés : ISO 14001, OHSAS 18001, gestion intégrée, environnement, santé et sécurité du travail, risques environnementaux, risques en santé et sécurité du travail, analyse d’implantation, degré d’implantation, SGI, transfert du savoir. / Integrated environmental, health and safety management systems (IMS) are a new management paradigm of modern organizations. These systems are built mainly from the ISO 14001 and OHSAS 18001 norms, which are based on risk prevention and the precautionary principles. For the past ten years, the literature on IMS has been governed by a conceptual stagnation, which is now begging for a taxonomic consensus in order to define IMS, clarify both integration and implementation processes, and to move beyond structures to address processes. As a result, the knowledge about IMS has been embroiled in an epistemological ditch, thus delaying debates in this emerging field of study. Scarce publications about IMS come from a few theoretical papers and six empirical investigations, all preoccupied by systems compatibility and the economic advantages of management systems integration. Evidence generated by these studies is not sufficient to apprehend the dynamics of the new paradigm, whose effects remain little known about until now. This situation is becoming alarming in a context where the use of integrated environmental health and safety management systems is increasing and where these IMS are raising concerns about their capacity to minimize risk in one domain or another. So far, no study has investigated the implementation of integrated environmental health and safety management systems built from ISO 14001 and OHSAS 18001 norms. Such knowledge is cardinal to help explain the effects of such IMS. It is in this perspective that we have undertaken this first empirical study of an IMS built from ISO 14001 and OHSAS 18001. Our research questions address the mode of implementation, the degree of implementation and the effects of the IMS, as well as the contextual factors whose influence on the implementation help explain the variations in the degree of implementation and the effects of the IMS. This qualitative inquiry uses a single case study with multiple levels of analysis. Our purposeful sample of thirty five participants was drawn from different levels of hierarchy, including union executives and representatives. Our purposeful sample of plants consisted of seven ISO 14001 and OHSAS 18001 certified plants located in different cities in Quebec, Canada. These plants differed by their technology, their age, their size and their types of production. Our data were collected in 2004 from semi-directed interviews, direct observation during site visits, and consultation of documentation and assessment of functionalities of implemented management tools. Interviews were transcribed verbatim and their content was categorized based on the five dimensions of the IMS: commitment policy, planning, deployment, control and management review. Horizontal condensation preceded within case and transversal analysis, using both inductive and deductive approaches. Our results indicate two implementation modes: the enrichment mode and the fusion mode, both related to the functional structures in place. Despite its aim of continuous improvement, the IMS was unable to reconcile the two traditional approaches of top down and bottom up, which have dominated this implementation which was supported by four strategies: economy of resources, control of influence, low hanging fruits and the small steps strategy. In order to analyze the degree of the IMS implementation, we have taken into consideration two aspects of the process: The effort of structuring the IMS and the scope of utilization of the implemented processes. Our results showed evidence of variation in the degree of IMS implementation; this variation was observed among the plants as well as among the processes implemented at each one of the five IMS steps. The analysis of discourses has allowed the production of five hypotheses that support IMS structuring and utilization (i) Cohesion forces hypothesis (ii) Process specificity hypothesis (iii) Scope of process hypothesis (iv) Organizational readiness hypothesis (v) Acceptance of change hypothesis. IMS implementation was influenced by political, structural and organizational factors. These factors have played their influence by catalyzing non -linear interactions, during which their influence could be neutralized, added or reinforced, hence generating variations in the degree of implementation. Facilitating factors have affected the effort of IMS structuring and included: experience working with management system, upper management commitment, implication of union or of health and safety committee representatives, organizational structure, level of education, plant age and plant size. Inhibiting factors have affected mainly the utilization of implemented processes. These factors included: procedural heaviness, lack of time, lack of training, lack of resource, organizational culture, organizational structure, intergeneration gap and lack of union implication. Three proximal effects anticipated by the organization under study were observed. (i) Increase in the rigor of management is an effect which was associated with the application of IMS requirements. It implied EHS governance, integrated management mechanisms and production processes (ii) Standardization is an effect which was associated rather with the implementation mode. It implied EHS practices, tools, work methods and organization of resources. (iii) Rupture of departmental silo is an effect associated with the mode of implementation. It involved organizational structures, professional boundaries and the working relations and climate. These proximal effects have induced several emerging effects, which were more distal. These were: increased control power of the union; increased legitimacy of recommendations by EHS professionals; creation of inter-organizational network and knowledge transfer. The implementation of an integrated management system in environment, occupational health and safety has transformed EHS governance and practice in all seven plants. However, this was not sufficient to grant immunity to EHS risk management processes. The potential of IMS to dilute risks should be of concern to public health policies, as well as to risk prevention programs on environment and on occupational health and safety. Improvement of EHS risk management was an expected effect but was not observed at the moment of our study. Several contextual factors may have intervened to alter its occurrence. To this regard, knowledge transfer, reinforced by the emergence of intra-organizational networks, seem to offer a very promising and affordable alternative. This is one of the contributions of our study research, which, in addition has (i) proposed a nomenclature to classify the modes of implementation and effects of IMS (ii) proposed a detailed method to appreciate the degree of implementation (iii) stated the roles played by contextual factors in explaining variations in the degree of IMS implementation and in the production of effects (iv) proposed a hypothesis on IMS structuring and utilization (v) through the diversity of our sample, offered a plural and sound perspective on the dynamics of IMS implementation. This is the first field study of this new paradigm. To our knowledge, no other study has produced such results. Keywords : ISO 14001, OHSAS 18001, integrated management system, IMS, environment, Occupational Health and Safety, environmental risks, occupational health and safety risks, implementation analysis, implementation level, knowledge transfer.

This thesis seeks to uncover women’s concerns about chemicals in the household, and, more specifically, in cleaning products. The research is based on semi-structured interviews with women who are primarily responsible for household cleaning and who consciously avoid conventional cleaning products. From a sociological standpoint, the topic remains unstudied. The women were critical of greenwashing and the institutions responsible for chemical regulation. Further, the women’s chemical-free lifestyle defied conventional definitions of activism. Sociological theories of risk are used to help understand women’s avoidance of chemicals. It was found that tenets of the precautionary principle were reflected in their reasoning for avoiding chemicals. Recent biomonitoring and body burden studies have influenced women’s knowledge of chemical risk and their decision to avoid them. The thesis demonstrates that risk-management, in this context, has become an individualized pursuit reflective of the neo-liberal ideology informing chemical regulation. / Canadian Institutes of Health Research

Les systèmes de gestion intégrée en environnement et en santé et sécurité du travail (SGI) sont un nouveau paradigme de gestion dans les organisations modernes. Ces systèmes sont construits à partir des normes ISO 14001 et d’OHSAS 18001, basées sur la prévention des risques et le principe de précaution. La littérature sur les SGI témoigne d’un marasme conceptuel prédominant depuis plus de 10 ans; elle insiste sur l’urgence d’un consensus taxinomique et conceptuel afin de définir les systèmes de gestion intégrée et de différencier le mécanisme d’intégration de celui de l’implantation. Cette lacune conceptuelle enlise les connaissances dans un fossé épistémologique, retardant ainsi le débat dans ce nouveau champ d’études. Les rares connaissances dont nous disposons dans ce domaine proviennent de quelques études théoriques et de six études empiriques, toutes préoccupées par la compatibilité des multiples systèmes et des avantages économiques de leur intégration. Les évidences engendrées par ces études sont insuffisantes pour appréhender la dynamique du nouveau paradigme dont les effets demeurent peu connus. Cette situation révèle l’urgence d’agir dans un contexte où l’utilisation des SGI se multiplie, et où leur tendance à minimiser l’importance des risques devient de plus en plus préoccupante. Aucune étude ne s’est encore penchée sur l’implantation d’un SGI en environnement et en santé et sécurité du travail construit uniquement à partir des normes ISO 14001 et d’OHSAS 18001. Cette connaissance est importante pour expliquer les effets de tels systèmes. C’est dans cette perspective que nous avons réalisé cette première étude empirique d’un SGI selon les normes ISO 14001 et d’OHSAS 18001. Nos questions de recherche portent sur le mode, le degré d’implantation, les effets du SGI, ainsi que sur les facteurs contextuels qui interviennent pour expliquer les variations dans le degré d’implantation et les effets du SGI. Il s’agit d’une recherche à prélèvement qualitatif qui repose sur un devis d’étude de cas, avec des niveaux d’analyse imbriqués, et comportant une double visée descriptive et explicative. Notre échantillon, de type raisonné, regroupait trente-cinq intervenants provenant de différentes instances hiérarchiques ; il incluait également des représentants syndicaux. Notre échantillon était composé de 7 usines, accréditées aux normes ISO 14001, OHSAS 18001, et dispersées dans différentes villes du Québec. Ces usines différaient tant par leur technologie, leur âge, leur taille, et leurs types de production. Nos données ont été recueillies en 2004; elles sont basées sur des entrevues semi dirigées, sur des observations directes lors de la visite des lieux; elles s’appuient aussi sur des consultations de documents internes et sur des outils électroniques implantés. La transcription des entrevues effectuée, le contenu des discours a été catégorisé selon les cinq dimensions du SGI: engagement, planification, mise en opération, contrôle et revue de la direction. Une condensation horizontale avait précédé l’analyse de chaque cas et l’analyse transversale des cas selon une approche à la fois inductive et déductive. Les résultats de notre recherche ont révélé deux modes d’implantation : le mode d’enrichissement et le mode de fusion. Ces modes dépendaient de la nature des structures fonctionnelles en place. La visée d’amélioration continue à la base du SGI n’avait pas réussi à concilier les approches traditionnelles bottom up et top down qui ont dominé cette implantation; son mécanisme était guidé par 4 types de stratégies : l’économie des ressources, le contrôle des forces d’influences, la stratégie des fruits faciles à cueillir et la stratégie à petits pas. Pour analyser le degré d’implantation, nous avons tenu compte de l’effort de structuration du SGI et de la force d’utilisation des processus implantés à chacune des cinq dimensions du SGI. Les résultats de notre recherche révèlent une variabilité certaine du degré d’implantation entre les usines d’une part, et entre les processus associés aux cinq dimensions du SGI d’autre part. L’analyse des discours a permis de produire cinq hypothèses qui soutiennent l’effort de structuration et la force d’utilisation du SGI: (i) l’hypothèse de la force de cohésion, (ii) l’hypothèse de la spécificité du processus, (iii) l’hypothèse de la portée du processus, (iv) l’hypothèse de la capacité organisationnelle, (v) l’hypothèse de l’acceptation du changement. L’implantation du SGI était soumise à l’influence de multiples facteurs; ils étaient de nature politique, structurelle et organisationnelle. Ces facteurs avaient agi sur le processus d’implantation en amorçant une cascade d’interactions au cours desquelles leurs forces d’influences se renforçaient, se neutralisaient ou s’additionnaient pour affecter le degré d’implantation. Les facteurs facilitant touchaient surtout l’effort de structuration ; ils incluaient : l’expérience des systèmes de gestion, l’implication de la direction, celle du syndicat ou du CSS, la structure organisationnelle, le niveau d’éducation, l’âge et la taille de l’usine. Quant aux facteurs contraignants, ils agissaient sur la force d’utilisation ; ils incluaient : la lourdeur procédurale, le manque de temps, le manque de formation, le manque de ressources, la culture organisationnelle, la structure organisationnelle, le fossé intergénérationnel, l’absence du syndicat et l’âge de l’usine. Trois effets proximaux escomptés par l’entreprise ont été observés. (i) La rigueur de la gestion était associée à l’application des exigences du SGI; elle touchait la gouvernance en environnement et en santé et sécurité du travail, les mécanismes de gestion et les procédés de production. (ii) La standardisation était reliée au mode d’implantation du SGI; elle concernait les pratiques, les outils, les méthodes de travail et l’organisation des ressources. (iii) La rupture des silos est un effet relié au mode d’implantation du SGI; elle touchait les structures départementales, les frontières professionnelles, les relations et climat de travail. Ces effets proximaux avaient provoqué plusieurs effets émergents, plus distaux: une augmentation du pouvoir de contrôle syndical, un renforcement de la légitimité des recommandations soumises par les spécialistes professionnels, la création de réseaux inter organisationnels et le transfert du savoir. L’implantation du SGI avait transformé la gouvernance et les pratiques en environnement et en santé et sécurité du travail dans les sept usines. Toutefois, elle ne semblait pas garantir l’immunité du processus de gestion des risques à l’environnement ni à la santé et sécurité du travail. Sa capacité à diluer les risques devait retenir l’attention des politiques de santé publiques et des programmes de prévention des risques à l’environnement et à la santé et sécurité du travail. L’amélioration de la gestion des risques demeurait un effet attendu non observé et soumis à des facteurs contextuels qui pourraient l’empêcher de se concrétiser. À cet égard, le transfert du savoir, renforcé par l’émergence des réseaux inter organisationnels, semblait offrir une avenue beaucoup plus prometteuse et accessible. C’est l’une des contributions de cette recherche. Elle a aussi (i) proposé une typologie des modes d’implantation et des effets du SGI (ii) préconisé une méthode détaillée d’une meilleure appréciation du degré d’implantation (iii) précisé le rôle des facteurs contextuels dans l’explication des variations du degré d’implantation et dans la production des effets, (iv) proposé des hypothèses sur la structuration et l’utilisation du SGI (v) offert une perspective plurielle et approfondie de la dynamique de l’implantation du SGI grâce à la variété de l’échantillon des répondants et des usines. Il s’agit de la première étude de terrain dans le domaine. À notre connaissance, aucune autre étude n’a eu de tels résultats. Mots Clés : ISO 14001, OHSAS 18001, gestion intégrée, environnement, santé et sécurité du travail, risques environnementaux, risques en santé et sécurité du travail, analyse d’implantation, degré d’implantation, SGI, transfert du savoir. / Integrated environmental, health and safety management systems (IMS) are a new management paradigm of modern organizations. These systems are built mainly from the ISO 14001 and OHSAS 18001 norms, which are based on risk prevention and the precautionary principles. For the past ten years, the literature on IMS has been governed by a conceptual stagnation, which is now begging for a taxonomic consensus in order to define IMS, clarify both integration and implementation processes, and to move beyond structures to address processes. As a result, the knowledge about IMS has been embroiled in an epistemological ditch, thus delaying debates in this emerging field of study. Scarce publications about IMS come from a few theoretical papers and six empirical investigations, all preoccupied by systems compatibility and the economic advantages of management systems integration. Evidence generated by these studies is not sufficient to apprehend the dynamics of the new paradigm, whose effects remain little known about until now. This situation is becoming alarming in a context where the use of integrated environmental health and safety management systems is increasing and where these IMS are raising concerns about their capacity to minimize risk in one domain or another. So far, no study has investigated the implementation of integrated environmental health and safety management systems built from ISO 14001 and OHSAS 18001 norms. Such knowledge is cardinal to help explain the effects of such IMS. It is in this perspective that we have undertaken this first empirical study of an IMS built from ISO 14001 and OHSAS 18001. Our research questions address the mode of implementation, the degree of implementation and the effects of the IMS, as well as the contextual factors whose influence on the implementation help explain the variations in the degree of implementation and the effects of the IMS. This qualitative inquiry uses a single case study with multiple levels of analysis. Our purposeful sample of thirty five participants was drawn from different levels of hierarchy, including union executives and representatives. Our purposeful sample of plants consisted of seven ISO 14001 and OHSAS 18001 certified plants located in different cities in Quebec, Canada. These plants differed by their technology, their age, their size and their types of production. Our data were collected in 2004 from semi-directed interviews, direct observation during site visits, and consultation of documentation and assessment of functionalities of implemented management tools. Interviews were transcribed verbatim and their content was categorized based on the five dimensions of the IMS: commitment policy, planning, deployment, control and management review. Horizontal condensation preceded within case and transversal analysis, using both inductive and deductive approaches. Our results indicate two implementation modes: the enrichment mode and the fusion mode, both related to the functional structures in place. Despite its aim of continuous improvement, the IMS was unable to reconcile the two traditional approaches of top down and bottom up, which have dominated this implementation which was supported by four strategies: economy of resources, control of influence, low hanging fruits and the small steps strategy. In order to analyze the degree of the IMS implementation, we have taken into consideration two aspects of the process: The effort of structuring the IMS and the scope of utilization of the implemented processes. Our results showed evidence of variation in the degree of IMS implementation; this variation was observed among the plants as well as among the processes implemented at each one of the five IMS steps. The analysis of discourses has allowed the production of five hypotheses that support IMS structuring and utilization (i) Cohesion forces hypothesis (ii) Process specificity hypothesis (iii) Scope of process hypothesis (iv) Organizational readiness hypothesis (v) Acceptance of change hypothesis. IMS implementation was influenced by political, structural and organizational factors. These factors have played their influence by catalyzing non -linear interactions, during which their influence could be neutralized, added or reinforced, hence generating variations in the degree of implementation. Facilitating factors have affected the effort of IMS structuring and included: experience working with management system, upper management commitment, implication of union or of health and safety committee representatives, organizational structure, level of education, plant age and plant size. Inhibiting factors have affected mainly the utilization of implemented processes. These factors included: procedural heaviness, lack of time, lack of training, lack of resource, organizational culture, organizational structure, intergeneration gap and lack of union implication. Three proximal effects anticipated by the organization under study were observed. (i) Increase in the rigor of management is an effect which was associated with the application of IMS requirements. It implied EHS governance, integrated management mechanisms and production processes (ii) Standardization is an effect which was associated rather with the implementation mode. It implied EHS practices, tools, work methods and organization of resources. (iii) Rupture of departmental silo is an effect associated with the mode of implementation. It involved organizational structures, professional boundaries and the working relations and climate. These proximal effects have induced several emerging effects, which were more distal. These were: increased control power of the union; increased legitimacy of recommendations by EHS professionals; creation of inter-organizational network and knowledge transfer. The implementation of an integrated management system in environment, occupational health and safety has transformed EHS governance and practice in all seven plants. However, this was not sufficient to grant immunity to EHS risk management processes. The potential of IMS to dilute risks should be of concern to public health policies, as well as to risk prevention programs on environment and on occupational health and safety. Improvement of EHS risk management was an expected effect but was not observed at the moment of our study. Several contextual factors may have intervened to alter its occurrence. To this regard, knowledge transfer, reinforced by the emergence of intra-organizational networks, seem to offer a very promising and affordable alternative. This is one of the contributions of our study research, which, in addition has (i) proposed a nomenclature to classify the modes of implementation and effects of IMS (ii) proposed a detailed method to appreciate the degree of implementation (iii) stated the roles played by contextual factors in explaining variations in the degree of IMS implementation and in the production of effects (iv) proposed a hypothesis on IMS structuring and utilization (v) through the diversity of our sample, offered a plural and sound perspective on the dynamics of IMS implementation. This is the first field study of this new paradigm. To our knowledge, no other study has produced such results. Keywords : ISO 14001, OHSAS 18001, integrated management system, IMS, environment, Occupational Health and Safety, environmental risks, occupational health and safety risks, implementation analysis, implementation level, knowledge transfer.

In the environmental context banks face direct, indirect and reputational risks from their internal operations and their external business activities. The current specific focus on the protection of the environment makes it essential for banks and their directors to be aware and stay on top of potential risks and liabilities. This is especially so because banks’ directors can be criminally prosecuted for environmental crimes. The application and effect of the Prevention of Organised Crime Act 121 of 1998 (POCA) on persons convicted of an environmental crime or crimes has been identified as a possible new or added risk for banks and their directors. Banks in addition to their normal environmental risk and liabilities also need to contend with the possibility of lender liability. Existing legislation pertinent to lender liability does not expressly or specifically deal with lender liability. Absence of judgements on lender liability further exacerbates the risks and the uncertainty for banks in South Africa. Therefore, banks remain subject to legal uncertainty and associated risks. The issue of lender liability specifically with regard to the implication of “the person in control” requires clarification. Hence, it is recommended that legislation relevant to lender liability (National Environmental Management Act 107 of 1998; National Water Act 36 of 1998 and the National Environmental Management: Waste Act 59 of 2008) be revised to specifically accommodate and protect lenders (lending banks) in certain distinct circumstances. The role of banks is that of an intermediary between borrowers and lenders of money. Therefore, it influences the direction and pace of economic development and by default steers and promotes either sustainable or non-sustainable development. Currently, mainstream banks are in effect financing a brown economy and hence subscribe to a weak form of sustainability. It would seem that mainstream banks are more concerned with managing the impact that environmental risk may have on bank lending than the impact of bank lending on the environment. The evolving nature of sustainability (from weak to strong and from a brown to green economy) demands a fundamental policy change for banks. It is expected that mainstream banks will be put under even greater pressure than before to make the transition from weak to strong sustainability. Hence, banks’ current environmental risk management systems will not be sufficient to cater for new environmental risks and liabilities that the move to stronger sustainability (in the form of the green economy) will present. Banks should adopt the stronger version of sustainability; formulate environmental principles that the bank will adhere to; incorporate these environmental principles into all aspects of its lending cycle, develop an environmental risk management system that should include as a minimum the identification of all the applicable legislation pertaining to the specific financing or lending of capital, risk identification, assessment of the specific risk, implementation of risk control measures, mitigation of the risk, risk monitoring and auditing. / LLM (Environmental Law and Governance), North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2014

In the environmental context banks face direct, indirect and reputational risks from their internal operations and their external business activities. The current specific focus on the protection of the environment makes it essential for banks and their directors to be aware and stay on top of potential risks and liabilities. This is especially so because banks’ directors can be criminally prosecuted for environmental crimes. The application and effect of the Prevention of Organised Crime Act 121 of 1998 (POCA) on persons convicted of an environmental crime or crimes has been identified as a possible new or added risk for banks and their directors. Banks in addition to their normal environmental risk and liabilities also need to contend with the possibility of lender liability. Existing legislation pertinent to lender liability does not expressly or specifically deal with lender liability. Absence of judgements on lender liability further exacerbates the risks and the uncertainty for banks in South Africa. Therefore, banks remain subject to legal uncertainty and associated risks. The issue of lender liability specifically with regard to the implication of “the person in control” requires clarification. Hence, it is recommended that legislation relevant to lender liability (National Environmental Management Act 107 of 1998; National Water Act 36 of 1998 and the National Environmental Management: Waste Act 59 of 2008) be revised to specifically accommodate and protect lenders (lending banks) in certain distinct circumstances. The role of banks is that of an intermediary between borrowers and lenders of money. Therefore, it influences the direction and pace of economic development and by default steers and promotes either sustainable or non-sustainable development. Currently, mainstream banks are in effect financing a brown economy and hence subscribe to a weak form of sustainability. It would seem that mainstream banks are more concerned with managing the impact that environmental risk may have on bank lending than the impact of bank lending on the environment. The evolving nature of sustainability (from weak to strong and from a brown to green economy) demands a fundamental policy change for banks. It is expected that mainstream banks will be put under even greater pressure than before to make the transition from weak to strong sustainability. Hence, banks’ current environmental risk management systems will not be sufficient to cater for new environmental risks and liabilities that the move to stronger sustainability (in the form of the green economy) will present. Banks should adopt the stronger version of sustainability; formulate environmental principles that the bank will adhere to; incorporate these environmental principles into all aspects of its lending cycle, develop an environmental risk management system that should include as a minimum the identification of all the applicable legislation pertaining to the specific financing or lending of capital, risk identification, assessment of the specific risk, implementation of risk control measures, mitigation of the risk, risk monitoring and auditing. / LLM (Environmental Law and Governance), North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2014

Master´s thesis deals about problematic of fuzzy logic, fuzzy sets and operation with them. Also thesis describing procedure of quantification risks through fuzzy sets, process of fuzzyfication, defuzzyfication a theirs application in the expert systems FMEA and FMECA. Using selected chapters of czech states standards are established critical areas in building process, it is a chapters about quality, safety and environment. With these areas by using fuzzy sets theory are created the procentual input values in the decision program, created by Matlab. Output from program is decision how big the risk rate is and if is necessarily make corrective measures. A concrete example is the production of concrete goods, describing production process and composition of fresh concrete. A practical example, created by using information from real company, is a decision about the risk rate in the qualitative area.