Hazard visibility and occupational health problem solving the case of the uranium industry

Recent evidence from European research challenges the adequacy of current U.S. exposure guidelines for underground mine radiation. This study traces the history of government regulatory agency and industry response to the hazard of excessive mine radiation in the uranium industry in Colorado some 30 years ago. Problem-solving activity by government agencies and companies is shown to coincide with how visible the health hazard to uranium miners becomes. Hazard visibility and key problem-solving variables are defined and measured. The article also discusses a number of social factors that affect societal response to evidence of an occupational health hazard. Those factor include (1) the elusiveness of the disease and its symptoms, (2) the social class of the victim, (3) the level of medical and scientific interest in its cause and cure, and (4) the economic costs of the disease.