3 
replied that many of these firms have great scientific competence and that 
they themselves often do not perform large-scale production. Dr. Robbins 
asked how workers are informed of hazards and of means to deal with them. 
Dr. Adams said this varied from firm to firm, but generally speaking, 
personnel are very well advised on risks and precautions. Dr, Omenn 
said it would be helpful to this Subcommittee to receive detailed information 
on how training and education concerning hazards are conducted. Dr. Adams 
said he will provide such information. 
Dr. Christine Oliver 
Dr. Omenn next called on Dr, Christine Oliver, Occupational Physician 
with the Oil, Chemical and Atomic Workers International Union, representing 
Mr. Anthony Mazzocchi, Di rector of Health and Safety for the Union. (Dr. Oliver's 
prepared statement is appended as Attachment G.) She called for regulations, 
with the force of law behind them, and with appropriate penalties for violations, 
to govern industrial use of recomhinant DMA technology. These regulations 
should address: workers' right-^to-know; environmental monitoring; biological 
monitoring and medical surveillance; emergency spills; and worker education. 
Several sections of Dr, Oliver's statement elicited comment. When she 
said, "The expanded use of recombinant DMA technology introduces the possibility 
of genetic manipulation of this 'hypersusceptible' worker to modify him or her to 
make him/her compatible with the work environment," there were a number of 
questions from the Subcommittee, and a comment from Dr, Miller that this 
demonstrated an unfortunate tendency toward mystical thinking about recombinant 
DMA. Dr. Oliver replied that she did not believe such "human genetic engineer- 
ing" was going on today, but that it is a future possibility one should be 
worried about. 
[ 357 ] 
