CIS Newsletter

No. 156
September 2002

CIS Newsletter celebrates 14 years & still going strong! Bringing news to over 130 countries in the CIS Network and beyond!

Contents

1. Editorial

2. News from around the World - Belgium, European Commission, France, Italy, Japan, Poland, South Africa, Switzerland, UK, USA

3. Titles you may have missed...

4. OSHE Websites to explore

5. Diary of Events

Editorial

Dear CIS Colleagues

Many countries in European and beyond are preparing for the European Week for Safety and Health Campaign on Working on Stress which takes place throughout Europe next month - October. Member States can choose which week to campaign.

Work-related stress (WRS) Europe’s second biggest reported occupational health problem, after back pain, affecting up to one third of all workers and costing the EU billions of euros every year in lost work and health costs. WRS, is it now known can be caused by psychosocial hazards such as work design, organisation and management e.g. high job demands and low job control, bullying and violence of work. There is a wealth of information now available on these subjects. For more details the European Agency's web site http://osha.europa.eu/ew2002 and also links from www.oshworld.com.

An ever-increasing number of CIS newsletters are delivered by email - well over 100 individuals/organisations receive the emailed version. Many of the e-mailed recipients are those working in the wider OSHE field but who are NOT CIS Members CIS Newsletter is also on a number of web sites, e.g. Australian National Occupational Health and Safety Commission, CIOP in Poland etc. Now, you can also get it on via your editor's website www.sheilapantry.com to which we will be shortly adding the back numbers for 2002. If you have the CIS Newsletter on your web site let me know and I will publicise it for you.

As always many thanks to those who have very kindly sent information .... and to those who have not sent any - I look forward to receiving your news item as soon as possible.

Best wishes to you and your colleagues.

Sheila Pantry, OBE
85 The Meadows, Todwick,
Sheffield S26 1JG, UK
Tel: +441909 771024
Fax: +441909 772829
Email: sp@sheilapantry.com
www.oshworld.com
www.sheilapantry.com
www.shebuyersguide.com

CIS NETWORK OF NATIONAL INFORMATION CENTRES.........
WORKING TOGETHER AND HELPING EACH OTHER....

News from around the OSHE World.......

Stress Out? You are not alone......

Nearly one in three of Europe's workers, more than 40 million people, report that they are affected by stress at work. It is responsible for millions of lost working days every year. The figures speak for themselves, but far too many victims suffer in silence and too many companies do not realise the extent to which stress can affect their business performance.

So why does Europe need to tackle the problem of psychosocial risks at work?

Across Europe, millions of workers face psychosocial risks at work on a daily basis. These risks can cause stress and include poor work organisation and design, violence, threats of violence, verbal abuse from members of the public and bullying by work colleagues. Work organisation and design issues cover working at high speed, uncertainty about your job role, lack of control over your work, too many demands and poor management of change.

For example:
over 50% of workers work at high speed or to tight deadlines for at least a quarter of their working day;
one third of workers say that they have little or no control over their work;
9% of workers reported that they have been subjected to intimidation at work. They affect workers across all types of employment sectors in the European Union (EU):
stress is the second most reported work-related health problem, affecting 28% of workers;
23% of workers reported experiencing overall fatigue;
4% of workers reported being subjected to physical violence from members of the public.

That's why this year's European Week for Safety and Health at Work is focusing on the prevention of psychosocial risks and the stress they cause. The European Week 2002 is an information campaign aimed at making Europe a safe and healthy place to work by promoting activities to reduce stress and work-related psychosocial risks. With the backing of all Member States, the European Commission and Parliament, trade unions and employers’ federations, it provides a unique opportunity to focus attention on the importance of workplace safety and health. Good health is good business

The key to preventing work-related stress and psychosocial risks lies with the organisation and management of work. The EU has adopted a ‘framework’ directive to protect workers and improve safety and health at work. It covers all workplace hazards including psychosocial risks. Requirements to carry out risk assessments and bring in preventive measures apply to psychosocial risks, such as stress and workplace violence, just as they do to other workplace risks like machine safety. The Commission has issued guidance on stress and violence at work. Member States have produced their own practical guidelines and preventive tools on stress, violence and other psychosocial risks.

Reducing work-related stress and psychosocial risks is not just a moral and legal imperative. There’s a strong business case as well. The most successful businesses usually have the best safety and health performance. Good health is good business Who is organising the European Week?

It is being co-ordinated by the Bilbao-based European Agency for Safety and Health at Work and will run in all 15 EU Member States and beyond. The Agency is the European Union organisation responsible for occupational safety and health information.

When is the week?

The Week itself will take place in October 2002, but the campaign will run throughout 2002. Each Member State is deciding on the precise week within October. The weeks in each Member States are as follows:

Austria

14-20 October 2002

Belgium

14-18 October 2002

Denmark

21-27 October 2002

Finland

21-27 October 2002

France

21-25 October 2002

Germany

7-11 October 2002

Greece

21-25 October 2002

Ireland

14-18 October 2002

Italy

21-25 October 2002

Luxembourg

21-27 October 2002

Netherlands

14-19 October 2002

Portugal

21-25 October 2002

Spain

21- 27 October 2002

Sweden

21-25 October 2002

UK

14-18 October 2002

Who can take part in European week?

The Week is aimed at organisations, companies and workplaces of all sizes and sectors. Everybody involved in occupational safety and health matters is invited to take part, especially safety and health institutions and occupational insurance organisations, trade unions and employers’ organisations, companies, managers, employees and safety representatives.

So have you made your plans? Have a successful week wherever you are!

News from the ILO

ILO Appoints Liaison Officer in Myanmar

The Director-General of the International Labour Office (ILO) announced today the appointment of Ms. Hông-Trang Perret-Nguyen as the ILO Liaison Officer in Myanmar. Ms Perret-Nguyen has held senior positions within the organisation.

Ms. Perret-Nguyen's appointment in Myanmar takes place in the framework of the understanding on the appointment of a Liaison Officer which was reached between the ILO and the Government of Myanmar in March 2002. According to this understanding, the Liaison Officer's role covers all activities relevant to ensuring the prompt and effective elimination of forced labour in the country and she should be extended all facilities and support to that effect.

Ms. Perret-Nguyen will take up her assignment in Yangon at the beginning of October.

All ILO press releases can be found at
www.ilo.org/public/english/bureau/inf/pr/index.htm

News from the UK

Workplace stress kills - don't trivialise it GMB says sort the organisation, not the worker

The UK General union GMB is calling on employers and enforcement authorities to take workplace stress seriously and should concentrate on the organisational factors at the root of the problem. The union is concerned that with the current trend of promoting alternative therapies such as massage and aromatherapy in the workplace, there is a danger of trivialising the problem.

Nigel Bryson, GMB director of health and environment, said: 'Many employers are bringing in masseurs, having lunchtime yoga sessions and even bringing in clowns for employees who are working in stressful environments. Whilst there may be a place for these types of activities they should not detract from addressing the organisational causes of stress.' In the first documented occurrence of workplace 'ode rage', Scottish hospital workers almost crashed their computer system after sending angry replies to emailed poems meant to keep them calm. Professional 'stress-buster' Lynn Ogilvie caused the reaction by sending staff at Lothian University Hospitals Trust the daily poems.

In the lead up to the European week of safety and health the GMB – Britain’s General Union, is calling on employers and enforcement authorities to take workplace stress seriously. Stress is a recognised workplace health and safety issue and the Health and Safety Executive estimates that work-related stress cost employers about £370 million and society about £3.75 billion a year.

However, the GMB is concerned that with the current trend of promoting alternative therapies such as massage and aromatherapy in the workplace, we are in danger of trivialising what is a workplace killer.

In promoting the GMB’s Guide to Preventing Workplace Stress Nigel Bryson, GMB Director of Health and Environment said: “Many employers are bringing in masseurs, having lunchtime yoga sessions and even bringing in clowns for employees who are working in stressful environments. Whilst there may be a place for these types of activities they should not detract from addressing the organisational causes of stress.

Employers are spending a great deal of time and money on these therapies that have questionable value. Yet when it comes to implementing management systems to prevent stress many workplaces are sadly lacking. What we have in effect is the equivalent of employers ignoring a wet floor and putting a plaster cast on someone every time they slip over on the floor and break a bone. This situation cannot be tolerated.”

Recent HSE sponsored research into work related stress in hospitals found that risk management approach can be effectively and cheaply implemented to prevent or control workplace stress. The GMB continues to lobby for an Approved Code of Practice on stress which clearly outlines the use of risk assessment and management standards to reduce stress.

www.gmb.org.uk

Research News

Inventive thinking meets deep sea divers' needs

Francis Kay, a designer from the UK, has been awarded a second NESTA (the National Endowment for Science, Technology and the Arts) Invention and Innovation award of £30,000 to commercialise his KIM breathing module - a new, safer, self-contained breathing element. The module was developed particularly with divers operating in deep and low temperature waters in mind and is the first major innovation in this field for 40 years.

Following testing with the US Navy, the KIM system can now go into full commercial application. The NESTA award will enable the provision of a Breathing Synthesiser Machine (BSM) which will be used to provide the necessary safety certification for the KDS System. This will significantly increase the commercial potential of KDS, as well as the possibility of the BSM becoming a marketable product in its own right. Crucially, the machine will enable commercialisation of KDS in the most cost and time effective way.

Francis Kay, who has over 60 years experience in pneumatic design, operates a design consultancy, which focuses on the design and marketing of pneumatic equipment and low-pressure hydraulics. He has used his considerable experience to develop the KIM module, an entirely novel approach to meeting the market needs, which can be used in all types of applications and extremes of pressures.

He worked with 3T Design Ltd (specialists in industrial design and manufacture of life support equipment); to develop a system, which ensured greater reliability and easier maintenance than existing valve, designs. This was achieved through a number of key innovations, including divers being able to use the KIM module design in a range of different pressures, as it meets the needs of both high and low-pressure applications.

The module also performs well across a range of depths including shallow water, deep sea and extreme diving conditions, ensuring that the diver can depend on a consistent level of air supply until the air is virtually depleted.

The potential market for this novel valve is huge. It could be used in a range of diving pursuits, from leisure and sport, to use by the military and civil engineering. There are over 2.5 million registered divers in the US alone. The development of the Breathing Synthesiser Machine will provide key product safety tests, including EN250 certification and CE mark, potentially opening up this vast market. If successful, the KIM could significantly change the current breathing equipment market place.

Contact: hannah.daws@nesta.org.uk | www.nesta.org.uk

News from the ILO

ILO-OSH Encyclopaedia goes French

Annick Virot, Editor-in-chief, French edition of ILO-OSH Encyclopaedia
email: virot@ilo.org writes:

As my contribution to the CIS Newsletter, I would like to inform you that volume III of the French edition of the Encyclopaedia has recently been released.

Copies of this volume and of volume I and II can be ordered from the Publications Department of the ILO at the following address (each volume for CHF 140, or $ E.-U 125): Email: pubvente@ilo.org (Geneva) www.ilo.org/publns

Volume IV (which is made of guides (to occupations, to chemicals) and of indexes) will be released by this end of 2002.

Contact: Publications du BIT, 4, route des Morillons, CH-1211 Genève 22, Switzerland

News from the Network

Poland

Barbara Szczepanowska writes to say
Email: baszc@ciop.pl

Central Institute for Labour Protection (CIOP) send the text of CIS Newsletter by email to several Polish scientific institutes and the libraries of universities, technical universities, medical academies etc. We also sent them information on your publications, which you have sent us some time ago.

We also continue to insert CIS Newsletter on our newly changed internet page of Polish CIS Centre (on CIOP page) and we will put there an archiwum of CIS Newsletter from January 2002.

www.ciop.pl

From France

Kevin Gardiner writes:
Email: gardinerfam@wanadoo.fr

I obtained my NEBOSH Environmental Management Diploma with a CREDIT! Actually, I obtained a distinction for the Environmental Audit.

Congratulations to Kevin and we wish him well in future courses.

See also www.nebosh.org.uk for details of the OSH and environment courses

News from the USA

Silicosis in Sandblasters: a case study adapted for use in US High Schools

The goal of this report from the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) is to learn about epidemiology by studying an occupational hazard, a disease associated with the hazard, and the methods for preventing the disease. Epidemiology is the study if why and how a disease occurs and spreads in populations. More than 2 million US workers are potentially exposed to dusts containing crystalline silica. Prolonged inhalation of silica-containing dusts puts these workers at risk for the disease silicosis - a nodular fibrosis of the lungs that causes shortness of breath. More than 100,000 US workers are in high-risk occupations such as sandblasting.

US National Occupational Safety and Health - NIOSH
Silicosis in Sandblasters: a case study adapted for use in US High Schools.
DHHS (NIOSH) Publication No. 2002-105. June 2002. 21 pages

Available from: US NIOSH, Publications Dissemination, 4676 Columbia Parkway, Cincinnati, OH 45226 1998, USA. | Tel: +1 800356 4674 | Fax: +1 513 533 8573 | Email: pubstaft@cdc.gov | Web: www.cdc.gov/niosh

Surveillance and Prevention of Occupational Injuries in Alaska: a decade of progress, 1990-1999

The US National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) works with numerous partners in the public and private sectors on collaborative efforts to prevent occupational injuries and fatalities in Alaska.

These efforts included development of a comprehensive, statewide surveillance systems that helped identify new and emerging problems, track hazardous conditions over time, target interventions, evaluate efforts and anticipate future problems. During the 1990s, occupational fatalities in Alaska decreased by nearly 50%. This document describes collaborative efforts that contributed to this decrease.

One primary goal for NIOSH in compiling this report was to create a resource that could be used by anyone interested in workplace safety in Alaska or other high-risk areas facing occupational injury challenges, particularly in commercial fishing, helicopter logging industries and commercial aviation.

US National Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)
Surveillance and Prevention of Occupational Injuries in Alaska:
a decade of progress, 1990-1999
DHHS (NIOSH) Publication No. 2002-15. 2002. 48 pages

Available from: US NIOSH, Publications Dissemination, 4676 Columbia Parkway, Cincinnati, OH 45226 1998, USA | Tel: +1 800356 4674 | Fax: +1 513 533 8573 | Email: pubstaft@cdc.gov | www.cdc.gov/niosh

Titles you may have missed........

Human and Ecological Risk Assessment: Theory and practice

Edited by Dennis J Paustenbach

Wiley Interscience 2002 ISBN 0471147478 1556 pages

This authoritative guide to risk assessment, grounded in actual case studies of sites or issues that address a wide range of human and ecological hazards. The book assembles the expertise of more than fifty authorities from fifteen different fields. The chapters contain the most current methods for conducting hazard identification, dose-response and exposure assessment, and risk characterisation components for risk assessments of any chemical hazard to human or wildlife.

The topics addressed include hazards posed by:

With over 1500 pages and extensive lists of references, this book will become a standard textbook.

Human and Ecological Risk Assessment: Theory and practice
Edited by Dennis J Paustenbach
Wiley Interscience. 2002. ISBN 0471147478. 1556 pages

Contact: Joanna Gibson | Tel: +44 (0)1243 770674 | email: jgibson@wiley.co.uk

The Complete Book of Pesticide Management: Science, Regulation, Stewardship and Communication

Edited by Fred Whitford
Wiley Interscience. 2002. ISBN 0471407283

Pesticides are an essential part of our lives, however no pesticide is risk free and all pesticides carry the potential to harm people and the environment. As long as the pesticides are properly controlled, regulated and labelled and with good consumer education, pesticides can play an important role in maintaining the quality of life we enjoy.

The text links scientific information developed from pesticide testing programmes with the safety and precautionary language commonly found on products labels.

Describing how to communicate pesticide benefits and risks to the public he Complete Book of Pesticide Management provides information on how to select pesticides and protect the professionals handling these chemicals.

Contributors from government, manufacturing, retail industries, universities, trade associations, and non-profit organisations provide a balanced view of the relative risks that pesticides pose to people, wildlife and water.

The Complete Book of Pesticide Management: Science, Regulation, Stewardship and Communication, Edited by Fred Whitford
Wiley Interscience. 2002. ISBN 0471407283
Contact: Joanna Gibson | Tel: +44 (0)1243 770674 | email: jgibson@wiley.co.uk

NAIR Technical Handbook 2002 edition

by N P McColl and P Kruse
National Radiological Protection Board NRPB – W7 2002
ISBN 0859514781 32 pages

This Technical Handbook contains information for radiation specialists participating in the National Arrangements for Incidents involving Radioactivity (NAIR). This latest edition contains:

Disposal of radioactive materials involved in NAIR incidents

There is also an appendix of UN Numbers commonly used in the transport of radioactive materials.

The NRPB W series reports are the NRPB’s new series of reports which replaced the NRPB R series reports in January 2002. The new NRPB W series are now primarily available as downloadable PDF files on the NRPB website: www.hpa.org.uk/radiation/publications/w_series_reports

Contact: NRPB Information Office, Didcot, Chilton Oxon OX11 0RQ | Tel: +44 (0)1235 822742 | Fax: +44 (0)1235 822746 | Email: information@nrpb.org

Electronic COSHH Essentials

The UK Health and Safety Executive has launched an Internet tool to help prevent the harmful effects of working with chemicals by providing advice to limit exposure. COSHH Essentials provides advice on controlling the use of chemicals for a range of common tasks, e.g. mixing or drying. The website will take you through a number of steps and ask for information about your tasks and chemicals. This will take several minutes to complete. To provide this information you will need a safety data sheet for each chemical to supply details such as risk phrases (R-phrases).

There is a worked example for you to see what happens.
www.coshh-essentials.org.uk

Hazardous Chemicals Desk Reference, 5th ed. by Richard J Lewis, Sr.

The Hazardous Chemical Desk Reference contains safety profiles, synonyms, physical properties, standards and recommendations of government agencies for approximately 5,000 chemicals deemed both important and potential hazardous by the international scientific community. Substantially updated, the fifth edition includes the latest information from a variety of international databases and organisations, while deleting entries that have proven to be the least pertinent to practitioners.

Substances were chosen on the basis of meeting a variety of criteria including:

The Hazardous Chemical Desk Reference, by Richard J Lewis, Sr
Published by John Wiley, 2002. ISBN 0471 441651. 1695 pages. GBP130.00
Contact: Joanna Gibson | Tel: +44 (0)1243 770674 | email: jgibson@wiley.co.uk

Labour Inspection: a guide to the profession,

by Wolfgang Von Richthofen

It presents policy issues in an international context, while examining how the major, foreseeable developments in economics, the labour market, and technology, as well as national, sectoral and enterprise social structures affect labour inspection. This is an authoritative, comprehensive guide to labour inspection and its fundamental principles.

Taking into account substantial developments and major changes in the field, this book looks at what has occurred in both the policy and practice of labour inspection in the 21st century. It explores the often entirely new systems and strategies that have surfaced, such as "internal controls" in the Nordic countries and the merger of parts of social insurance (workers' compensation) with inspection services (in Australian and New Zealand), and explains how these and other practices may benefit countries in similar situations.

Labour Inspection: a guide to the profession, by Wolfgang Von Richthofen
ILO. May. 2002. ISBN 92 2 112710 9

Available from the ILO Office, Millbank Tower, London SW1P 4QP, UK Tel: +44 20 7828 6401
Fax: +44 20 7233 5925 | Email ipu@ilo-london.org.uk
or ILO, 4 route des Morillons, CH 1211 Geneva 22, Switzerland
Fax: +41 22 799 6878 | Email: pubvente@ilo.org | www.ilo.org/publns

Children at Work: health and safety risks. 2nd edition

by Valentina Forastieri

The second edition of this useful and informative approach to the protection of working children through the development of a programme of occupational safety and health specifically addressed to working children. It illustrates what can be done within a framework of a national policy aimed at he elimination of child labour.

As with the previous edition, it also includes procedures to identify hazardous working conditions, and offers advice on developing improved methods and instruments to assess and protect the health of wiring children.

Children at Work: health and safety risks, by Valentina Forastieri
ILO. 2002. 2nd ed. ISBN 92 2 111399X

Available from the ILO Office, Millbank Tower, London SW1P 4QP, UK Tel: +44 20 7828 6401
Fax: +44 20 7233 5925 | Email: ipu@ilo-london.org.uk
or ILO, 4 route des Morillons, CH 1211 Geneva 22, Switzerland
Fax: +41 22 799 6878 | Email: pubvente@ilo.org | www.ilo.org/publns

News from South Africa

Workers Life: safety, health and environment news for the Worker in South Africa.... The latest edition of Workers Life July 2002 contains a number of topical subjects including:

Contact: Workers Life, NOSA, 508 Proes Street, Arcadia 0083, Box 26434 Arcadia, Pretoria 0007 South Africa, E-mail: worklife@nosa.co.za

News from the ILO

Suffer the Children.....

Susan Gunn of the ILO International Programme on the Elimination of Child Labour (IPEC) answers questions from Sheila Pantry, OBE

No-one really knows how many children have to work for their livings since it is often illegal and clandestine and beyond the reach of labour statistics. But this is a major problem worldwide.

Child labour continues to be a global phenomenon - no country or region is immune. Ten years after launching a worldwide campaign the ILO has launched a comprehensive new look at the problem. The findings are cause for concern; despite significant progress in efforts to abolish child labour, the report* says that alarming number of children remain trapped in its worst form. In many developed countries, agriculture is also the sector most children work.

The above article appeared in the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents - RoSPA Occupational Safety and Health Journal, April 2002, vol. 32, no. 4 18-24.

RoSPA, Edgbaston Park, 353 Bristol Road, Birmingham B5 7ST, UK | Tel: +44 (0)121 248 2000 | Fax: +44 (0)121 248 2001 | www.rospa.com

News from the UK

Back in work

CRR 441/2002 Initiative Evaluation ReportBack pain is the leading cause of sickness absence from work in the UK. It is estimated that in 1995, 10 million working days were lost because of back pain. The cost to the National Health Service of treating back pain and injury has been estimated at £481 million, and the overall cost to industry has been estimated at £5 billion. The Back in Work Initiative was established to identify and develop innovative ideas to tackle back pain in the workplace, to develop good practice and to improve workplace health. This document published by the UK Health and Safety Executive provides a summary of the projects that comprised the Back in Work Initiative. 18 of the funded projects provided results and final reports within the originally stated timeframes.

Back in Work, HSE. CRR 441/2002 Initiative Evaluation Report - full text available www.hse.gov.uk/research/crr_htm/2002/crr02441.htm

News from Italy

Protection of workers in the health care industry

Problems of special interest concerning the protection of workers exposed to physical hazards in the health care sector, by C Grandi, S Iavicoli, V Molinaro, S Palmi and P Rossi are presented in an article in the ISPESL Prevenzione Oggi, No.1 2001 p. 3-44.

Contact: ISPESL, Information Centre, Via Alessandria 220/e, 1-00198 Rome, Italy | Tel: +39 06 442 50 648 | Fax: +39 06 442 50 972 | Email: tagliaferro.doc@ispesl.it | www.ispesl.it

News from Japan

Karoshi - death from overwork

The latest newsletter from the Japan Industrial Safety and Health Association (JISHA) shows a range of activities undertaken and draws attention to the death from overwork - Karoshi.

For copies of the JISHA's Safety and Health in Japan Newsletter contact:
JISHA, (ILO-CIS National Centre in Japan),5-35-1 Shiba, Minatoku, Tokyo 108-0014, Japan | Tel/Fax +81 3 3454 4596 | Email: kokusai@jisha.or.jp | www.jisha.or.jp

Do what many people around the world are doing and check out.........
www.oshworld.com
Your portal to occupational safety, health, fire, chemical, environment information

News from the Netherlands

Koninklijke Bibliotheek (National Library of The Netherlands) signing the contract to finalise the digital archive agreement, at the Elsevier Science Headquarters office, Amsterdam

Elsevier Science and the Koninklijke Bibliotheek, the National Library of the Netherlands, announce a groundbreaking new agreement in relations between publishers and libraries world-wide in the area of electronic archiving.

The Koninklijke Bibliotheek (KB) will become the first official digital archive for Elsevier Science journals. This means the library will receive digital copies of all Elsevier journals made available on its web platform, ScienceDirect, which are approximately 1,500 journals covering all areas of science, technology and medicine, and exceeding 7 TB of data. For everybody involved in research and the communication of research results - authors, researchers, librarians and publishers alike - this is a decisive step forward in keeping digital archives available in perpetuity.

The need to provide for permanent digital archiving has been evident to libraries and to Elsevier for several years. Elsevier has been a leader in advocating publisher responsibility in this area. In 1999 Elsevier Science made a public commitment to ensure digital archiving with a trusted repository and made this part of its license with library customers. The KB was the natural partner, as it is a clear leader world-wide in the experimentation with and investment in digital preservation.

Karen Hunter, Senior Vice President, Strategy at Elsevier Science and responsible for this digital archiving initiative, explains the relevance of this agreement: "It is essential that we will be able to guarantee both authors and researchers using the journals that the electronic files will be permanently available. Journals have been called 'the minutes of science'. As we move toward journals being available only in electronic form and being held centrally on publishers' computers, the public has the right to be assured that, should a publisher go out of business, these files will not be lost. This agreement provides that assurance for Elsevier Science titles, which constitute an essential part of the core scientific literature currently published."

Under this historic agreement, the KB will receive digital copies of all Elsevier journals made available on its web platform, ScienceDirect. This is approximately 1,500 journals covering all areas of science, technology and medicine, currently published by Elsevier Science. Should new journals be added to the Elsevier list, these will also be included in the archive. In addition, Elsevier is in the process of digitising the older years of these journals, going back whenever possible to volume 1, no. 1, and all of these digitised backfiles will also be deposited with the KB. It is estimated that the starting collection, when all backfile digitisation is completed in the next two years, will exceed 7 TB of data.

The journals are currently made available to customers of ScienceDirect in two formats: Adobe Acrobat's PDF format (which mimics the printed page) and a tagged, structured text format that permits different on-screen viewing, faster network delivery and sophisticated search, retrieval and linking. Both formats will be sent to the KB.

About Elsevier Science

Elsevier Science is the world's largest scientific, technical and medical information provider and publishes over 1,600 journals, 1,200 books per year, as well as secondary databases. Elsevier Science key brands include: Academic Press; Butterworth-Heinemann; Cell Press; Churchill-Livingstone; Engineering Information; Excerpta Medica; The Lancet; MD consult; MDL; Mosby; North-Holland; Pergamon; ScienceDirect and WB Saunders.

Elsevier Science www.elsevier.com

About the Koninklijke Bibliotheek

The Koninklijke Bibliotheek (KB) is the National Library of the Netherlands. The Library was founded in 1798. The KB is an autonomous administrative body financed by the Dutch Ministry of Education, Culture & Science. The KB's mission statement is to provide universal access to the knowledge and culture of the past and present by providing high-quality services for research, study and cultural enrichment.

For further information contact:
Karen Hunter, Elsevier Science Senior Vice President Strategy
Tel: +1 212 633 3787 | Fax: +1 212 633 3764 | E-mail: k.hunter@elsevier.com

News from the UK

MONITORING THE THREAT OF LEGIONNAIRES' INFECTION

The recent, tragic outbreak of Legionnaires' disease in a couple of locations in the UK, has once again highlighted the importance of regular maintenance and testing of air conditioning systems. The UK Health and Safety Commission (HSC) guidelines on legionella require that specific, weekly tests be carried out on all potential sources of infection.

The HSC's Approved Code of Practice and guidance, published last year*,recognises that an important method of reducing the risk of infection is a comprehensive monitoring programme and, along with specific monthly and quarterly tests, requires conductivity, bacteria, disinfectant and pH to be tested weekly.

This Code applies to the risk from legionella bacteria (the causative agent of legionellosis including Legionnaires' disease) in circumstances where the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974 applies. To comply with their legal duties, UK employers and those with responsibilities for the control of premises should:

  1. identify and assess sources of risk - this includes checking whether conditions are present which will encourage bacteria to multiply, e.g. is the water temperature between 20-45°C; there is a means of creating and disseminating breathable droplets, e.g. the aerosol created by a shower or cooling tower; and if there are susceptible people who may be exposed to the contaminated aerosols;
  2. prepare a scheme for preventing or controlling the risk;
  3. implement, manage and monitor precautions - if control measures are to remain effective, then regular monitoring of the systems and the control measures is essential. Monitoring of general bacterial numbers can indicate whether microbiological control is being achieved. Sampling for legionella is another means of checking that a system is under control;
  4. keep records of the precautions; and
  5. appoint a person to be managerially responsible.

The Code and guidance also set out the responsibilities of suppliers of services such as water treatment and maintenance as well as the responsibilities of manufacturers, importers, suppliers and installers.

Health and Safety Commission. Legionnaires' disease : the control of legionella bacteria in water systems. Approved Code of Practice and guidance. 2001. Third edition. London; Sheffield : HSE Books
Legislation (L) series; L 8. ISBN 0717617726

Palintest system

The HSC's Approved Code of Practice and guidance, recognises that an important method of reducing the risk of infection is a comprehensive monitoring programme and, along with specific monthly and quarterly tests, requires conductivity, bacteria, disinfectant and pH to be tested weekly.

The Palintest L8 Kit, which comes in a convenient carry case, includes tests for each of these key parameters. All the tests are part of the Palintest system of water analysis, used throughout the world. Consisting of test equipment and reagent systems that are easy to use, and based in standard analytical methods, rapid, accurate results can be obtained by all users, with or without formal laboratory training.

The bacterium that can cause Legionnaires' disease in all water systems in plants and in buildings. Systems presenting the greatest risk involve water-cooled cooking towers and evaporative condensers, such as air conditioning plants and industrial cooling systems in hospitals, hotels and offices. However, any system that disperses water into the air is a risk, including whirlpools and spas, showers and spray humidifiers.

Contact: Palintest Ltd, Palintest House, Kingsway, Team Valley, Gateshead, Tyne & Wear NE11 0NS, UK | Tel: +44 (0)191 491 0808 | Fax: +44 (0) 191 482 5372 | Email: joe.ronan@palintest.com | www.palintest.com

There are also many good pieces of advice on Legionaires disease...

to be found on websites such as OSHWORLD and also in the health and safety collections of information such as OSH-ROM which continues to grow as it has done for over 16 years. The references and abstracts in OSH-ROM give access to quality information to help all those seeking good advice and guidance. A 30 day free trial is available. Contact Safety and Chemical Services Ltd, Broad Oak Enterprise Village, Broad Oak Road, Sittingbourne, KENT ME9 8AQ, UK | Tel:: +44 (0) 1795 435899 | Fax: +44 (0)1795 435901 | E-Mail: Info@safchem.co.uk

News from the European Agency for Safety and Health at Work

More Agency publications to help support this year's European Week campaign. They include information on stress (research, good practice and practical advice), bullying and violence.

European Commission
Guidance on work-related stress. Spice of Life or Kiss of Death?
http://osha.europa.eu/en/topics/stress/index_html

European Parliament
Committee on Employment and Social Affairs having published a resolution on harassment at work www.europarl.europa.eu/meetdocs/committees/empl/20020708/471596EN.pdf

New Community Strategy
http://osha.europa.eu/en/publications/work_programmes

Magazine 5- Working on Stress (PDF)
http://osha.europa.eu/publications/magazine/5/en/index.htm

Facts 24 - Violence at work (PDF)
Facts 23 - Bullying at work (PDF)
Facts 22 - Work-related stress (PDF)
http://osha.europa.eu/ew2002

Agency Research Report on Work-related Stress
http://osha.europa.eu/publications/reports/203/en/index.htm

Research on OSH and Changing World of Work Report
http://osha.europa.eu/publications/reports/#cww

Forum
http://osha.europa.eu/publications/forum

Agency Good Practice Resources
http://osha.europa.eu/en/practical-solutions

Agency manual on campaigns
Although general, this publication may provide you with ideas about how to link campaigning activities to the European Week.
http://osha.europa.eu/publications/reports/#campaigning

International Labour Organisation
InFocus Programme on Safety and Health at Work - Safework- Stress at work:
www.ilo.org/public/english/protection/safework/stress/index.htm

InFocus Programme on Safety and Health at Work - Safework- Violence at work
www.ilo.org/public/english/protection/safework/violence/index.htm

OSHE Websites to surf......

Belgium

Trade Union Technical Bureau: Women's Health and Safety
www.etuc.org/tutb/uk/survey.html
Trade Union Technical Bureau, the research arm of the European Trades Union Confederation (ETUC) outcome of a Survey on Gender Dimension in Health and Safety published in English and French. Some of the chapters are available on this web site.

New Zealand

Accident Compensation Corporation   ACC
www.acc.co.nz/preventing-injuries
Accident Compensation Corporation (ACC) Back Injury Prevention web site contains managing acute low back pain in the workplace. ACC administers New Zealand's accident compensation scheme, which provides accident insurance for all New Zealand citizens, residents and temporary visitors to New Zealand. In return people do not have the right to sue for personal injury, other than for exemplary damages. Covers a number of topics and guidance.

Spain

European Agency for Safety and Health and Work: Stress
http://osha.europa.eu/en/practical-solutions
The European Agency for Safety and Health and Work provides up-to-date information on good safety and health practice with regard to stress at work. Publications and information resources on risk assessment, case studies, prevention, training, treatment and policy are included.

European Agency for Safety and Health and Work: Stress
http://osha.europa.eu/en/publications/factsheets
The European Agency for Safety and Health and Work web site gives a number documents under stress, bullying, violence at work and related topics.

Sweden

National Institute for Working Life: Women's Health and Safety
www.niwl.se/wwh
Women Work & Health Congress held in Stockholm, Sweden in early June 2002 has a range of topics from stress to work-related illnesses. Although the 2002 Congress is over, the website that contains documents and information from the 2002 Congress will remain available until the next Congress on Women Work & Health in India in 2005.

Switzerland

International Labour Organisation SafeWork : Violence At Work
www.ilo.org/public/english/protection/safework/violence/index.htm
The International Labour Organisation SafeWork programme provides information on good safety and health practice with regard to violence at work.

UK

Hazards Centre: Women's Health and Safety
www.hazards.org/women
The UK Hazards Centre web site. Women's work has lots of risks and little work protection. Women's health and safety is neglected, say unions - and something must be done about it. Contains list of relevant resources from other organisations.

Health and Safety Executive: Back Pain
www.hse.gov.uk/RESEARCH/crr_htm/2002/crr02441.htm
The UK Health and Safety Executive Contract Research Report CRR 441/2002 Initiative Evaluation Report - Back in Work in full text. Back pain is the leading cause of sickness absence from work in the UK. It is estimated that in 1995, 10 million working days were lost because of back pain. The cost to the National Health Service of treating back pain and injury has been estimated at GB£481 million, and the overall cost to industry has been estimated at GB£5 billion. The Back in Work Initiative was established to identify and develop innovative ideas to tackle back pain in the workplace, to develop good practice and to improve workplace health. This document provides a summary of the projects that comprised the Back in Work Initiative. 18 of the funded projects provided results and final reports within the originally stated timeframes.

Health and Safety Executive: Manual Handling
www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/manlinde.htm
The Health and Safety Executive manual handling advice and guidance. A number of full text documents available offer information in various industry sectors such as textiles, food and drink, farms and postal services.

National Health Service: Back Pain
www.dh.gov.uk/en/Publicationsandstatistics/Publications/PublicationsPolicyAndGuidance/DH_4008187
The UK National Health Service national Back in Work campaign is aimed at everyone who works in the NHS whether in an acute hospital, the community or the local GP practice. It is intended to address everyone from kitchen porters to doctors, from nurses to members of the Board.

Think Back
www.think-back.com
Think-Back is a support group and branch of BackCare - The UK National Organisation for Healthy Backs (formally the National Back Pain Association) and is based in Chelmsford, Essex UK. They provide a support, contact and information service for those with ALL back problems and run their own back pain management programme called Think-Back.

USA

Job Stress Network
www.workhealth.org/index.html
The US Job Stress Network's website of the Center for Social Epidemiology provides a primary source for relevant information on job stress, gives advice on risk factors, prevention, news, research and further references.

National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health NIOSH   Ergonomics Collection
www.cdc.gov/niosh/ergopage.html
The US National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) collection of information on ergonomics, lifting tasks, back belts and back injuries, computer keyboards, vibration. Other documents, resources and links are listed.

National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health NIOSH: Women's Health and Safety
www.cdc.gov/niosh/99-104.html
The US National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health NIOSH 23 page publication on The Effects of Workplace Hazards on Female Reproductive Health gives good guidance and advice.

National Library of Medicine   NLM Women's Health and Safety   USA
www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/womenshealthgeneral.html
Women's health pages from the US National Library of Medicine Medline plus Service covers a wide range of topics. Links to other sources.

New York Committee for Occupational Safety and Health (NYCOSH): Women's Health and Safety
www.nycosh.org/links_H-Z.html
Women's health and safety topics, advice and guidance from the US New York Committee for Occupational Safety and Health (NYCOSH). Covers a range of topics and inks to other sources.

Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA): Violence At Work Collection
www.osha.gov/SLTC/workplaceviolence/index.html
The US Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) say that workplace violence has emerged as an important safety and health issue in today's workplace. The OSHA web site gives guidance and advice..

Make my day ... please send some news ... your Editor

Diary of Events

Even if you cannot attend these events - write and ask for details.... they may help you organise a similar event in your country

2 October 2002 - Waste Management: law and practice.
Harrington Hall, 5-25 Harrington Gardens, London SW7 4JW, UK
Contact: Sally Turner, Croner Training, 12-18 Grosvenor Gardens, London SW1W 0DH, UK | Tel: +44 0845 120 9604 | Fax:+ 44 (0)20 7730 5083 | Email: sally.turner@cronertraining.co.uk | www.cronertraining.co.uk

2 October 2002 - Health and Safety Legislation Update
Marriott Courtyard Coventry, London Road, Ryton-on-Dunsmore, Coventry CV8 3DY UK
Contact: Sally Turner, Croner Training, 12-18 Grosvenor Gardens, London SW1W 0DH, UK | Tel: +44 0845 120 9604 | Fax:+ 44 (0)20 7730 5083 | Email: sally.turner@cronertraining.co.uk | www.cronertraining.co.uk

27-29 April 2003 - Aviation Fire and Security International Exhibition and Conference
Airport Expo, Dubai, United Emirates
Contact: Alison Weller, Fairs and Exhibitions, B34 Barwell Business Park, Leatherhead Road, Chessington, Surrey KT9 2BY,UK | Tel: +44 (0) 20 8391 0999 | Fax:+ 44 (0)20 8391 0220 | Email: asfi@fairs-exhibs.com | www.fairs-exhibs.com

28 September - 1 October 2003 - EUROTOX 2003: 41st Congress of the European Societies of Toxicology
Florence, Italy
Contact: Scientific Organising Secretariat, EUROTOX 2003, Fondazione Giovanni Lorenzini, Medical Science Foundation, Via Appiani, 7-20121 Milan, Italy | Tel: +39 (02) 29006267 | Fax:+ 39 (02)20 29007018 | Email: info@eurotox2003.org | www.lorenzinifoundation.org

25 June 2003 - Health and Safety Legislation Update
Strand Palace Hotel, 372 Stand, London WC2R 0JJ, UK
Contact: Sally Turner, Croner Training, 12-18 Grosvenor Gardens, London SW1W 0DH, UK | Tel: +44 0845 120 9604 | Fax:+ 44 (0)20 7730 5083 | Email: sally.turner@cronertraining.co.uk | www.cronertraining.co.uk

27- 30 October 2003 - A+A 2003: Safety and Health at Work: Personal Protective Equipment and Occupational Safety. International Trade Fair with Congress and Special Events
Dusseldorf, Germany
Contact: ITSL Ltd., Ramsay House, Marchmont Farm, Link Road, Hemel Hempstead, Herts HP2 6JH, UK | Tel: +44 (0) 1442 23 00 33 | Fax:+ 44 (0) 1442 23 00 12 | Email: info@itsluk.com | www.AplusA-online.de

2004

6-9 June 2004 - Safety 2004: 7th World Conference on Injury Prevention and Safety Promotion: Inequalities in Injury Risk and Access to Safety Solutions
Vienna, Austria
Contact: Institute "Sicher Leben", Austrian Board for Safety and Prevention, Oelzeltgasse 3, A-1030 Vienna, Austria, Europe | Fax:+ 43 1 715 66 44 30 | Email: safety2004@sicherleben.at

2005

18-23 September 2005 - XVIIth World Congress on Safety and Health at Work
Orlando, USA.
Contact: National Safety Council, USA | Tel: +1 630 775 2056 | www.safety2005.org

Plan ahead for November 2002

11 November - Europe Social Work Action Day: www.ifsw.org

* Second week of November - European Science and Technology Week: www.cordis.lu/scienceweek/home.htm

16 November - International Day for Tolerance: www.un.org/en/events/toleranceday

20 November - Africa Industrialization Day: www.unido.org

20 November - Universal Children's Day: www.unicef.org

19-22 November - European Employment Week: www.employmentweek.com

25 November - International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women: www.unifem.undp.org