Framework of epidemiological principles underlying chemical incidents surveillance plans and training implications for public health practitioners.

The Department of Health requires District Health Authorities to have plans ready for dealing with chemical incidents to protect public health. The three aspects of a chemical incident are environmental, medical toxicology, and public health advice and information. Public health surveillance plans require generation of a causal hypothesis and assessment of risk. Training provision should emphasize the need for application of epidemiological precepts in drawing up such surveillance plans. The epidemiological principles are systematically outlined with emphasis on their significance.