Introduction to Health, Safety and Environmental Issues

Modern manufacturing emerged with the Industrial Revolution in the eighteenth to nineteenth century in the United Kingdom. The invention of the steam engine allowed development of mechanized systems in many fields such as mining, transportation, and textiles. The social and economic impact of this transition created a new social order in terms of the longevity, income, and purchasing ability of the population. It also had unpredicted effects on health and on the environment. All developed countries hence have built their wealth on manufacturing and selling their products to their consumers. International trade allows goods produced to be made in one country and sold in other countries. Presently, many countries in Europe, North and South America, Asia, and Oceania have developed a strong manufacturing base. This volume examines the impact of manufacturing on the environment and on the health of the people working in manufacturing and materials processing and on populations at large. This chapter, by the editor of this volume, provides an introduction to the subject. It is followed by specific chapters dealing with various aspects of materials processing in the manufacturing cycle and their specific impact on health and environment. © 2014 Elsevier Ltd All rights reserved.