References to occupational exposures Challenges faced by workers recurrence of similar accidents. He encouraged the State and businesses to ensure that protections apply to both employees and contractors. With regard to legislation, the Special Rapporteur recommended that the Government of the Republic of Korea, among other steps: Ensure that all laws and policies concerning hazardous substances and wastes provide the greatest protection to those who are at the greatest risk of harm, including children, women, the elderly, communities near sources of pollution or contamination, workers and others who are at elevated risk of harm; Undertake a robust study on the existing recourse of victims, including workers and consumers, to an effective remedy for harm that may be due to hazardous substances and wastes, paying particular attention to the burden placed on victims to establish causation, and develop and implement solutions to address challenges facing victims in accessing an effective remedy, in consideration of the recommendations contained in the findings of that study and those of the national human rights institution, as recommended below; • Inadequate standards of protection • Limited progress in prevention of exposure • Monitoring and enforcement gaps • Exploitation of those most at risk • Ensure that information is available to prevent exposure to hazardous substances, protect human rights and ensure that victims have the information necessary to realize their right to an effective remedy in administrative and judicial systems. The Special Rapporteur underlines that States have a duty, and businesses a responsibility, to ensure that information about hazardous substances is available and accessible, and that it functions to protect the rights of everyone; Failures to realize the right to information • Inaccessible remedies, justice and accountability Increase efforts to ensure that health and safety information about hazardous substances is never confidential, and for this purpose ensure the enforcement of existing legislation or the strengthening of said legislation where necessary; • Inaccessible remedies, justice and accountability Establish a centralized mechanism to monitor all human rights impacts of hazardous substances and wastes, paying particular attention to children, women, workers in all sectors and older persons, and guarantee that adequate and comprehensive prevention measures are taken as a result; The Special Rapporteur also recommended that the national human rights institution: (a) Examine the challenges faced by victims of chronic exposure to hazardous substances, including workers and children, who may develop diseases many years after exposure, in establishing causation and accessing an effective remedy, and make recommendations to relevant ministries; (b) Closely examine challenges presented by victims of hazardous substances, including workers, in meeting their burden of proof in order to access an effective remedy under administrative and judicial proceedings. A/HRC/39/48 46 Report