Journal of Environmental Health Sciences (한국환경보건학회지)

Korean Society of Environmental Health (한국환경보건학회)
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A Brief Review of the Legal Definition of Chemical Accident under the Current Chemical Substances Control Act

화학물질관리법상 화학사고 정의에 관한 소고

  • Jihoon Park (Division of Chemical Safety Management, Nakdong River Basin Environmental Office, Ministry of Environment) ;
  • Seon-Oh Park (Division of Chemical Safety Management, Nakdong River Basin Environmental Office, Ministry of Environment) ;
  • Hyojin Park (Division of Chemical Safety Management, Nakdong River Basin Environmental Office, Ministry of Environment) ;
  • Hye-Ok Kwon (Division of Chemical Safety Management, Nakdong River Basin Environmental Office, Ministry of Environment)
  • 박지훈 (환경부 낙동강유역환경청 화학안전관리단) ;
  • 박선오 (환경부 낙동강유역환경청 화학안전관리단) ;
  • 박효진 (환경부 낙동강유역환경청 화학안전관리단) ;
  • 권혜옥 (환경부 낙동강유역환경청 화학안전관리단)
  • Received : 2023.08.07
  • Accepted : 2023.08.21
  • Published : 2023.08.31
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Abstract

The Chemical Substances Control Act has been legislated to counter the risks posed by chemical substances to public health and the environment, but a number of small- and large-scaled incidents related to hazardous chemicals continue to occur every year. The Korean Ministry of Environment takes legal responsibility for prevention, preparedness, and response to nationwide chemical accidents under the Chemical Substances Control Act. The determination of chemical accidents that occur during hazardous chemical handling processes is based on the Article 2 (Definitions) of the law and the administrative criteria for judgement of chemical accidents. However, there are certain ambiguities in the scientific basis for determining chemical accidents under the current regulations. Whether or not a chemical accident has a direct influence on penalties and administrative measures for a workplace where an accident occurred, it is necessary to find reasonable criteria for determining chemical accident based on legal and scientific evidence.

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References

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