Objectives of the conference

Seventh in a series of conferences organised by INRS on occupational health and safety research, this conference will focus on the profound changes in industrial processes over the last twenty years. Processes have adapted to respond to four major developments: 
   - changes in demand, in particular for new materials with controlled use properties,
   - increased flexibility requirements allowing different productions on the same industrial site,
   - the need to limit the resources consumed, which is reflected in the development of the circular economy and more generally an increased proportion of recycling,
   - limitation of environmental impacts including optimization of energy costs, water savings and reduction of pollutant discharges into the environment.

Technologies, as well as the resulting organizations, are evolving very rapidly with implications in terms of impact on working conditions and therefore prevention of professional risks that are difficult to anticipate. For example, the intensification of processes can limit employee exposure to solvents but complicate their operation and maintenance. Likewise, recycling practices lead to ignorance of the composition of secondary raw materials and the accumulation of toxic compounds without companies always being aware of it and having been able to adapt prevention measures to new exposure conditions.

The main objective of this conference will be to review the risks, benefits and prevention approaches linked to these recent changes in the industrial sectors particularly impacted by them, in particular, the food industry, chemical industry, pharmaceutical industry, mechanics, metallurgy, water treatment, waste management and recycling activities.

This will include presenting the implementation of appropriate means of risk assessment and hazard identification, analysing how employees perceive these risks and hazards, and discussing technical but also organisational prevention solutions to limit the risks for workers.