| Sumario: | Fifteen safety and health experts at a special meeting held by the International Labor Organization (ILO) in Geneva, Switzerland, concluded that space-age technologies can improve worker safety and health if their ramifications are considered before implementation. Participants from the United States, Eastern and Western Europe, Canada, and Australia agreed that new technologies can eliminate worker exposure to dust and toxic substances as well as relieve them of dangerous physical tasks. They are concerned, however, about new hazards, such as the unpredictable motions of robot arms. Among the serious health issues they identified were occupational stress and exposure to toxic chemicals. They also called for further research on long-term, low-level exposure to nonionizing radiation from video display terminals. Finally, they urged the ILO to concentrate on particular sectors and make more use of information exchange programs.
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