CIS Newsletter

No. 177
June 2004

CIS Newsletter celebrates 16 years & still going strong! Bringing news to over 135 countries in the CIS Network

Contents

  1. Editorial
  2. 31 May 2004 Tobacco Free Day
  3. News from around the World - Australia, Canada, China, Europe, ILO, Ireland, Japan, Mexico, Russia, UK, USA
  4. FOCUS on the Russian OSH scene
  5. OSHE web sites
  6. Diary of Events
  7. CIS

Editorial

Dear CIS Colleagues

Good news for CIS networkers - the annual meeting date is firming up... I suggested in the CIS Newsletter May 2004 that you should hold the week beginning 13 September 2004 in your Diaries.... Now very happy to say that CIS Meeting most likely to be 17 and 18 September - with visit and also a workshop on 15 and 16 September. To be hosted by prevent in Brussels, Belgium. These dates will be firmed up very shortly by CIS HQ.

I wonder if any of you have any success stories about 28 April 2004 which was The World Day for Safety and Health at Work. Hope you made your CIS Centre well known in your countries. Whatever you did you might send me a message so that I can share your successes with other Centres in our Network.

As usual News items from around the world abound in this bumper edition - giving details of lots of very diverse products, services and events that are happening.

Thanks to all the contributors to this edition of your Newsletter - all news however small is most welcomed. If you are planning any publications, seminars or training courses, then please send your details to me so that we can share your efforts with others. Don't forget to send me your latest news! It is amazing how much the CIS Newsletter content gets re-used around the world.

You know I welcome ideas for inclusion in the future editions of this Newsletter. Let me know if there are any areas you would wish to see covered in future.

Remember the back issues of the CIS Newsletter are available at the click of the mouse on www.sheilapantry.com/cis. Please note that my new email.

Best wishes to you and your colleagues.

Sheila Pantry, OBE

85 The Meadows, Todwick, Sheffield S26 1JG, UK
Tel: +44 1909 771024
Fax: +44 1909 772829
Email: sp@sheilapantry.com
www.oshworld.com
www.sheilapantry.com
www.shebuyersguide.com

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

31 May 2004 The Tobacco Free Initiative proposes that World No Tobacco Day 2004 focus on tobacco and poverty

The contribution of tobacco to death and disease is well documented. Less attention is given to the ways in which tobacco increases poverty. Tobacco is the fourth most common risk factor for disease worldwide. The economic costs of tobacco use are equally devastating. In addition to the high public health costs of treating tobacco-caused diseases, tobacco kills people at the height of their productivity, depriving families of breadwinners and nations of a healthy workforce.

Tobacco users are also less productive while they are alive due to increased sickness. A 1994 report estimated that the use of tobacco resulted in an annual global net loss of US$ 200 thousand million, a third of this loss being in developing countries. Since 1988, World No Tobacco Day (WNTD) has been held on May 31. Created by the World Health Assembly, It is the only global event to call worldwide attention to the impact of tobacco use on public health.

All over the world, WNTD is celebrated with media campaigns and special activities. Last year's theme was tobacco-free films, tobacco free fashion.

This year, the theme is Tobacco and poverty - a vicious circle

Developing countries hit hardest by tobacco
Close to 60% of the cigarettes smoked each year and 75% of tobacco users are in developing countries. People with lower incomes and less education tend to use tobacco products more than wealthier, more educated individuals (World Health Organization). Tobacco reinforces the cycle of poverty because money is spent on tobacco instead of food, education and health care.

Spread the word!
The World Health Organization is calling on governments, communities, organizations, schools, and health centres to talk about tobacco and poverty.

Make your own list of how much people could save by quitting using tobacco. For more information visit the World No Tobacco Day website: www.who.int/tobacco/areas/communications/events/wntd/2004/en

News from around the World......

No-nonsense guide to ergonomics

A new book, published by the Institution of Occupational Safety and Health (IOSH) exploring the increasingly important world of ergonomics in the workplace is now available.

The second edition of Workplace ergonomics: a practical guide, written by IOSH members Dr Céline McKeown and Michael Twiss, provides a no-nonsense introduction to the key principles of workplace ergonomics.

Straightforward explanations, clear examples and a user-friendly layout all help to aid the readers' understanding. The book reflects a practical approach rather than dealing in highly technical, theoretical and academic terminology, keeping the text crisp and clear.

Workplace ergonomics focuses on ergonomics in the design process, job design and work organisation, and deals with some more specific issues including: computer and laptop use, hand tools and manual handling, along with the sometimes controversial topic of upper limb disorders. A practical section on the basics of anthropometry is also included.

The book (ISBN 0 9013 5735 9) is available to purchase, priced £15, by calling the IOSH Services orderline on +44 (0) 1787 249293

Established in 1945 and incorporated by Royal Charter in 2003, IOSH is Europe's leading body for health and safety professionals, representing over 27,000 members. Principally a UK-based body, it also has an increasing international profile, with members in more than 50 countries. An independent, not-for-profit organisation, the Institution regulates and steers the profession, maintaining standards and providing impartial, authoritative guidance on health and safety issues. IOSH provides a centre of excellence for professional standards; promotes awareness of the importance of health, safety and sustainability; advances research and disseminates knowledge; encourages, facilitates and leads communication of information, good practice and expertise; and supports and develops the competence of members.

Institution of Occupational Safety and Health
The Grange, Highfield Drive, Wigston, Leicestershire LE18 1NN, UK | Tel: +44 (0)116 257 3100 | Fax: +44 (0)116 257 3101 | www.iosh.co.uk
Visit www.safestartup.org the website for health and safety information for small businesses.
Read and discuss topical health, safety & environmental issues at www.iosh.co.uk/discussion

Papers are invited for a Symposium on Beryllium: Sampling and Analysis

Papers are invited for a Symposium on Beryllium: Sampling and Analysis, sponsored by ASTM Committee D22 on Sampling and Analysis of Atmospheres and its Subcommittee D22.04 on Workplace Atmospheres. The symposium will be held April 21-22, 2005, in Reno, Nevada, USA., in conjunction with the April 18-20, 2005 standards development meetings of Committee D22.

Occupational exposure to beryllium can cause insidious disease that can be fatal, and new exposure limits for beryllium in air and on surfaces have been established in efforts to reduce exposure risks to potentially affected workers. Advances in sampling and analytical methods for beryllium are needed in order to meet the challenges relating to exposure assessment and risk

reduction. The symposium will provide a forum for technical exchanges on current research and status regarding beryllium sampling and analysis issues. While the primary emphasis will be on current research in the area of beryllium sampling and analysis, it is hoped that participants will be able to identify areas where pertinent standards can be developed concerning beryllium sample collection and analytical procedures.

To participate in the symposium, presenters/authors must submit the online

Abstract Submittal Form www.astm.org/SYMPOSIA and attach a 250-300 word preliminary abstract by Sept. 15, 2004. The abstract must include a clear definition of the objective and approach of the work discussed, pointing out material that is new, and present sufficient details regarding results. The presentation and manuscript must not be of a commercial nature nor can it have been previously published. Because a limited number of abstracts will be accepted, be sure that the abstract is complete to allow for careful assessment of the paper's suitability for this symposium. The symposium chairman, Kevin Ashley, will notify you in writing by Oct. 30, 2004 of your paper's acceptability for presentation at the symposium. If the preliminary abstract is accepted, the presenter/author will be requested to submit a final camera-ready abstract several months before the symposium. The final abstracts will be distributed in an abstract booklet at the symposium. Publication of the peer-reviewed symposium papers in the online journal, Journal of ASTM International (JAI) is anticipated. JAI is an online, peer-reviewed journal for the international scientific and engineering community. You may view JAI at www.astm.org/JAI.

Once the final selection of abstracts has been approved, the ASTM staff will send you authors' instructions. Manuscripts to be peer reviewed for JAI are due at ASTM Headquarters by Feb. 21, 2005. The corresponding author (the author who is the main contact with ASTM Headquarters) will receive a complimentary copy of his/her paper in portable document format (PDF). All published authors will have the opportunity to purchase reprints of their papers at a nominal cost.

Additional information about the symposium is available from Symposium Chairman Dr. Kevin Ashley, CDC/NIOSH, Cincinnati, Ohio Tel: + 1 513/841-4402; KAshley@cdc.gov; or Symposium Co-Chairs: David Hamel, DOL/OSHA, Washington, D.C. Tel: +1 202/693-2251; hamel.dave@dol.gov ; Kathryn Creek, Los Alamos National Laboratory, Los Alamos, N.M. Tel: +1 505/665-1929; Creek@lanl.gov.

News from Australia

Australian Safety And Compensation Council

Australian The Australian Government has today proposed a new body that will lead to improvements in workplace safety and workers compensation in Australia.

The proposal is to establish the Australian Safety and Compensation Council (ASCC).

Federal Employment and Workplace Relations Minister Kevin Andrews announced the Australian Government's proposal at the Workplace Relations Ministers' Council (WRMC) in Sydney on 19 May 2004.

The new body will comprise representatives from each State and Territory government, as well as the Australian Government, along with employer and employee representatives.

The ASCC will establish a national approach to workplace safety and workers compensation which currently does not exist in Australia.

There is currently no national body for workers compensation in Australia. This means there is no consistency to workers compensation, nor is there a national approach.

Workers compensation is a complex system which employers and employees struggle to understand.

The ASCC's main role will be to coordinate research and provide policy advice to the WRMC - which comprises the Federal Workplace Relations Minister and his State and Territory counterparts.

ASCC will be a forum for better national discussion and coordination while respecting states' jurisdictions over workplace safety and workers compensation.

The Australian Government will maintain its current funding for this body.

Reaction: Australia: Federal government axes safety body

Unions have reacted angrily to an Australia federal government move to replace the National Occupational Health and Safety Commission (NOHSC) with a trimmed-down 'ministerial advisory group.' Victorian Trades Hall Council secretary Leigh Hubbard said the move, which will see the end of Australia's only tripartite national health and safety policy and research coordinating body, was 'tantamount to winding back the clock on national standards in health and safety in the workplace and could put workers' lives at risk.'

Hubbard added 'there can be no excuse' for a cash rich government 'to abolish a body which is the only national forum in which state governments, employers, unions and the federal minister can sit down together and work on making Australia's workplaces safer.' He added: 'To suggest that the work on health and safety is done and can be relegated to a small committee is an insult to those who have been injured or died on the job. This latest move is simply another example of how little this government cares for Australian workers.' Australia's work fatality rate is several times that of the UK and is one of the worst in the developed world.

News from the ILO

Pregnancy in the workplace

A recent International Labour Organisation (ILO) report Healthy beginnings: Guidance on safe maternity at work, by Jane Paul has reinforced the importance of taking special precautions in regard to pregnant women in workplaces. There are many kinds of reproductive hazards in the workplace and the following are representative of the categories of hazards.

The report Healthy beginnings: Guidance on safe maternity at work, by Jane Paul is available at: www.ilo.org/travail/whatwedo/publications/lang--en/docName--WCMS_TRAVAIL_PUB_66
Geneva, International Labour Office, 2004
ISBN 92-2-115238-3 (soft cover) ISBN 92-2-115239-1 (.pdf version)

The 10th International Conference on Occupational Respiratory Diseases (10th ICORD) 19 - 22 April 2005

The 10th International Conference on Occupational Respiratory Diseases (10th ICORD) will be held in Beijing, China, from 19 to 22 April 2005. The Conference is organized by the International Labour Office (ILO) in collaboration with the Ministry of Health of China, with the participation of the World Health Organization (WHO), the International Commission on Occupational Health (ICOH) and the International Occupational Hygiene Association (IOHA). The nine previous Conferences were held respectively in Johannesburg (1930), Geneva (1938), Sydney (1950), Bucharest (1971), Caracas (1978), Bochum (1983), Pittsburgh (1988), Prague (1992) and Kyoto (1997).

The Conference theme is "Occupational Respiratory Hazards in the 21st Century: Best Practices for Prevention and Control". It will provide an excellent opportunity for scientists, occupational physicians, health practitioners, hygienists, engineers, management, workers and legislators to exchange scientific and technical information on the health effects of air pollutants at the workplace and on the prevention and control of occupational respiratory diseases.

For more information or please visit www.ICORD2005.com or send email to executive@icord2005.com or write to:

The 10th International Conference on Occupational Respiratory Diseases (10th ICORD) Secretariat

c/o International Health Exchange and Cooperation Center (IHECC), Ministry of Health, China, 1 Xi Zhi Men Wai Nan Lu, Beijing 100044, China | Tel: +86-10-6226-1874/ 6226 -1738/ 6226 -1735 | Fax: +86-10-6226-1849

News from Canada

Protecting our eyes from sun damage

You may think that sunglasses are simply a status symbol worn by rock stars and Hollywood types. True enough. But sunglasses that shield the eyes from ultraviolet (UV) light through a properly fitted lens also help prevent the formation of cataracts.

Reflected light can cause an eye-burn
According to the Canadian Ophthalmological Society (COS), studies show that permanent damage to the eyes can occur when they are not adequately protected from prolonged sun exposure. Reflected light in particular – from water, sand, snow or pavement – can actually produce a burn on the surface of the eye. Frequent exposure over a long period of time (years versus months) can lead to damage of the internal structures of the eye, including the lens and the retina. UV light is also a risk factor for "macular degeneration," which leads to loss of central vision, as well as "pterygium" or a growth that invades the corner of the eyes. Why sunglasses are so important

"It's very important to wear sunglasses outdoors," says Karen Wilson, a Toronto optometrist and primary eye care provider. "The amount of UV light that we get exposed to indoors is about one-ten-millionth of what we get outside on a sunny day."

Which brings us to another point. Thanks to depletion of the ozone layer, the amount of UV light we are exposed to get higher and higher each year. Cataracts used to be seen only after a lifetime of unprotected UV light exposure when people were in their 70s and older. Now, however, children exposed to UV light levels today are at risk of developing cataracts in their 20s and 30s, says Wilson.

Why sunglasses are so important

"It's very important to wear sunglasses outdoors," says Karen Wilson, a Toronto optometrist and primary eye care provider. "The amount of UV light that we get exposed to indoors is about one-ten-millionth of what we get outside on a sunny day." Which brings us to another point. Thanks to depletion of the ozone layer, the amount of UV light we are exposed to get higher and higher each year. Cataracts used to be seen only after a lifetime of unprotected UV light exposure when people were in their 70s and older. Now, however, children exposed to UV light levels today are at risk of developing cataracts in their 20s and 30s, says Wilson.

Tri-national OSH Web Site

The Tri-national Occupational Safety and Health Working Group under the North American Agreement on Labour Cooperation (NAALC) has launched a Web site, www.naalcosh.org to promote and improve safety in the workplace. The NAALC, a supplemental agreement to the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), has a mandate to protect the rights and improve working conditions and living standards for workers in Canada, the United States and Mexico.

The new web site stems from the Working Group's first meeting, on July 8 and 9, 2002 in Mexico City, when it established technical expert subgroups to focus on four key areas of occupational safety and health:

The launch of the web site means people in Canada, the United States and Mexico will have access to health and safety information links that promote public involvement and education. The information on the site will also facilitate the exchange of health and safety best practices. "I believe that this Web site will serve as an excellent source of information about the Working Group as well as the various important occupational safety and health activities of the three governments," said Canadian Labour Minister Claudette Bradshaw. "Collaborative projects such as this one encourage the ongoing exchange of information and the sharing of good practices that promote improved working conditions and living standards."

The web site contains information on occupational health and safety programs from Canada, the United States and Mexico, as well as information on standards, workplace inspections, compliance, research, statistics and indicators, training, publications, and occupational health and safety legislation.

The Working Group is comprised of government occupational safety and health experts from the three countries. These experts discuss issues raised in public communications, make technical recommendations to the governments, develop and evaluate occupational safety and health projects, and identify other issues appropriate for collaboration.

The group meets on an ongoing basis, and most recently met in Toronto, April 26 and 27, in conjunction with the Industrial Accident Prevention Association's annual Health and Safety Conference and Trade Show. www.naalcosh.org In English French and Spanish

European Week for Safety and Health at Work

The European Week for Safety and Health at Work which will take place on 18-22 October 2004 is an information campaign designed to raise awareness and promote activities to make Europe a safe and healthy place to work. It is coordinated by the European Agency and will be run in the Member States, accession, EFTA and candidate countries.

The Week is aimed at the workplace and all safety and health institutions and organisations, trade unions, companies, managers, employees and safety representatives are invited to take part and organise their own activities. These can include special audits and risk assessment activities in the workplace, organising training, distributing information material, launching a new workplace policy, suggestion schemes, encouraging participation of employees and their representatives or linking-up with other organisations, businesses or sub contractors to carry out activities in partnership.

The slogan of EW2004 is 'Building in Safety'. Information pack available at http://osha.europa.eu/en/campaigns/ew2004/infopack

Largest EU campaign ever tackles the huge human and financial costs of poor safety standards in Europe's construction industry. Higher safety and health standards in Europe's construction industry could save up to 1,300 lives each year and avoid 850,000 serious injuries, according to the European Agency for Safety and Health at Work at the recent launch of its major campaign.

Cutting the sector's high incidence of accidents and work-related illnesses could also save the EU up to EUR75 billion a year, claims the Agency.

The 'Building in Safety' campaign, which will culminate in the annual European Week for Safety and Health at Work (18-22 October 2004), will highlight the health and safety risks in Europe's construction industry, as well as the solutions, in more than 30 countries throughout the continent, making it the largest ever campaign of its kind.

Speaking at the launch in Dublin, Pat Cox, President of the European Parliament, said: 'Construction is one of the EU's most important industries, employing over 12 million people and worth over EUR900 billion a year. Yet it has one of the worst safety and health records: its accident rate, for example, is twice as high as the EU industry average. The incidence of back pain and other musculoskeletal problems, exposure to hazardous substances and many other risks are also significantly above the average. These problems need to be urgently addressed, not just to alleviate the very real human suffering, but also to reduce the financial burden on businesses and society.'

Bertie Ahern, Prime Minister of the Republic of Ireland, which holds the EU Presidency, added: "Tackling this issue is not just the responsibility of construction firms; it is the duty of everyone with a stake in the sector, including architects, planners, engineers and others. Many accidents on building sites are due to decisions taken before any building work starts. As a result, the only way forward - as with so many other health and safety issues - is through partnerships. We have to work together and the Agency's Building in Safety campaign epitomises this approach - with the full commitment of the EU Presidency, Parliament, Commission and Europe's social partners."

EU Health and Consumer Protection Commissioner David Byrne said: "Our health is our wealth. By placing the safety of construction workers at the heart of this European Construction week we can improve health, reduce costs and strengthen competitiveness. Through effective social partnership we can work to deliver health, employment and prosperity. I am convinced that the European Week on Construction 2004 could be the most prolific yet in terms of contributing to implementation of the Community Strategy on health and safety at Work 2002-2006 and could set the benchmark for future 'European Weeks'."

The campaign, which will be underpinned by a range of printed and online information, including examples of good practice, will be supported by thousands of events in 31 European countries, including Member States, as well as acceding, candidate and EFTA countries. Coordinated by the Agency's network of national focal points, events will range from training initiatives and promotional campaigns to seminars and workshops. In addition, businesses and organisations involved in the construction industry will be invited to sign an online campaign charter to demonstrate their commitment to higher OSH standards in the industry. Full details can be found at the Agency's special European week 2004 website http://osha.europa.eu/en/campaigns/ew2004.

'Our goal is not only to raise awareness of the risks, especially among small- to medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), which account for more than 80% of workers in construction, but also provide the tools to improve standards,' said Hans-Horst Konkolewsky, the Agency's Director. 'This includes guides and checklists for risk assessment and examples of good practice solutions all freely available from our website. The situation won't change overnight, but I'm confident we can make a significant impact, provided we have everyone's commitment. Signing up to our online campaign charter is the first step to displaying such commitment.'

At the launch both sides of the industry were represented by the European social partners, Ulrich Paetzold, Director of the European Construction Industry Federation, and Harrie Bijen, General Secretary of the European Federation of Building and Wood Workers.

Further information: European Agency for Safety and Health at Work, Gran Via 33, E-48009 Bilbao, Spain | Email: information@osha.eu.int | Fax: +34 94 479 4383.

Protecting workers from asbestos: a new UK legal duty

Protection for building and maintenance workers from the fatal diseases caused by asbestos will be enhanced tomorrow when the new duty to manage comes into force. The duty will require anyone responsible for the maintenance of commercial, industrial or public properties or for the common areas of domestic properties, to check for asbestos and properly manage the risk.

Many structures built or renovated between 1950 and 1980 still contain asbestos, about half a million buildings across Britain. Asbestos becomes dangerous when disturbed; if maintenance workers are not warned they may dislodge the deadly fibres and unwittingly put their lives in jeopardy. So the risks are great - but effective compliance with the duty to manage will help save about 5,000 lives.

Jane Kennedy, Minister of State for Work, said:

"With the government's whole-hearted support, the Health and Safety Executive is engaged in a campaign to get the message on asbestos in buildings across to the huge audience who need to know about it, and to encourage them to take effective action. It must surely make good business sense to find out whether your premises contain asbestos, and then make certain that building and maintenance workers are warned in advance."

Asbestos is the biggest occupational health risk ever faced by workers in Britain. About 3,500 people are dying every year as a result of exposure to asbestos many years ago, before it was banned. This figure is expected to reach at least 4,000 deaths annually, peaking sometime between the years 2011 and 2015. Most of these deaths are from mesothelioma (cancer of the lung lining) or lung cancer.

Bill Callaghan, Chairman of the Health and Safety Commission, said:

"Asbestos is not yesterday's problem. We must now meet the challenge of managing the risks from asbestos, if we are to prevent another generation of workers suffering an early death at its hand."

"Sadly, we can't turn the clock back for the people who breathed in asbestos fibres in the shipyards, docks and factories of 30 years ago. But what we can and must do is to make every effort to prevent any more exposure to this terrible material."

More information on asbestos is available on HSE's website: www.hse.gov.uk/asbestos/index.htm

European Commission encourages open negotiations on working time

The European Commission is calling on workers' and employers' representatives ("social partners") at European level to play their role in bringing key aspects of the Working Time Directive up to date.

Following a Europe-wide consultation earlier this year, the Commission identified specific areas where both sides of industry should negotiate. Firstly, following recent judgements of the European Court of Justice on time spent on-call by health professionals, it is necessary to clarify to what extent this should be counted as working time. Secondly, in order to tackle abuses in the application of the individual opt-out from the 48-hour week the document identifies various approaches for the consideration of social partners. Thirdly, the Commission suggests that the period over which the 48-hour weekly average is calculated should be extended from the current four months. As regards the opt-out, the principal objective is to ensure the proper protection of workers' health and safety. Employment and social affairs Commissioner Stavros Dimas said: "More than ten years after the directive was adopted, the experience we have gained shows that some parts of it need to be clarified or revised. The challenge we face is to ensure the protection of workers' health and safety, whilst at the same time giving firms the flexibility they need to remain competitive." The purpose of the document adopted this week is to call upon the social partners to negotiate, and failing that, to give broad indications as to the direction of any legislation that might later be proposed by the Commission.

http://europa.eu/comm/employment_social/labour_law/index_en.htm

NIOSH .... The future .... US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, announced the results of the Futures Initiative activities

On 13 May 2004 Dr. Julie L. Gerberding, Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, announced the results of the Futures Initiative activities which began in 2003. One aspect of the announcement concerns the clustering of the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry/National Center for Environmental Health (ATSDR/NCEH), the National Center for Injury Prevention and Control (NCIPC) and the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) into one of four coordinating centers at CDC.

The new organization provides a framework for the CDC to meet its overarching health protection goals of preparedness, health promotion and prevention of disease, injury and disability through more effective coordination of the programs of its centers, institutes and offices.

The goals of many of the programs of the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health cross organizational lines; therefore, the coordination of the NIOSH program activities within the CDC environment/occupation/injury coordination center will provide opportunities for many more productive collaborations to better achieve our common goals.

NIOSH looks forward to working together with our partners to ensure that the new CDC organizational arrangements are thoughtfully implemented and will benefit the overall NIOSH mission.

CDC Announces New Goals and Organizational Design

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Director Dr. Julie Gerberding announced that CDC will align its priorities and investments under two overarching health protection goals:

  1. Preparedness: All people in all communities will be protected from infectious, environmental, and terrorists threats.
  2. Health Promotion and Prevention of Disease, Injury and Disability: All people will achieve their optimal lifespan with the best possible quality of health in every stage of life. In addition, the agency is developing more targeted goals to assure an improved impact on health at every stage of life including infants and toddlers, children, adolescents, adults, and older adults.

The integrated organization coordinates the agency's existing operational units into four coordinating centers to help the agency leverage its resources to be more nimble in responding to public health threats and emerging issues as well as chronic health conditions.

"For more than half a century this extraordinary agency with the greatest workforce in the world has accomplished so much for the health of people here and around the world," said CDC Director Dr. Julie Gerberding. "However, today's world characterized by tremendous globalization, connectivity, and speed poses entirely new challenges. The steps we are taking through this initiative will better position us to meet these challenges head on. Our aim is to help ensure that all people are protected in safe and healthy communities so they can achieve their full life expectancy."

The new coordinating centers and their directors are:

In addition, Dr. Gerberding announced the following:

Dr. Gerberding and executive leaders throughout CDC will be moving forward to implement these changes by October 1, 2004, the start of the next fiscal year.

nioshenews@cdc.gov

International Council of Chemical Associations hails entry into force of the Stockholm POPs Convention

The International Council of Chemical Associations (ICCA) welcomes the entry into force of the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs).

The Stockholm Convention targets 12 persistent, bioaccumulative and toxic chemicals that are subject to long-range transport in the environment. Although heavily regulated in most developed countries, the Convention obligates governments to take specific measures to control the manufacture, use, release and disposal of these POPs.

The Convention purposely incorporates the use of risk and cost-benefit considerations, which the ICCA believes are integral to the integrity of regulations that govern the use of chemical compounds. For example, the Convention recognizes that there are circumstances in which certain chemicals must be available to combat the debilitating health, social and economic consequences of diseases such as malaria. This risk/cost-benefit approach recognizes the need to weigh public health, environmental safety and socio-economic considerations when determining whether to ban or restrict chemicals.

President and CEO of the American Chemistry Council (ACC) Greg Lebedev, who also is ICCA's current Secretary General, noted the international chemical industry's strong support for the Stockholm Convention.

"The chemical industry played an important role in assuring that a consistent global framework was adopted for the control of POPs," Lebedev said, "and we also provided strong support to the development of the Convention from the outset. Our industry believes that the Stockholm Convention is an important step toward enhancing health and environmental protection worldwide."

The Stockholm Convention enjoys an array of support from industry, environmental groups and the public health community. ICCA members worked hard during the negotiations to ensure a reasonable, risk-based approach to the regulation of POPs. The legal obligations imposed by the Convention are consistent with the chemical industry's commitment under Responsible Care®, the industry's performance improvement initiative operating in 47 countries around the world.

The ICCA urges governments that have not yet ratified the Stockholm Convention to join the international community in this important agreement. "The Stockholm Convention goes a long way toward establishing a balanced regulatory approach to these priority substances," said Lebedev, "but requires effective national implementation to succeed. Our industry is committed to working with the treaty Secretariat and all governments around the world to implement the treaty."

The International Council of Chemical Associations (ICCA) is the worldwide voice of the chemical industry, representing chemical manufacturers and producers all over the world. Its members represent more than 75 per cent of global chemical manufacturing operations with a production value exceeding US $1.6 trillion annually. Almost 30 percent of this production is traded internationally. ICCA promotes and co-ordinates Responsible Care and other voluntary chemical industry initiatives.

Europe's coastline under growing threat from coastal erosion

A fifth of the enlarged EU's coastline is already severely affected by coastal erosion, with coastlines retreating by between 0.5 and 2 metres per year, and in a few dramatic cases up to 15 metres. The UK has 17% of eroding coastline. Coastal erosion has dramatic effects upon the environment and on human activity. It threatens wildlife habitats, the safety of people living on the coast, the infrastructure and economic activities such as tourism.

It is largely caused by human activity in the form of intensive development and use of sand for construction and engineering purposes. Rising sea levels and increasingly frequent storms and floods have made the problem worse. To cope with it, new and sustainable forms of coastal management are needed. Environment Commissioner Margot Wallstrom said: "We need to safeguard our coast. It protects people from the forces of the sea, it is an important habitat for many animals and plants, and it is economically important. The Commission will increase its efforts to ensure sustainable coastal management. But I also appeal to the national, regional and local authorities in charge to do their utmost to stop the erosion process. In the future, development projects along rivers and on the coast have to be much better screened for their impact on coastal erosion. This will require more cooperation across borders in Europe."

New Lone worker and Staff Activity Management System

Software solutions company CABell Ltd has launched an innovative new system to monitor lone workers. The text message based "Easy-Link" system provides a fully automated notification of the whereabouts of individuals who work alone and visit other premises, such as social workers, district nurses, home helps and estate agents.

It uses standard computers and the mobile phone network short message service (SMS) to record real time data such as current job, location and time required. Customers can continue to use their existing mobile phones and numbers as the system will work on any phone and any network.

Marketing Director Phil Bellamy points to Health & Safety Executive guidelines that state employers are responsible for lone workers, and HSE advice that procedures must be put in place to ensure their safety, with a mechanism or procedure to raise the alarm in the event of an emergency or if a lone worker hasn't returned to base on time.

"There is a risk with manual systems and procedures such as log in /out books and wipe boards that it just won't happen" says Mr Bellamy "Colleagues will have the best intentions for their co-workers, but that expected time back in the office note scribbled in the diary is often overlooked by people busy with their own hectic workloads. With 634,000 physical assaults on employees at work and 654,000 threats of violence each year, there is a real need to get it right every time".

Easy-link replaces manual processes by using the latest technology. Staff send messages to the system, such as location and time required and then get a response back that these details have been recorded. This then allows lone workers to enter premises reassured that they are being monitored and help will be sent to the right location if required.

Overdue workers are automatically reminded to check in, and failure to do so will prompt the automatic escalation alarms to contact any number of pre-selected staff, such as supervisors or managers, until the situation is resolved. The phones can also be used as a "panic button", which will immediately summon assistance if needed.

The Health & Safety aspect of the product is obviously one of the most important, but it should be noted that the system also benefits from the following features:

The product has been specifically designed to be flexible, and can be adapted to the individual needs of any organisation. With two versions of the system available, either hosted via the internet (remote data) or a non-hosted network version (local data) it can be utilized by small, medium and large businesses.

For further information or a product demonstration please visit www.easy-link.net or contact: Phil Bellamy Marketing Director, 38B High Street, Keynsham, Bristol BS31 1DX, UK | E-mail info@easy-link.net | Tel: +44 (0) 117 953 9300 or Tel: +44 (0)1934 525126

Canadian information sources

Two sources of health information from Canada:

The Canadian Health Network is brought to you by Health Canada and major health organizations across Canada www.canadian-health-network.ca

Health Canada Online
Health Canada Online is the single point of entry into the federal Department of Health where you can keep on top of breaking news including health advisories and warnings, learn about new developments in health research and disease, and visit the Healthy Living and Just for You sections for practical advice and tools to help improve your health. www.hc-sc.gc.ca

To unsubscribe/subscribe from or to this service, please visit: www.canadian-health-network.ca/servlet/ContentServer?pagename=CHN-RCS/Page/ShellElementPageTemplate&cid=1039795122928&c=Page&

Fibre glass ladder range to EN 131

Boddingtons Electrical are leading specialists in electrical safety and are pleased to announce a new series of fibreglass ladders to add to their extensive range of electrical safety products. Fibreglass is non conductive, strong, light and maintenance free and can withstand extreme temperatures. Unlike timber it won't split, crack or rot, and neither will it corrode dent or fatigue as alloy ladders can.

Fibre Glass Ladders have been regarded very much as niche sector products with a premium price which may have prevented their wider use. However, recent advances in the manufacturing process have allowed a price breakthrough, therefore making the benefits of fibreglass available to all ladder users!

Safety is always the first priority when using a ladder. One of the major advantages of fibreglass is the fact that it is non conductive and therefore safe to use near electrical equipment. In industry - especially the electrical sector - fibreglass ladders are routinely used because they are non-sparking and will not hold a static charge that could damage sensitive electrical equipment.

Extract from HSE report Ergomonics Evaluation into the Safety of Step Ladders "The major disadvantage of aluminium ladders is its conductivity which makes it potentially dangerous to use near electrical power cables or circuits".

Ideal for usage in the Electricity, Gas, Water, Offshore, Rail and Food Industries.

All feature:

Boddingtons Electrical Ltd, Unit 10, Chelmsford Road Industrial Estate, Great Dunmow, Essex. CM6 1HD, UK | Tel: +44 (0) 1371 876496 | Fax: +44 (0) 1371 876438 | Email: info@boddingtons-electrical.com | www.boddingtons-electrical.com

UK Government evidence on long hours is "riddled with errors"

The TUC has told the European Commission on the day they meet in Brussels to discuss the future of the working time directive that the UK Government's case for maintaining the working time opt-out - that allows individual employees to sign away their right to work no more than 48 hours a week on average - "has seriously misrepresented the situation" in the UK.

In a report and letter sent to the Commission today (Wednesday) the TUC analyses the UK Government submission and finds that it:

TUC General Secretary Brendan Barber said, "The UK Government's evidence is riddled with errors, inconsistencies and sloppy argument. If this is the best they can do, it shows the strength of the case for ending the opt-out. Our only worry is that the Commission may fail to understand that this is little more than a cut and paste job from employer lobbying.

"Trade unionists will fail to understand why the Government is arguing to reduce employee rights when they are arguing that people at work should support them in the European elections."

Text of letter to Mr Stavros Dimas, European Commissioner for Employment and Social Affairs.

Dear Mr Dimas

UK Government evidence to the review of the Working Time Directive 93/104/EC

I am concerned that our Government's evidence to the Commission has seriously misrepresented the situation here in the UK. A detailed critique of this evidence is enclosed.

The main points of concern are that the Government's submission seeks to play down the health and safety value of the 48-hour limit on weekly working time whilst greatly exaggerating the business need for long hours.

The TUC is also concerned that the Government has argued for a reduced role for trade unions in determining working time. Given that unions are the key agents for reducing the long hours culture in the UK, it would be very unhelpful if any of the derogations that are currently accessed by bargaining were to be made automatic.

Rather, we would argue that the directive should give unions a greater role in dealing with long hours through collective solutions. This analysis holds true regardless of the size of the employer, as small and medium enterprises would be particularly likely to gain from bargaining on working time issues, since they tend to suffer from a lack of strategic planning on personnel issues.

We share the ETUC's view that the Working Time Directive should have an important role to play in ensuring that a modern working time policy is developed at both national and European level. Such a policy must combine flexibility for employers with real choice for workers within safe limits.

The Working Time Directive should be considered as an important part of the 'social acquis' of the European Union and as an important step towards making 'Social Europe' a reality. Decent minimum standards on working time are a vital part of ensuring the protection of the health and safety of workers, yet the derogations in the directive have allowed the UK to continue to be out of line with the rest of the EU on this issue. Indeed, the incidence of long hours working in the UK is more than 3 times the EU average.

In particular, the so-called 'individual opt-outs' from the 48-hour week have undermined the Working Time Directive in the UK. The result has been that we still have some 3.75 million long hours workers. Their health and safety is at risk, their family life suffers, and it is very unlikely that their employers are getting the best performance from them.

I would therefore strongly urge you to make a clear proposal to the Council that the opt-out should be removed from the Directive, and I would welcome an opportunity to discuss this issue with you in the near future.

Yours sincerely

Brendan Barber
General Secretary

A firm without safety reps is not a safe place to work

Employers sensible enough to realise the business benefits that a team of active, highly trained union safety reps can bring to their company are likely to have the safest workplaces in the UK, says the TUC.

An article in the Spring issue of the TUC-backed health and safety magazine Hazards, looks at the positive impact that union safety reps can have on minimising workplace accidents and injuries. It says that an army of over 320,000 safety reps - trained by the TUC - are responsible for the prevention of thousands of accidents at work each year.

The TUC says that for safety reps to be effective in helping keep work safe, it is crucial that they attend regular training courses. Every year the TUC trains some 10,000 safety reps. However, the TUC is concerned that many safety reps are carrying out their duties without ever having gone on a training course, in some cases because their employer is breaking the law by refusing to give safety reps the time off work to attend a course.

TUC General Secretary Brendan Barber said: 'It's no accident that workplaces where there are unions tend to be much safer places to work. Unions help employers keep their staff safe and their workplaces hazard free. In those workplaces where suspicious bosses refuse to let unions in, it is unfortunately the staff who end up paying the price because they're the one who have to work in unsafe conditions.'

The full Hazards article on safety reps including case studies and detail on the courses provided by the TUC can be accessed at www.hazards.org

Hazards magazine is the TUC-backed workplace health and safety magazine and is recommended reading for all trade union safety reps and others concerned about workplace safety. Hazards, PO Box 199, Sheffield S1 4YL, UK
Tel: +44 (0)114 267 8936) email: sub@hazards.org

Online subscriptions: www.hazards.org/subscribe.htm

All TUC press releases can be found at www.tuc.org.uk

News from the European Commission

Creating new knowledge in nanotechnology and turning it into better quality of life, competitiveness and jobs

The European Commission have adopted an EU strategy to help Europe to become world leader in the rapidly developing field of nanotechnology the science of the infinitely small. Nanotech applications include atom-scale "nano-robots" that can be injected in the human body to cure diseases, electronic "nano-chips" that can store and process much more information than today's microchips, "nano-fibres" for better and always-clean clothes, and "nano-materials" for high-performance coatings, for instance in aircraft and spaceships.

The Communication, "Towards a European strategy for nanotechnology", provides a series of recommendations and initiatives on how to strengthen European Research and Development (R&D) in the field. It proposes an integrated approach to strengthen Europe's R&D in nanosciences and help turn nanotechnologies into commercially viable products for the benefit of society.

Key actions required to achieve these aims include boosting R&D investment and infrastructure, improving training for research personnel, enhancing technology transfer in Europe and its financing, taking into account the impact of nanotechnology on society and increasing international cooperation towards a responsible approach to nanotechnology R&D globally.

"Nanotechnology is fast becoming one of the most promising and rapidly expanding fields of R&D. To make the most of European excellence in nanosciences, research must be translated into commercially viable products and processes," said European Research Commissioner Philippe Busquin.

"In order to provide new impetus towards the knowledge-based objectives in the Lisbon process and turn the EU into the most dynamic powerhouse on the world stage, Europe must increase its collective efforts and investment in this field. It is crucial that we help to create a favourable environment for innovation in the nanotechnology sector, particularly in reference to small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs). Strong public-private partnerships in this emerging technology are also needed. At the same time, we have to ensure nanotech applications are developed in a responsible and transparent way."

http://europa.eu/rapid/pressReleasesAction.do?reference=IP/04/639

News from the European Foundation for the Improvement of Living and Working Conditions

Work and health in the European Union - A statistical portrait

European Foundation for the Improvement of Living and Working Conditions recent report is a statistical portrait of health and safety at work in the European Union. It constitutes the first joint analysis of the various statistical data available at EU level.

It describes the general picture of the working life including characteristics of the European labour force and overall importance of ill-health due to work-related factors. Specific chapters describe statistical data on risk factors and outcomes of safety at work, work-related diseases and psycho-social problems linked to health and safety at work. The distribution of risk factors and the frequency of accidents at work, work-related diseases and work-related problems of psychosocial nature are described by age, gender, sector of economic activity, occupation and other relevant variables.

The publication is based on statistical data collected by Eurostat over the period 1994-2002. Eurostat's data are complemented with data from other sources, especially by data from the European Foundation for the Improvement of Living and Working conditions. The data mainly cover the 15 Member States of the EU, but some preliminary data are available for trends in the incidence of accidents at work in the acceding and candidate countries.
http://europa.eu/comm/eurostat/Public/datashop/print-catalogue/EN?catalogue=Eurostat

Occupational hygiene explained: new brochure from BOHS out now

The British Occupational Hygiene Society (BOHS) has published a new brochure aimed at all occupational health & safety professionals. Its aim is to explain how occupational hygiene fits into the wider occupational health arena, clarify widespread misunderstandings about the terminology, and inform about the products and services available from BOHS to members and non-members alike.

Occupational hygiene isn't about washing your hands properly at work! It is about anticipating, recognising, evaluating and controlling health hazards arising from work and occupational hygienists specialise in controlling the risks to health in practical and cost-effective ways.

BOHS is an inclusive, multidisciplinary society which welcomes anyone with an interest in a healthier working environment, from engineers, scientists, nurses, physicians, right through the spectrum to health, safety & environmental advisors. Much of what it provides is available as a public and professional service to all, regardless of membership.

This includes a wide range of training courses and examinations, access to specialist information, specialists, general occupational health and hygiene information, and a packed programme of meetings, seminars and conferences throughout the UK.

Occupational hygiene is concerned with the anticipation, recognition, evaluation and control of health hazards in the workplace, and the primary objective is to protect the long-term health and well-being of those at work. BOHS is the definitive voice of occupational hygiene and has strong alliances with other health and safety organisations, the HSE, trade unions and business.

The new BOHS was launched in April 2003 following the merger of the original British Occupational Hygiene Society, formed in 1953, with the British Institute of Occupational Hygienists. With a multi-disciplinary membership from within industry, health, education and research, it is by far the biggest hygiene society in Europe and now forms a single focal point to drive forward the profession on behalf of all practitioners, regulators, academics and students in the UK and beyond. The Faculty of Occupational Hygiene within BOHS is recognised internationally as a major professional examination and qualification body, and plays a vital role in developing and maintaining the professional standards of hygienists.

BOHS has pledged its commitment to helping to achieve the ambitious targets in 'Securing Health Together', the Government's ten year occupational health strategy for England and Wales, which aims to reduce ill-health caused by work, promote good health, and rehabilitate those ill or injured back into work.

The new brochure, which is free, gives full details on these and other products and services. It can be downloaded from the website, www.bohs.org or requested directly from BOHS by telephoning +44 (0)1332 298101 or contact Anthea Page, Communications Officer, by e-mail: anthea@bohs.org or by telephone: 01332 298101. BOHS, Suite 2, Georgian House, Great Northern Road, Derby, DE1 1LT, UK

Driving for a living can be a hazardous occupation

Every year over 1,000 workers are killed in work-related road accidents, and an additional 7,500 suffer serious injury. To coincide with International Workers' Memorial Day, the TUC has published a new 'safer driving pack' to encourage employers to take their responsibility for employees on the road more seriously.

Quite apart from the obvious pain and suffering experienced by families who lose a loved one, the TUC is concerned that the high number of work-related fatalities and serious injuries on UK roads represent a huge cost to the UK economy. Official statistics put the annual cost of workers killed or injured on the roads at a massive £3.5 billion (that's in addition to the £14 billion cost of poor health and safety in the UK's shops, factories and offices).

The TUC believes that employers are simply not doing enough to protect the health and safety of their employees who are out and about on the country's roads. All too often, says the leaflet, employers seem to think that if they've asked a member of staff to 'drive safely' then that's their health and safety responsibilities met.

Of course, not all work-related road accidents are preventable, but the TUC thinks that employers could be doing much more. Carrying out a proper risk assessment for all mobile employees to cover factors like the regular and proper servicing of company vehicles, sensible route planning and the setting of achievable deadlines would help cut the number of sales reps, delivery drivers, and HGV drivers killed or injured each year.

The TUC training pack aims to bring the issue of occupational road safety to the attention of the 200,000 or so union safety reps across the country. It gives tips on how reps can bring road safety to their employers' attention, suggests what a good company road safety policy should look like, and states the legal responsibilities of employers towards their driving staff.

TUC General Secretary Brendan Barber said: "Tired, stressed drivers with too many drops to make in too little time are not going to be particularly safe drivers. Bosses have a real responsibility for the safety of their roving staff and reducing unrealistic and unmanageable workloads for their drivers must become a top priority. Because many work-related road accidents are treated like any other road accident, many employers are never called to account".

"The UK does not have a fantastic health and safety record and early indicators suggest that the number of employees killed at work this year is likely to rise. Yet our worsening safety record comes at a time when we are seeing less enforcement of safety laws and a reduction in the level of fines handed out to bosses committing health and safety crimes. This can only have a detrimental effect on all workplace accidents".

A pdf of the TUC leaflet 'Work-related road safety' is available at: www.tuc.org.uk/extras/roadsafety.pdf (large document so may take time to download)

European healthcare workers at risk! Medical sharps' injuries could be reduced by over 80%

The Standing Committee of Nurses of the EU (PCN) and Eucomed, the European Medical Technology Industry Association issued a report entitled "European healthcare workers at risk" on the eve of International Nurses Day (12 May). It is estimated that 1 million needlestick injuries are suffered by healthcare workers in Europe each year, placing them at risk from hepatitis B, hepatitis C, HIV and many other potentially fatal bloodborne infections.

"Nurses are the front-line workers, but unfortunately they are exposed to enormous risks. We need to make sure the work environment is safer. What is good for the nurses is good for the patients", commented Ria von Bönninghausen, President of the Standing Committee of Nurses of the EU.

Maurice Wagner, Director General of Eucomed added, "It is not acceptable that healthcare employers or workers consider the risk of infection as simply 'part of the job'. There is a great deal that can be done to reduce the risk, and there is both an ethical and a legal obligation to do so".

PCN, Eucomed and a number of other European and international professional and patient groups are calling for urgent and concrete steps at EU level to protect healthcare workers from the potentially fatal infections that can result from needlestick and other medical sharps injuries.

Eucomed, Place St. Lambert 14, B 1200 Woluwe St Lambert - Belgium | Tel.: (32 2) 775.92.39 | Fax: (32 2) 771.39.09 | eucomed@eucomed.be | www.eucomed.org

OUT NOW! Eurojargon: dictionary of EU acronyms, abbreviations and terminology

Over 5,000 entries. Includes addresses, URLs and refs to official texts. Unique listing. Endorsed by Commissioner Kinnock. 50 euro to EIA members. For more info, see www.eurojargon.info

Catherine Webb, EIA Manager & Eurotalk Listowner, European Information Association, Central Library, St Peter's Square, Manchester M2 5PD, UK | Tel: +44 (0)161 228 3691 | Fax: +44 (0)161 236 6547 | Email: cwebb@libraries.manchester.gov.uk

HAV breakthrough launched

A simple 'traffic light' system of colour coding has been developed by a construction industry working group in a bid to reduce the Hand Arm Vibration (HAV) risks associated with the use of power tools.

The Construction Confederation and Hire Association Europe (HAE), in partnership with the Health & Safety Executive (HSE), have launched the training package. The working group comprises a unique combination of trade associations, contractors, manufacturers and hire companies.

This is the first time that all sectors of the construction industry have co-operated to produce an integrated training package, a tool that has been designed to be delivered in accordance with the requirements of existing and proposed legislation. Developed by the construction industry's HAV Working Group, comprising trade associations, contractors, manufacturers, and hire companies, the package includes definitive training materials for operatives and supervisors, available in both electronic (Powerpoint) and flipchart versions and distributed in CD format.

The training package features a red/amber/green colour-coding scheme that will allow better tool selection at a glance, without recourse in many cases to complex vibration data.

It was developed through a partnership approach which ensured that:

Regular and frequent exposure to high levels of vibration can cause loss of touch and pain in fingers, pins and needles, lack of grip and damaged wrists. Using the three simple colour-coded bands, in line with the new limits suggested by the Physical Agents Directive, due to be implemented in July 2005, the package is designed to support the assessment and management process required if the daily vibration exposure exceeds 2.5 m/s2

Contact: Kurt Calder, Communications Director, Construction Confederation, 56-64 Leonard Street, London EC2A 4JX UK | Tel: +44 (0) 20 7608 | 5017 | Fax: +44 (0) 20 7608 5011 | Email: kurt.calder@thecc.org.uk | www.thecc.org.uk

Well Being at Work

This concise & easy to use RSI Software contains over 30 minutes of video to help prevent & ease computer related symptoms such as Carpal Tunnel Syndrome, back pain and eye strain. The simple stretching exercises, together with the relaxing background music, provide a valuable tool for the management of stress in the workplace.

This makes it equally suitable as a Corporate Health & Safety solution or the perfect RSI home product. By taking short regular breaks and following the on screen exercises, this Wellbeing at Work CD ROM can help:

Special Features include:
On screen trainer
28 exercises on video to ensure the most effective pace and technique so you to receive the maximum benefit

For all enquiries, comments or feedback: info@wellbeing-at-work.com | Banner House, 47 Woodcote Road, Leigh, Essex SS9 3NP, United Kingdom | Tel: +44 (0) 1702 712474 | Fax: +44 (0) 1702 477203 | www.wellbeing-at-work.com

News from Australia

Thomas Stoddart from the Australian NOHSC writes to draw attention to a number of items that will be of interest to readers:

The Australian OHS Index
http://natindex.nohsc.gov.au
This index is focused on material from the State & Territory OHS authorities around Australia, and includes links to the full text of all guidance material, codes and hazard alerts from this group. Details on the tools used to construct the index and it's contributors can be found: http://natindex.nohsc.gov.au/about.asp

Other new items:

For more information: Thomas Stoddart, Library Manager, National OHS Commission | Tel: + 02 6279 1163 | www.safeworkaustralia.gov.au

News from Japan

Japan General Guidebook on Industrial Safety 2003

The 2003 Guidebook from the Japan Industrial Safety and Health Association (JISHA) gives details on a range of activities:

This latest edition, in English, from the Japanese Industrial Safety and Health Association is available from: JISHA, 5-35-1, Shiba, Minato-ku, Tokyo 108-0014, Japan | Tel: and Fax + 81 3 3454 4596 | Email: kokusai@jisha.or.jp | www.jisha.or.jp

Flour dust at work can cause asthma

For one in ten of all adults who suffer from asthma, work is the cause. There are at least 1,500 cases each year. Bakers are one of the most vulnerable groups, as flour and grain is the second biggest cause of occupational asthma. Some 65,000 baking industry workers are potentially at risk from flour dust.

But South East bakers and their employers can do a lot to help prevent the illness. All workers exposed to flour should have routine workplace health checks to ensure early detection. If spotted early, complete recovery is likely; if not, the lungs can become hypersensitive, leading to serious breathing difficulties, which can stop people working.

Dr Hugh Wolfson, Occupational Hygienist at HSE, said: "Asthma can be a hugely unpleasant and disabling illness and workers deserve better protection from it. Bakers are particularly at risk, especially those who work with flour for long periods. Although many bakeries, especially larger ones, already provide effective controls, there is considerable scope for improvement in the industry. The results of a recent survey, especially when put together with the number of Improvement Notices served by our inspectors, are disappointing."

A recent survey of 55 bakeries in the UK, conducted for the Advisory Committee on Toxic Substances (ACTS), revealed a low level of compliance with the Control of Substances Hazardous to Health (COSHH) Regulations, and poor working practices. Despite most (80 percent) bakeries confirming awareness that flour dust is a respiratory sensitiser:

In Great Britain in the last three years, HSE inspectors have served 73 Improvement Notices to bakeries on matters relating to flour dust. Dr Wolfson adds: "But the good news is that employers can do a great deal to lower the risk of asthma in the baking industry. Engineering controls such as dust extraction equipment are the starting point - along with HSE's top ten tips for bakers, COSHH Essentials guidance and routine health checks."

HSE's top ten tips, distributed to the baking industry as part of its guidance, highlight the simple precautions that can be taken when handling flour. For example, bakers should:

The Breathe Easy training package, including video, is also available. Developed jointly by HSE, Federation of Bakers, National Association of Master Bakers, Scottish Association of Master Bakers, Bakers Food and Allied Workers Union and others, it can be obtained from Federation of Master Bakers, 6 Catherine St, London WC2B 5JJ or Tel: +44 (0)20 7420 7190.

Advice is also available from a HSE book, "Bakers' Dozen" HSG233, from HSE Books 01787 881165 or More information on www.hse.gov.uk/asthma/bakers.htm

Successful prevention of risks during construction

Good Practice Awards 2004

25 countries to take part in European health and safety award scheme

The Agency has invited nominations for the fifth European Good Practice Awards in occupational safety and health. The 2004 award scheme will recognise companies or organisations that have made outstanding and innovative contributions to the prevention of risks from construction and building activities.

Good practice examples are implemented solutions to prevent the exposure of workers to risks during construction activities. All entries should show good management, particularly the effective use of risk assessment and implementation of its findings, and be focused on 'successful prevention of risks to workers'. Entries are invited from all areas of building and maintenance work, not just construction and examples may come from different stages of the construction process - from the initial design and planning stage right through to the work place or worksite phase. They can be submitted by workplaces or by intermediary organisations, including chambers of commerce, trade and professional associations and trade unions.

The Director of the European Agency, Hans-Horst Konkolewsky, said 'Construction is one of Europe's largest industries, with an annual turnover in excess of €900 billion. Unfortunately it also has one of the worst occupational safety and health records. This has to change and the good practice awards aim to demonstrate, by example, to all European employers and workers the benefits of following good safety and health practice in building tomorrow's Europe.'

This is the fifth year of the awards, which come under the umbrella of the annual European Week for Safety and Health at Work. This year's awards will also be open to the new Member States - which means that a total of 25 countries will be taking part. The Agency will announce the winners at the week's closing event in November. The awards will provide the winners with European recognition for their role in improving working conditions in Europe.

Further information about the awards is detailed in a leaflet available online at http://osha.europa.eu/en/campaigns/ew2004

European Agency for Safety and Health at Work, Gran Via 33, E-48009 Bilbao - Spain | Tel: + 34 94 479 4360 | Fax: + 34 94 479 4383 | e-mail: information@osha.eu.int

Top 20 frequently asked questions

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has published online its answers to the Top 20 health and safety questions. So, if you want to know what HSE has to say for itself on asbestos cement, accident reporting, VDU eye tests, breaks, protective equipment, lone working, passive smoking, first aiders, access to drinking water, the minimum number of toilets, safety for voluntary workers and a couple of other issues, then check out the new webpage. Remember, though, HSE talks about what is required by law - which isn't always that high a standard. You can and should negotiate better standards wherever possible.

News from China

Workplace accidents down, but more deaths

Recent China Daily news items states that the death toll in workplace accidents throughout China is rising so far this year though accidents dropped slightly with the overall safety situation taking a "turn for the better," a top official said in Beijing.

Wang Xianzheng, an official of the State Administration of Work Safety (SAWS), confirmed in his latest report that, so far this year, 287,884 accidents of various types have occurred, with 38,189 people killed nationwide.

Although total accidents were 4.1 per cent lower than the same period of last year, the death toll climbed 2.4 per cent. He attributed the situation to the country's continuous safety inspections, specialized rectifications and the building of a legal system on workplace safety.

Major accidents and deaths were reported from road traffic accidents, coal mines or other industrial sector incidents, trade and commercial enterprise accidents, fires and waterways and railway traffic incidents, according to statistics.

Road traffic accidents remain the top killer, with 30,733 people killed in 167,463 reported cases. Such deaths and accidents accounted for 80.5 per cent and 58.2 per cent of the country's total, respectively, over the past four months.

Coal-related deaths dropped 25 per cent during January-April period with 1,267 deaths reported in 854 registered cases. The total output of coal was up 19 per cent up over the same period the previous year. Fortunately, extremely serious accidents – each with a death toll of more than 30 people – dropped.

However, following soaring prices and an increasing domestic demand for chemical products, more serious accidents took place over the past few weeks in that field due to outdated technology, ageing facilities and poor management.

Nine people were killed by a blowout involving chemical products in a factory in Southwest China's Chongqing municipality on April 16.

Three workers were poisoned to death in Maoming, in South China's Guangdong Province, on April 19 after chemicals leaked at a local refinery.

"Such accidents resulted in 23 deaths, the poisonings of 300 others and more than 150,000 people had to be evacuated during emergency operations from April 16 to 24, shocking all of society," Wang disclosed.

Vice-Premier Huang Ju urged all authorities to intensify supervision over the safety of dangerous chemical products fearing such accidents will become a new menace to more and more people.

"Comprehensive measures must be adopted to stop accidents of this sort," Huang told a special conference on work safety held in Beijing. Huang made it clear that "those held responsible for serious calamities will be brought to justice in accordance with the law."

A national rectification should be carried out immediately throughout the country to check the safety of facilities and enterprises processing, storing, transporting, using and treating dangerous chemical products. While accelerating technical innovation, advanced technology should be adopted to prevent such accidents.

The vice-premier hopes authorities will do a better job in monitoring factors that could lead to potential accidents by developing contingent schemes, emergency rescue operations, and ensure professional quick-response rescue teams are well prepared.

To further increase awareness of work safety, he ordered authorities to intensify professional training, and launch campaigns to publicize safety knowledge.

European Week for Safety and Health at Work 2004

Largest EU campaign ever tackles the huge human and financial costs of poor safety standards in Europe's construction industry

Higher safety and health standards in Europe's construction industry could save up to 1,300 lives each year and avoid 850,000 serious injuries, according to the European Agency for Safety and Health at Work at today's launch of its major campaign.

Cutting the sector's high incidence of accidents and work-related illnesses could also save the EU up to EUR75 billion a year, claims the Agency.

The 'Building in Safety' campaign, which will culminate in the annual European Week for Safety and Health at Work (18-22 October 2004), will highlight the health and safety risks in Europe's construction industry, as well as the solutions, in more than 30 countries throughout the continent, making it the largest ever campaign of its kind.

Speaking at the launch in Dublin, Pat Cox, President of the European Parliament, said: 'Construction is one of the EU's most important industries, employing over 12 million people and worth over EUR900 billion a year. Yet it has one of the worst safety and health records: its accident rate, for example, is twice as high as the EU industry average. The incidence of back pain and other musculoskeletal problems, exposure to hazardous substances and many other risks are also significantly above the average. These problems need to be urgently addressed, not just to alleviate the very real human suffering, but also to reduce the financial burden on businesses and society.'

Bertie Ahern, Prime Minister of the Republic of Ireland, which holds the EU Presidency, added: "Tackling this issue is not just the responsibility of construction firms; it is the duty of everyone with a stake in the sector, including architects, planners, engineers and others. Many accidents on building sites are due to decisions taken before any building work starts. As a result, the only way forward - as with so many other health and safety issues - is through partnerships. We have to work together and the Agency's Building in Safety campaign epitomises this approach - with the full commitment of the EU Presidency, Parliament, Commission and Europe's social partners."

EU Health and Consumer Protection Commissioner David Byrne said: "Our health is our wealth. By placing the safety of construction workers at the heart of this European Construction week we can improve health, reduce costs and strengthen competitiveness. Through effective social partnership we can work to deliver health, employment and prosperity. I am convinced that the European Week on Construction 2004 could be the most prolific yet in terms of contributing to implementation of the Community Strategy on health and safety at Work 2002-2006 and could set the benchmark for future 'European Weeks'."

The campaign, which will be underpinned by a range of printed and online information, including examples of good practice, will be supported by thousands of events in 31 European countries, including Member States, as well as acceding, candidate and EFTA countries. Coordinated by the Agency's network of national focal points, events will range from training initiatives and promotional campaigns to seminars and workshops. In addition, businesses and organisations involved in the construction industry will be invited to sign an online campaign charter to demonstrate their commitment to higher OSH standards in the industry. Full details can be found at the Agency's special European week 2004 website (http://osha.europa.eu/en/campaigns/ew2004).

'Our goal is not only to raise awareness of the risks, especially among small- to medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), which account for more than 80% of workers in construction, but also provide the tools to improve standards,' said Hans-Horst Konkolewsky, the Agency's Director. 'This includes guides and checklists for risk assessment and examples of good practice solutions all freely available from our website. The situation won't change overnight, but I'm confident we can make a significant impact, provided we have everyone's commitment. Signing up to our online campaign charter is the first step to displaying such commitment.'

At the launch both sides of the industry were represented by the European social partners, Ulrich Paetzold, Director of the European Construction Industry Federation, and Harrie Bijen, General Secretary of the European Federation of Building and Wood Workers.

1-4 September 2004, Beijing, China
2nd China International Forum on Work Safety. China International Work Safety and Occupational Health Exhibition.

Organized by State Administration of Work Safety (SAWS), P.R. China, and the International Labor Organization (ILO). Main Themes: Safety, Health and Development

For further information: Secretariat: Ms. Sun Jiaohua, National Center for International Exchange and Cooperation on Work Safety, 21 Hepingli Beijie, Beijing, P.R.China | Tel: 86-10-64229939 | Fax: 86-10-64463003 | e-mail: cws@Chinasafety.gov.cn | www.Chinasafety.gov.cn

FOCUS: Russia

Conference of the Heads of Local Centres for Occupational Safety and Health

At present the process for setting up local centres for occupational safety and health at the level of regions - the subjects of the Russian Federation - is coming to an end. Out of 89 subjects of the Federation, 83 subjects have already established their own local centres dealing with issues of occupational safety in general or with certain aspects of this important problem in the particular region.

As a rule, the Local centres (LCOSH) are usually subordinated to the executive power authorities on labour of the subjects' administrations. But there are a number of centres working under the guidance of regional trade - unions, or - independently earning by themselves their own means of existence. In view of the "youth" of a number of the centres, differences in their statuses, specific order of subordination and new methods of activities in the market economy they do face quite a lot of problems of different nature, proper solution of which can not be found at once in their native regions.

Under these circumstances the role of exchange of experience, centralized coordination of activity and exposure of main directions in the work of local centres are noticeably growing. To find a solution of these problems the All Russia Centre for Occupational Safety and Health (VCOT) has suggested to call for an All Russia Meeting of heads and experts of the local centres for occupational safety. Such a meeting took place at the Moscow suburban settlement "The Youth" on 26 and 27 February, 2004.

Apart from the heads of local centres, experts and specialists in the field of occupational safety, he Meeting was attended by the representatives from the Ministry of Labour and Social Development of the Russian Federation, Social Insurance Fund of Russia and Mass Media. All together - more than 120 persons. Representatives from Azerbaidzhan, Republic of Belarus, Uzbekistan, Ukraine and the ILO (Moscow branch) were also present.

The Meeting stressed that the Local centres for occupational safety and health are one of the leading structures now in the system of labour protection management and the implementation of the State policy in sphere of occupational health and safety rests to a considerable extent on them.

The Meeting expressed a hope that the VCOT would play a real coordinating role for the interests of local centres in order to help them to resolve their problems as far as scientific, methodological and organizational aspects are concerned. It should also reinforced its position in promoting occupational safety in the whole of the country and contacts with the foreign partners in regard to exchange of information concerning labour legislation and occupational safety standards.

The above information was sent by Eugene Reshetnikov, Head, Department for NIC and International Relations, VCOT on behalf of Mr. Nikolay Pashin - Director of the All Russia Centre for Occupational Safety and Health, Moscow.

National Open Access Agreement For Finland

10 May 2004

Finland has become the first country to make a nationwide commitment to Open Access. All universities, polytechnics and research institutes in Finland have become BioMed Central members. The membership agreement covers the cost of publication, in BioMed Central's 100+ Open Access journals, for all 25000 publicly funded researchers and teachers in Finland.

BioMed Central agreed the membership with FinELib, the National Electronic Library of Finland. A consortium of universities, polytechnics, research institutes and regional libraries, FinELib is part of the National Library's services for libraries. FinELib acquires Finnish and international resources to support teaching, learning and research. 86 institutions from the consortium will take part in the membership deal, adding 80 new institutions to BioMed Central's membership program.

Kristiina Hormia-Poutanen, Head, National Electronic Library Services, explained why the National Electronic Library took the decision, "The aim of FinELib is to promote access to information. Open access is an important movement to improve access to information all over the world. Open access enables the most effective distribution of research results and can have significant impact to the Finnish innovation system. FinElib is also interersted in the developments in new business models which are evolving."

Finland's decision represents a landmark in the move towards Open Access for all biomedical research. BioMed Central, the largest Open Access publisher, has seen their membership program go from strength to strength. Over 300 institutions worldwide became members in 2003. These included the NHS in England and all UK universities, all institutions in Ohio, USA, 18 institutions in Australia, and the Max Planck Society. BioMed Central now has 500 member institutions in 39 countries.

Natasha Robshaw, Head of Marketing and Sales at BioMed Central, said: "We are very excited to welcome FinELib on board as members. Finland is leading the world in its nationwide commitment to Open Access, and this is a huge boost for the Open Access movement. We look forward to other nations making the same strides to support making research findings freely available."

Editor note - wouldn't this be lovely if Governments worldwide could get together and fund open access for OSH information!

OSHFE web sites to explore

Australia

Australasian University Safety Association   AUSTRALIA
www.ausa.org.au
The Australasian University Safety Association gives details of its constitution setting out its aims, principles and activities.

UK

Addiction Network   UK
www.addictionnetwork.co.uk
Addiction Network Contains extensive information on alcoholism and other addictions.

British Rubber Manufacturers' Association (BRMA)   UK
www.brma.co.uk
British Rubber Manufacturers' Association (BRMA) website has a number of health and safety publications, including checklists on a variety of topics such as dust control, extruders, warehousing etc.

The Construction Confederation and Hire Association Europe (HAE)   UK
www.thecc.org.uk
The Construction Confederation and Hire Association Europe (HAE) comprises a unique combination of trade associations, contractors, manufacturers and hire companies.

Health Development Agency   UK
www.hda-online.org.uk/workplacehealth/workplacehealth.html
UK Health Development Agency Workplace Health and Well-being is about the effects of work on health, and how physical and mental health affects a person's ability to carry out their duties at work. The information will help businesses and other organisations to establish a base for a sustainable workplace health programme.

Universities Safety and Health Association (USHA)
www.usha.org.uk
The UK Universities Safety & Health Association gives details of its constitution, history, members, what's new and other activities, plus details of the Executive Committee.

UK Resilience Chemical, Biological, Radiological or Nuclear (CBRN)
www.cabinetoffice.gov.uk/ukresilience
UK Resilience Chemical, Biological, radiological or nuclear (CBRN) information pages contain publications, guidance, advice and also links to related government agencies and departments.

Union of Construction, Allied Trades and Technicians (UCATT)
www.ucatt.org.uk
Union of Construction, Allied Trades and Technicians (UCATT) health and safety pages cover a range of topics: law, UCATT safety representative, occupational ill health, work related asthma, asbestos, manual handling, dermatitis, noise and deafness.

USA

American Biological Safety Association (ABSA)
www.absa.org
The American Biological Safety Association (ABSA) gives details of its constitution, history, members, what's new and other activities

Usernomics
www.usernomics.com/ergonomics.html
Usernomics has one of the largest meta-sites for locating ergonomics and human factors information on the Internet.

Diary of Events

The events listed may serve also to inspire similar ones to be organised in your country.

October 2004 is Health and safety month for Europe - with 25 Member States organizing their own special events.........

8-9 July 2004 - 5th International Fire Sprinkler Conference and Exhibition
Berlin, Germany
Contact: David Vandeyar | Tel: + 1 845 878 4215 | Email: vandeyar@nsfa.org

14-16 July 2004 - Fire Engineering for the Global Village... sharing solutions on an international basis
Institution of Fire Engineers AGM, Conference and Exhibition
The Clontart Castle Hotel, Castle Avenue, Clontart, Dublin 3, Ireland
Contact: Janet Jones, Institution of Fire Engineers | Tel: + 44 (0)116 255 3654 ext 225 | Email: janet.jones@ife.org.uk | www.ife.org.uk

1-4 September 2004 - 2nd China International Forum on Work Safety. China International Work Safety and Occupational Health Exhibition. Main Themes: Safety, Health and Development
Beijing, China. Organized by State Administration of Work Safety (SAWS), P.R. China, International Labour Organization (ILO)
Contact: Secretariat: Ms. Sun Jiaohua, National Center for International Exchange and Cooperation on Work Safety, 21 Hepingli Beijie, Beijing, P.R.China | Tel: +86 1- 64 229939 | Fax: +86 10 644 63003 | Email: cws@Chinasafety.gov.cn | www.Chinasafety.gov.cn

15-17 September 2004 - OS+H Asia: 4th Occupational Safety+Health exhibition for Asia
Suntec Singapore
Contact: Messe Dusselfdorf Asia Prte Ltd., 55 Market Street, No. 9-01 Sinov Building, Singapore | Tel: + 65 6332 9620 | Fax: +65 6337 4633 | Email: osha@mda.com.sg | www.osha-singapore.com

5-8 December 2004 - SRA 2004 Annual Meeting: Risk Analysis: The profession and the Future"
Palm Springs, California, USA
Contact: Society for Risk Analysis, 1313 Dolley Madison Blvd. Suite 402 McLean, VA 22101, USA | Tel: +1 703-790-1745 | Email: sra@burkinc.com | www.sra.org/events_2004_meeting.php

CIS Network..........

WORKING TOGETHER AND HELPING EACH OTHER....

But ... for the future........

The world has moved on in the past 5 years since the advent of the Internet and the advances in IT

What do you want from the Network?

What should the future CIS strategy include?

What do you need for your work that perhaps CIS and the network could provide?

What do you want to see on the ILO and CIS web sites that is not already covered?

What about Training?

Regional Meetings?

Let the CIS HQ know... and come and discuss at this year AGM of the CIS Network

Make sure 13 September 2004 is in your Diary!