CIS Newsletter

No. 181
October 2004

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

Contents

  1. Editorial
  2. CIS Annual Meeting, Workshops, Visits and Appreciation
  3. CIS and the future... Dr Takala and Dr Clevenstine
  4. News from around the World - Belgium, Canada, Ireland, Italy, Korea, Luxembourg, ILO, PERM- Russia, Spain, UK, USA
  5. FOCUS: Economic security strengthens tolerance and happiness as well as growth and development
  6. OSH UPDATE: affordable new Internet based service
  7. OSHE web sites
  8. Diary of Events

Editorial

Dear CIS Colleagues

The enjoyable CIS Annual Meeting, Workshops and Visits was held in Brussels, Belgium from Wednesday 15 to Saturday 18 September 2004. We are very grateful to our hosts -Prevent and especially to Veronique de Broek and colleagues who were very helpful and cheerful throughout. Lovely to meet up with CIS friends and also make new ones - we had a number of new faces at the meeting.

For those who are not able to attend these meetings you will find some notes in this edition of the CIS Newsletter. There are also various reports from CIS Members - more reports/news will also be reported in the November 2004 edition. NB If you have not sent your report to CIS HQ please do so, and perhaps you can send a copy to me so that I can include details in the forthcoming editions.

In addition to the CIS Meeting there is as usual, a range of news items, details of conferences being planned - well into 2005, a range of activities that have been carried out or currently being undertaken, plus new publications and services. There is never a better time for OSH information people - there are so many ways that services to users can be improved. CIS Information Centres and Staff need to watch closely and alert users about new trends, technologies and hazards.

My thanks to all the contributors to this edition of your Newsletter - all news however small is most welcomed.

If you are planning any publications, conferences, 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.

At the meeting I made a presentation about the CIS Newsletter and received some good feedback. I would really like to send the CIS Newsletter by email only FOR A NUMBER OF REASONS:

Please let me know as soon as possible your email number. Anyone who finds that they cannot received the CIS Newsletter either by email or from the web site www.sheilapantry.com/cis should also let me know by fax +44 1909 772829 that paper based service is the only way.

Also on emails ....Some of you who have changed your email number and addresses in recent months, please let CIS Headquarters know your new email/address and also let me know as well - otherwise you will not get the CIS Newsletter or other news.

I know that some of you recently have not been receiving the CIS Newsletter by email please re-send your email to me and I will re-instate you on the mailing list. There have been a number of emails that have "bounced back" recently. Remember that you will get the CIS Newsletter about 3 weeks earlier by email.

Remember the back issues of the CIS Newsletter are available at the click of the mouse on www.sheilapantry.com/cis

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...

The CIS Annual Meeting, Workshops and Visits 15-18 September 2004: report

The two visits on Wednesday 15 September 2004 to the European Parliament and also to the TUTB - Trades Union European Trade Union Technical Bureau for Health and Safety were very interesting for members and there were a number of lessons learned.

We are grateful to Veronique for the escorting and the arrangements, and of course our thanks to the hosts for providing the staff and time to show their organisations to the CIS members.

Thursday 16 September 2004 - Workshop

Aim of the workshop is to help CIS National and Collaborating Centres Focus on promoting occupational safety and health (OSH) priorities. The main activities of the workshop include:

The One-day Workshop had 4 sessions:

Session 1 What are the key OSH messages

The Groups agreed the following key OSH Messages that CIS Members need to promote:

It was also agreed that:

The session agreed that CIS needed:

Session 2 Who are the Targeted audiences - local, national, regional and international

Lead by Barbara Szczepanowska (BS)

The Groups agreed on the following:

It was agreed that there would be need to be different messages for the different groups:

Session 3 How do we (CIS members) become more influential?

Lead by Irja Laamanen

The Groups agreed:

Session 4 Setting the priorities and Action planning

Lead by Sheila Pantry

Summary of conclusions of the 3 workshops are above and the final session endorsed that there now the window of opportunity to move ahead - have the information audit, use the results to rebrand, relaunch and revitalise the CIS Centres Network. This is the 3Rs we need to do together.

We must all learn to PR our work locally, nationally and internationally. This will need co-ordination from CIS HQ in a number of ways:

Friday & Saturday 17 - 18 September 2004 Annual CIS Meeting, Prevent, Brussels

The meeting elected our Hostess from Prevent Veronique de Broek as Chairwoman for the 2 days.

Appreciation

The meeting then commenced with a very nice surprise presentation awarded to
Your CIS Newsletter Editor ...the citation reads...

Certificate of Appreciation awarded to Sheila Pantry OBE for twenty-five years of untiring support of the International Occupational Safety and Health Information Centre (CIS) as National Counterpart (set-up the UK National Centre in 1979), Newsletter Editor for the CIS Centres and constant advocate of the importance of information in making workplaces of the world ever safe and healthier.

The award was also accompanied with a beautiful bouquet of flowers.
Both very much appreciated .. many thanks. Sheila

Dr Takala: summary of presentation

The meeting gave a good opportunity to hear Dr Takala talk about the 8 billion global workforce and the 2 million fatalities and 270 million accidents.

Dr Takala drew attention to the new publication "Integrated and strategic approach for standards" published by the ILO. And also the new ILO Global strategy... "Promotional framework for OSH" that promotes standards so that they become influential in all countries. The framework will be discussed at the ILO 2005 Session culminating in 2006. By which time it is hoped that countries will sign up to create:

Dr Takala also reminded CIS members that the ILO has 37 Codes of Practice and the ILO OSH 2001 management system guidelines that are now available in 21 languages.

Work continues on a harmonized system for classification and labelling of chemical similar to The REACH programme in Europe.

Labour Inspection

Work continues on a number of fronts:

Dr Takala reminded people that the next ILO CONGRESS is to be held in Orlando, USA and that the CIS would be alongside it. Also to inform that visitors will need to be making early applications in order to get all the VISA entry requirements in place.

Dr Clevenstine, CIS HQ summary of Presentation

Discussed CIS activities for the period from when we last met in May 2003 - September 2004.

High points

Less agreeable - the Lows

There are now 137 National Centres and one Regional Centre - at the Arab Labour Office in Damascus, Syria.

Delegates

The CIS Annual Meeting also gave members of the network the opportunity to share their experiences in OSH information management and to reinforce the collaboration among themselves.

CIS Newsletter November edition will contact summaries of some of the presentations

Friday evening

On the Friday evening after the work day was completed Prevent hosted a very enjoyable meal at the nearby restaurant Amaze

You are also reminded to send in your annual report to Geneva.

Dr Vern Anderson, NIOSH writes after the CIS meeting:

I will send a CD-ROM to all attendees and others who have an interest in NIOSH's latest informational and publication materials. NIOSH has been very productive in our publications in the last five years.

If you wish to receive the CD-ROM from NIOSH contact: Dr Vern Anderson, NIOSH, 4676 Columbia Parkway, OHIO 45226 - 1998, USA | Email: vep1@cdc.gov

From BARBARA SZCZEPANOWSKA, POLAND CIS Centre

Dear CIS Friends,

According to our discussion during the CIS Centres Meeting in Brussels in 17-18 December 2004 I send you once again the example of the letter, which we at CIOP have send to all CIS Centres (at the end of 2003 and the beginning of 2004), together with the information materials on our

Institute (leaflet and CD on the CIOP-PIB activities and 2 numbers of our scientific OSH journal in English "International Journal on Occupational Safety and Ergonomics" - JOSE, together with the subscription form.

Because some of you haven't got these letter and materials in your library or information centre and some of you didn't have time to answer back, please ask us to send the letter again.

We will be very obliged if you could send us information materials on your activities and, if it is possible, subscribe our JOSE journal. Information on this journal you will find on the CIOP-PIB website: www.ciop.pl/757.html

We are the CIS Information Centre's network and we should take advantage of it. To be a member of such a broad (140 centres) information chain should gives all of us the chance for good cooperation and exchange of information and publications, what let us to develop our information activities for our national and international users - OSH specialists.

Awaiting for your prompt answer

All the best

Barbara Szczepanowska | Email: baszc@ciop.pl | Polish National CIS Centre | Tel.: (+22 48) 623-36-90 | Central Institute for Labour Protection | www.ciop.pl/1567.html

National Research Institute (CIOP-PIB), 16 Czerniakowska str. 00-701Warsaw, Poland | www.ciop.pl | www.ciop.pl/1567.html

News from around the World

Start early and stay safe: Integrating safety and health into education is the key to reducing work-related accidents and illnesses, according to a new European Agency report

Integrating occupational safety and health into school and university education is the key to reducing the high incidence of work-related accidents and illnesses in many EU industries, especially among young staff, claims a new report published by the European Agency for Safety and Health at Work.

According to the report, Mainstreaming Occupational Safety and Health into Education, young employees, aged 18-24, are 50%, more likely to have an accident than the average staff member in industrialised countries. One of the main problems, argue the authors, is that most adolescents enter the labour market with only little knowledge of the risks, let alone education in preventive measures.

To help policy makers and practitioners resolve this shortfall, the 152-page report describes and analyses 32 examples of how different EU countries have successfully integrated OSH into different levels of the education system, from primary schools up to universities and specialist vocational colleges. It also provides a strategic framework, including a 'road map', to achieve this.

Examples of good practice covered in the study include a UK initiative to educate children about the dangers of building sites; a methodology to help teachers in Italy introduce OSH into the school syllabus; and a scheme in France where pupils on work placement are invited to find ways to improve the companies' health and safety environment.

'One of the lessons of the study is that health and safety education has to be a life-long process, from pre-school onwards, to succeed,' says Hans-Horst Konkolewsky, the Agency's Director. 'It's about developing a prevention culture and an integral part of this is ensuring that young people are qualified in the core principles of risk awareness and prevention before they enter the world of work - they have to "start early to stay safe". We hope this report will make an important contribution to this aim.'

The report Mainstreaming occupational safety and health into education - Good practice in school and vocational education can be downloaded from: http://osha.europa.eu/publications/reports/313/en/index.htm

Factsheet summaries of the report are also available in the 20 EU official languages at: http://osha.europa.eu/en/publications/factsheets

Copies of the report, (Cat. No: TE-59-04-104-EN-C), and the factsheet, (Cat. No: TE-58-04-336-EN-C) can be ordered from the European Publications Office http://publications.europa.eu and its sales offices.

Contact: 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 | Email: information@osha.eu.int | http://osha.europa.eu

Comparative data on working conditions and working time developments in Europe: Long working hours undermine good working conditions

The average working week for all workers in the new EU Member States is 44.4 hours, against 38.2 hours in the former EU15, according to research carried out by the European Foundation for the Improvement of Living and Working Conditions. Average weekly working hours remain longest (40 hours) in Hungary, Poland, Estonia, Latvia, Slovenia and Malta, and shortest in France (35), the Netherlands (37) and Denmark (37). The average collectively agreed normal weekly hours in the UK is 37.2.

Over the period 1999-2003, the average agreed normal weekly hours for the former EU15 and Norway has fallen from 38.6 to 38.0 hours. In the United Kingdom, the average agreed normal weekly hours have fallen by around one hour (2.5%-3%) over the same period

However, over the past decade, work intensity has risen sharply and it shows no signs of slowing down. It is true that most people work shorter hours but they work faster, giving rise to the situation where over half the workers in Europe are working at high speed and to tight deadlines during at least one quarter of their working time. One in three European workers complains of backache related to their job. Nearly one in two report working in a painful/tiring position. Over half the workforce is working at very high speed, to tight deadlines, for more than one quarter of their working day.

When asked, European workers say they would like more flexible working time arrangements than at present and would like to see this provided for by governments and social partners.

'European workers are producing more within a shorter time frame, due to the steady rise in levels of work intensity, stress and demand,' says Willy Buschak, acting Director of the European Foundation. 'Our research shows that a new organisation of working time over the entire life course is necessary, if Europe is to meet the challenges of an ageing society and of increased competition in the global market.'

For more comparative information on working conditions and working time issues in the EU-25 and two candidate countries, consult the three sources below:

For further information, contact Måns Mårtensson, Press Officer, by telephone +353-1-204 3124, mobile +353-876-593 507 or email mma@eurofound.eu.int

BACKGROUND

The Foundation carried out three large-scale European surveys on working conditions in 1990, 1995 and 2000. These surveys provide an overview of the state of working conditions in the European Union, as well as indicating the nature and content of changes affecting the workforce and the quality of work.

In 2001, the survey was extended to cover the former ten acceding countries and the two candidate countries of the European Union.

The surveys are based on around 1000 face-to-face interviews in all countries except the smaller states (Malta, Luxembourg, Cyprus, Latvia, and Lithuania) where a cross-section sample of 500 was used.

"Meeting without Moving" plan to cut road deaths

The Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents today urged UK bosses to back a campaign aimed at saving lives by cutting the amount of time employees spend on the road.

Between 800 and 1,000 deaths each year are linked to people driving for work, and RoSPA believes many of the people killed are making unnecessary journeys.

The Society is supporting the Meeting Without Moving Foundation being launched in London on Wednesday (October 6) at the Meeting and Incentive Travel Show, Olympia. It aims to persuade employers to consider using technology, such as video conferencing, as a substitute for long road trips.

It is now widely accepted that for the majority of people the most dangerous thing they do while at work is drive on the public highway.

Roger Bibbings, RoSPA Occupational Safety Adviser, said: "Employers need to question whether travelling to meetings is really necessary, particularly when there are so many safer alternatives and where people have well-established working relationships.

"High-quality video conferencing is now much more widely available at sites around the country. Telephone conferences and web-based technology could also be considered.

"As well as potentially saving lives and injuries in road accidents, these alternatives are likely to be cheaper and save time, fatigue and stress for employees. There is also the environmental benefit of taking cars off the road and the chance to improve the work/life balance of employees.

"Embracing the concept of Meeting without Moving can make UK businesses safer, healthier and more efficient."

Roger Bibbings said that as part of their work-related road safety management procedures all employers should be asking if road journeys being made by employees were really necessary.

Bosses could find themselves being sued for damages if employees injured in work-related road accidents argued that they had been unnecessarily exposed to risks on the road.

The Meeting Without Moving Foundation will: raise awareness of the need to eliminate unnecessary travel; seek support from Government and influential bodies; and offer advice to businesses and other organisations wanting to reduce road journeys. See www.meetingwithoutmoving.com

UK HSE INFOLINE field Two Millionth Enquiry

The UK Health and Safety Executive's (HSE) outsourced public enquiry contact centre, Infoline, has just handled its two millionth enquiry. This took over from the HSE Information Services Public Enquiry Service that had been in operation since 1977. The outsourced Infoline was set up in July 1996 to provides enquirers with rapid access to HSE's wealth of health and safety information, and access to expert advice and guidance.

Run by the Caerphilly-based National Britannia Group, Infoline handled nearly 273,000 enquiries in 2003. The primary target audience is small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs); in a recent survey 85% of callers were from SMEs.

Most queries come in by phone, although e-mail has become increasingly popular, with an increase of 25% in enquiries received electronically in the last year. Infoline also deals with enquiries by letter and fax, and online via a web form.

The two millionth enquirer was Patrick Thornberry, a General Manager at Organic Power Ltd. Patrick emailed Infoline a query about storing biogas, a flammable gas that is produced when organic wastes are digested under anaerobic conditions by bacteria. Dale Jones handled the enquiry. Dale explained that the relevant legislation covering the storage of biogas is the Dangerous Substances and Explosive Atmosphere Regulations 2002 (DSEAR), and gave Patrick information from the Approved Code of Practice and Guidance.

A satisfied customer, Patrick said: "We were about to start storing biogas and I needed to know about labelling requirements and other necessary precautions such as safe transportation and security. I was very happy with Infoline's detailed response; I have a much clearer idea of what is required now. I wouldn't hesitate to use Infoline again - it's an invaluable service."

Queries relating to the storage of dangerous substances are fairly common. The top three topics in terms of number of queries are currently: asbestos; RIDDOR (Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations); and health and safety obligations in setting up a new business. The Infoline website includes a "frequently asked questions" page, giving answers to the most commonly asked questions about health and safety. The highest number of queries comes from the services sector, followed by construction and manufacturing.

Chris Mawdsley, HSE Infoline Service Manager, said: "Infoline has grown from strength to strength since being set up eight years ago. It has an excellent record and the feedback we receive from enquirers is consistently very good. We're very proud of the high quality of the service and our innovative approach.

"One of the benefits to enquirers is anonymity; any enquiry received by HSE Infoline is treated in confidence, and callers do not need to give their name. There is no way of tracking calls, so enquirers can ring the service safe in the knowledge that their question won't result in a visit from an inspector!

"HSE aims to serve every part of the community. For example, its telephone interpreting service covers over 100 different languages. If enquirers want to speak to someone in a language other than English, then Infoline will connect them to an interpreter within a couple of minutes."

James Ostler, Managing Director of Information Services at National Britannia said:

"We are delighted that the high quality of the service provided by the Infoline team continues to attract such large numbers of enquiries from the target audience. Infoline is the first point of contact for many people seeking advice and guidance on matters relating to health and safety and its success can largely be attributed to the close partnership approach developed between National Britannia and the HSE."

Infoline operators answer 80% of calls within 15 seconds, 95% of all written enquiries are dealt with in 5 days, and all written enquiries are dealt with in ten days.

In a recent survey, 71% of telephone enquirers rated the Infoline service as "very good" and 29% as "good". (No enquirers rated the service as "poor" or "very poor", or refused to comment). The Infoline service is open to the public from 8.00am - 6.00pm.

Enquirers can contact Infoline by telephone, e-mail, textphone, fax or letter, or by completing Infoline's Ask an Expert enquiry form on the HSE website.

The National Britannia Group is one of UK's largest independent safety, health and environmental risk management specialists, employing a total of 450 people within its UK operations. For more information visit www.WhatRisk.com

Public Enquiries: Call HSE's InfoLine, Tel: 08701 545500, or write to: HSE InfoLine, Caerphilly Business Park, Caerphilly CF83 3GG, or fax: 02920 859260, or Email: hseinformationservices@natbrit.com or textphone: 02920 808537 or complete the online form at www.hse.gov.uk/contact/ask.htm

URGENT REQUEST FROM CIS HQ

CIS HQ staff sent a questionnaire that they prepared in English, French and Spanish and sent out to all 135 centres, first in April 2004, then by a reminder to those which had not answered in July 2004.

They are still getting replies.... Just now they have received replies from CIS Network Centres in Prague and in Bogota.

Any CIS Centre that has not yet replied is urgently requested to do so - your information is VERY IMPORTANT.

If you have lost/misplaced the questionnaire send an email to Annick Virot for a replacement.

Annick will make sure that you get a new one. The replies are not only valuable information as to the use of CIS products, opinion on regional meetings and so on, but they also provide an update of information concerning mailing address, telephone, fax, e-mail, we site address, etc.

.....So you are holding very important data!!!!

NEW CIS POSTER

At the Brussels meeting the CIS Staff introduced the New CIS Poster which is available in three languages (English, French and Spanish). It is available on CD for customization to CIS Centres. CIS HQ will make new CDs for all Centres and send them out shortly.

Contact: Annick Virot, CIS HQ, ILO, Geneva, Switzerland | Email: virot@ilo.org | Tel: 00 41 22 799 68 30

From the Obvious to the Obscure - Workplace Health and Safety Questions are Answered

CCOHS, Canada's national resource tucked away in Hamilton, Ontario is known in the OSH world and on the international stage for serving Canada and the world with its impressive collection of services and resources, innovation and contributions to worldwide health and safety initiatives. What may not be as widely known is the one service CCOHS offers exclusively to Canadians, to make access to reliable information freely and widely available to all who need it - The Inquiries Service!

For over 20 years CCOHS' Inquiries Service has been a person-to-person information service available to all Canadians, answering questions in English and French, on the many health or safety concerns people have about the work they do, how they do it and the environment in which work is performed.

The service is used by people from all walks of life - workers and their families, employers, health and safety professionals, and government officials - to get answers to questions that can cover anything from chemicals and hazardous materials to ergonomics, diseases and disorders, and indoor air quality. The service is confidential; the names of inquirers are not revealed to anyone or any agency. There have been cases of both worker and manager submitting questions separately to the Inquiries Service. If they submitted the same question, both would get the same answer - unbiased, authoritative information - to which all workplace partners have equal access. That is the beauty of the Inquiries Service.

Twenty-plus years and tens of thousands of questions later, the Inquiries Service has dealt with it all! Sometimes the questions are what one may expect:

There have also been questions that fall into the "not-so-typical" category:

Every inquiry gets answered, and when questions are received that are not directly relevant to occupational health and safety - such as whether meat can be cured with road salt or if chipmunks transmit rabies to dogs - the Inquiries Team make an effort to recommend other resources and steer the inquirer in the right direction.

Inquirers have the option of submitting questions by telephone, fax or email. In response they receive unbiased information considered relevant to workers, employers, unions and governments alike from CCOHS specialists with occupational health and safety and information retrieval expertise. Generally, written answers are provided to the inquirers in the event that they want to share the information with co-workers, joint health and safety committee members, doctors or other health practitioners, or if they need written documentation for other purposes.

Anyone - in Canada and the world - can access inquiry-based information themselves on the CCOHS website, through OSH Answers. This global service contains question-and-answer documents on more than 600 health and safety topics and is available in English, French and Spanish. People are encouraged to check here first for their answers before contacting the Inquiries Service.

The secret is out! Ask and you shall be answered!

www.ccohs.ca

International road transport days build on fatigue kills actions

International Transport Workers' Federation - ITF The ITF's annual world road action day has grown into a two day event, to be held 11 to 12 October 2004 under the banner of Union Action for Safety and Security at Work. The new theme builds on the successes of the ITF's Fatigue Kills campaign.

Previous action days each attracted around a quarter of a million trade unionists in up to 60 countries worldwide, including, in recent years, port workers showing their support for colleagues in road haulage and transport.

Events will include a rally in Brussels at Rond-Pont Schuman on 11 October beginning at 10:30.

ITF Road Transport Section Secretary, Mac Urata, explained: "The new format for the action will allow participants to choose either or both days on which to focus on the road issues that best relate to them, while embracing the overall theme of organising for safe and secure road transport and jobs."

Full background information on the action - including campaign guidelines, fatigue checklist postcards, downloadable illustrations and campaign alerts with information on fatigue risks and updates on planned actions - can be found at www.itfglobal.org/campaigns/rt2004.cfm Information will be updated up to and during the day.

For more information contact ITF press officer, Sam Dawson, direct line: + 44 (0)20 7940 9260. E-mail: dawson_sam@itf.org.uk or (especially with reference to events in Brussels and mainland Europe) Beatrice Hertogs, Political Secretary Road and Inland Waterways, ETF (European Transport Workers' Federation), tel: +32 2 285 46 64. E-mail: b.hertogs@etf-europe.org

International Transport Workers' Federation - ITF, Head Office, ITF House, 49 - 60 Borough Road, London SE1 1DR, UK | Tel: + 44 (0) 20 7403 2733 | Fax: + 44 (0) 20 7357 7871 | Email: mail@itf.org.uk | www.itfglobal.org

FOCUS

Economic security strengthens tolerance and happiness as well as growth and development

A new study by the International Labour Office (ILO) highlights that people's economic security promotes personal well-being, happiness and tolerance, while benefiting growth and development.

The report, "Economic Security for a Better World," (Note 1) includes estimates for countries representing more than 85 per cent of the world's population, and says such economic security -coupled with democracy and government spending on social security - not only benefits growth but can also promote social stability.

The report cautions, however, that economic security remains out of reach for the vast majority of the world's workers, about three-quarters of whom live in circumstances of economic insecurity that fosters what the report calls "a world full of anxiety and anger".

Only 8 per cent of people - fewer than one in ten - live in countries providing favourable economic security, said the survey produced by the ILO's Socio-Economic Security Programme.

"Coming shortly after the report of the World Commission on the Social Dimension of Globalization, this book should enrich the debate on how we can build a fair globalization," says ILO Director-General Juan Somavia. "Unless we can make our societies more equal and the global economy more inclusive, very few will achieve economic security or decent work."

The report marks the first attempt to measure global economic security as perceived by ordinary people and was based on detailed household and workplace surveys covering over 48,000 workers and more than 10,000 workplaces worldwide. Economic security is measured on the basis of seven forms of work-related security including income, labour markets, employment, skills, work, jobs and representation.

Key findings

People in countries that provide their citizens with a high level of economic security have a higher level of happiness on average, as measured by surveys on national levels of life-satisfaction and happiness, the report finds. The most important determinant of national happiness is not income level - there is a positive association, but rising income seems to have little effect as wealthy countries grow wealthier. Rather, the key factor is the extent of income security, measured in terms of income protection and a low degree of income inequality.

In addition, the report finds that a high level of skills security, measured by an index incorporating indicators of schooling and training, is actually inversely related to well being when jobs are poorly attuned to the needs and aspirations of people, especially as they become more educated and acquire more competencies. At present, too many people are finding that their skills and qualifications do not correspond to the jobs that they have to perform, resulting in what the report calls a "status frustration" effect.

The report shows that political democracy and a trend towards civil liberties significantly increases economic security and that government spending on social security policies also has a positive effect. But there is only a weak impact of economic growth on security, measured over the longer-term. In other words, rapid growth does not necessarily create better economic security, although it sometimes can do it if accompanied by appropriate social policies.

In looking at national levels of economic security, countries are divided into four clusters - Pacesetters (with good policies, good institutions and good outcomes), Pragmatists (good outcomes in spite of less impressive policies or institutions), Conventionals (seemingly good policies and institutions but with less impressive outcomes) and Much-to-be-Done countries (weak or non-existent policies and institutions, and poor outcomes).

Many wealthy countries could easily achieve more economic security for their citizens, since the report shows that some lower-income countries achieve higher levels than some of the rich countries. Indeed, the ILO analysis finds that the global distribution of economic security does not correspond to the global distribution of income, and that the countries in South and South-East Asia have a greater share of global economic security than their share of the world's income. Whereas South Asia has about 7 per cent of the world's income, it has about 14 per cent of the world's economic security. By contrast, Latin American countries provide their citizens with less economic security than could be expected from their relative income levels, the report says.

Indeed being insecure has resonance in people's attitudes, which at times can be detrimental to their ideas of a decent society. In a recent survey undertaken by the Latino barometro in Latin American countries, 76% of the people surveyed were concerned about not having a job the following year, and a majority said that they would not mind a non-democratic government if it could solve their unemployment problems.

A feature of the findings is that only countries that provide a coherent set of policies that strengthen all seven forms of labour security have a high score on overall economic security. Countries with very strong attainment in some spheres but with weak attainment in one or more others do not do well overall.

The report also finds that "income security is a major determinant of other forms of labour-related security" (p.296), and that income inequality worsens economic security in several ways. "The message is," the report concludes, "that highly unequal societies are unlikely to achieve much by way of economic security or decent work."

The analysis shows that there has been an upward trend in the frequency and severity of economic shocks during the recent period of globalization (since 1980), as well as a coincidental growth in the number of natural disasters affecting very large numbers of people. It also shows that, excepting the two most populous nations (China and India), globally, and particularly among developing countries, economic growth rates in per capita terms have declined while the variability of annual economic growth rates has increased (see chapter 2), implying more national economic insecurity, contrary to predictions often made by those pushing for rapid economic liberalization.

The ILO report notes that these trends are important because they show that more people are being exposed to systemic risk, rather than contingency risks. The latter are due to individual life-cycle events, such as individual unemployment or illness, which are covered by standard social security systems. People are far less able to prepare for shocks that affect whole communities and regions.

The ILO report also shows that for developing countries, the national level of economic security is inversely related to capital account openness (Chapter 11), implying that it would be sensible for developing countries to delay opening their capital accounts until institutional developments and social policies were in place to enable their societies to withstand external shocks. In other words, countries should postpone opening their financial markets until they have the institutional capacities to handle fluctuations in confidence and the impact of external economic developments.

Besides drawing on a global databank of national policies, the report uses statistics from a series of People's Security Surveys carried out in 15 countries, in which over 48,000 working people were interviewed about their work, the insecurities they experience, and their attitudes to inequality and related aspects of social and economic policy.

Respondents were asked about their attitudes to various aspects of economic insecurity and inequality. A majority everywhere favoured more support for the economically vulnerable and a desire to reduce inequality (see Chapter 12). The report says survey data show that economic insecurity fosters intolerance and stress, which contribute to social illness and ultimately may lead to social violence.

Among other findings are the following:

Finally, the analysis considers a wide range of policies to determine which offer the best prospect for providing greater levels of economic security, particularly in developing countries. To evaluate such policies, it proposes a novel approach, evaluating them on the basis that they should offer the strong prospect of reducing the economic insecurity of the most insecure groups in society and of not imposing controls and "unfreedom" on intended beneficiaries.

The ILO analysis concludes that conventional social security systems are inappropriate for responding to the new forms of systemic risk and uncertainty that characterize the emerging global economic system (Chapter 14). Accordingly, governments and international agencies should promote universalistic, rights-based schemes that provide people with basic economic security, rather than resort to selective, means-tested schemes.

For further information, please contact the Socio-Economic Security Programme secretariat by email: ses@ilo.org or by phone: +4122/799-7913. Members of the team can give interviews in English, French, Portuguese or Spanish. For those interested in the issues in Africa, there is a companion book due for publication in September 2004, namely Confronting Economic Insecurity in Africa. Copies of this will be available at that time.

Note 1 - Economic Security for a better world, Socio-Economic Security Programme. International Labour Office, 2004. Price: 50 Swiss francs. ISBN 92-2-115611-7. Website: www.ilo.org/ses.

www.ilo.org/public/english/bureau/inf/pr/2004/38.htm

Italy CIS National Centre Annual Report 2003

From Maria Castriotta

1. Documentation activities

The provision of information services, using different types of documentation support, was continued all along 2003. The highest increase of information requests and replies was by e-mail, with particular emphasis on materials regarding Workplace Health Promotion.

1.1 Bibliographic search in technical and scientific areas

During 2003 the bibliographic search service in the technical and scientific areas was carried out, exploiting the main international databases and databanks on Internet and on CD-ROM, in the field of occupational safety and health, like OSH-ROM, inclusive of HSELINE, CISDOC, MHIDAS, RILOSH, NIOSHTIC and NIOSHTIC-2, as well as a portion of MEDLINE; CCINFO DISCS (in particular: RTECS, CHEMPENDIUM. OSH Researcher and IPCS INCHEM); PSYCINFO; SIGLE; INFORMATION SCIENCE ABSTRACTS; CORDIS. In the course of the year the availability of MICROMEDEX was also provided for.

1.2 Bibliographic search in the legislative area

A continuous increase of OSH legislative requests was recorded in 2003. Constant efforts were made to perform search for publications and for the updates carried out as a result of the changes introduced by recent legislation, for the legal references in the ISPESL magazine "Fogli d'Informazione" and for the consulting activities on matters of institutional interest. The databanks consulted were:

For this type of search, many Internet sites of great interest were identified.

1.3 Provision of technical standards

During 2003, the provision of technical standards to internal users increased notably. Several hundreds of requests of technical documents and standards published by CEI, CEI EN, UNI, UNI EN, UNI ISO EN, AFNOR , BSI and DIN were processed.

1.4 Provision of articles and full-text documents

In its capacity as the Italian ILO/CIS centre, ISPESL keeps all the documentation indexed by ILO/CIS in Geneva, which was collected on microfiche until 1997; starting in 1998, this material is recorded on CD-ROM in the database CISDOC-TEXT. This service is provided at the national level.

In addition, an agreement was renewed with the National Italian Health Institute for the provision of full-text scientific articles via DOCLINE (service carried out by the U.S. National Library of Medicine).

1.5 Library

The number of library users is constantly increasing. During 2003 the library was strongly committed in technological innovations, so as to implement new services for users, as well as to change management procedures.

The ISPESL Library receives about 400 periodicals as subscriptions or obtained as exchange or complimentary copies. Routine activities were carried out, consisting in acquisition, cataloguing, lending and automation.

The Library also provided for:

During 2003, the Library was also committed in supporting and collaborating with ISPESL Technical-Scientific Departments in the organization of Seminars, Workshops and Training Courses regarding different OSH subjects.

2. Information Activities

During 2003 the editorial activities of ISPESL information centre were carried out with the publication of the following monographs (in Italian):

Also published:

In view of a total editorial innovation of ISPESL magazines, a project was prepared to reorganize contents and graphics, following the adoption of international standards. A new regulation regarding the two ISPESL magazines "Prevenzione Oggi" and "Fogli d'Informazione" was set out, better defining different objectives and users, as well as creating an editorial board and a scientific committee, with the inclusion of scientific referees. Due to this ongoing process, the publication of a single issue for each of the two magazines was planned, regarding the years 2002 and 2003.

The publication of 2002 Annual Report, guidelines and monographs on the website was also provided for. Moreover, the research area was implemented with ISPESL research projects 2003 and research contracts assignments. The website updating regarding events (seminars, workshops, training courses) and recruitment selections (scholarships, etc), as well as general news, was also carried out.

Particular emphasis was given to the EW2003, held in the week 1-7 October 2003, during the Italian Semester Presidency. The EW slogan was: "Dangerous Substances: Handle with Care". As in previous years, and due to the national and European importance of the event, a lot of promotional activities were realized, in order to disseminate the message and the events organized, as broadly as possible:

3. Training Activities

During 2003 many training courses were held addressed to the different stakeholders in accordance with Legislative Decree 626/94, in order to meet the needs of those users who are committed in applying legislation. Training packages are all realized in electronic formats and are available for the National Health Service operators, as well as for public and private training agencies who fulfill the criteria and carry out experimentation and monitoring of packages.

Training activities are realized using different methodologies: traditional lessons and active methodologies (role playing, case study analysis, brain storming, etc.) are both present during lessons, in order to consolidate information and experience.

In detail, during 2003 the courses listed below were realized or updated:

As to workers, the great variety of professional profiles and of productive sectors makes it difficult the drafting of a standard course for all workers; therefore a series of information and training tools were prepared, concerning different risks and OSH topics. All of these aids are composed of two parts: a tutor guide and a workers' manual.

4. Meetings, Exhibitions, Seminars

Meetings and Seminars were organized in 2003 on various OSH topics. The participation with an ISPESL stand in a great deal of Meetings and Exhibitions throughout Italy was also the occasion for the dissemination of publications and other OSH materials.

A list of the most important events is reported:

Maria Castriotta m.castriotta@doc.ale.ispesl.it

Ricercatore
ISPESL - Istituto Superiore per la Prevenzione e la Sicurezza del Lavoro, Dipartimento Documentazione, Informazione e Formazione, Via Alessandria, 220/e 00198 Roma, Italia | tel. +39 06 44280292 | fax +39 06 44250972

Brief Report of the Perm Collaborating InfoCentre of the ILO-CIS Network for 2003-2004

The Perm Collaborating InfoCentre of the ILO-CIS Network is young (since March 2003) informal part of the Perm State Technical University (PSTU) - large educational organization of the West Urals, Russia. The information activity of InfoCentre is recognised as part of the educational, consulting and informational activities of Perm Regional Centre for Occupational Safety and Health (it is formal part of the Perm State Technical University and has staff and finance). The main purposes of the InfoCentre are to provide general public with literature on safety and health at the work, international OSH experience, ideas and principles of the ILO, Program "Decent Work", InFocus Program "SafeWork", the CIS-ILO activities.

Priority ways of information dissemination is by- Conferences, Workshops, Training. Potential way of dissemination is Perm InfoCentre's website, but now Perm InfoCentre informs Russian OSH specialists in hard, CD-ROM and E-mail copies.

Now in Russia there are some kinds of post-graduate professional education, include training, on OSH problems. We had 62 graduates from special post-graduate studies (professional high education) and more than 7 thousands graduates from OSH basic and special training.

Now in Russia there are some kinds of consulting: attestation of workplace, certification of OSH activities of employer, creation, establishment and improvement of OSH MS. We had many cases of attestation (approximately 2 thousands workplaces per year). Approximately 10 large enterprises finished their procedures of attestation with our help. We had few cases of certification. Two enterprises got Certificate of Safety. One of them was very large potash corporation "Silvinit" (more 10000 workers), second - biggest in European part of Russia - Perm Electro Power Station. Some enterprises are in preliminary certification procedures. We had few cases of establishment of OSH MS. Two large potash (mining and chemical) and two large oil enterprises, two oil producing companies and petroleum refinery plant got new OSH MS.

There are some kinds of informational activities: publishing of manual, handbooks, textbooks; publishing in mass media; organization of Conferences and Workshops. We were active participants of World Safety Day in 2003 and 2004 (all-Russian and Regional levels), includes published some materials about ILO in regional mass media. We organized two Russian Conference (first - on problems of technical safety management, second - on social and economic problems of OSH management) and four regional Workshops.

We reprinted Russian versions of "Ergonomic Checkpoint", Swedish manual book "Safety, Health and Working Condition", "Guidelines of OSH MS - ILO-OSH 2001" and disseminated these copies free of charge. We disseminated "OSH in Facts and Figures", "Inspection Guide", "Social Partnership in OSH" (booklet) in Russian too. For Russian OSH practice specialists we wrote, published and disseminated special manual book: Faynburg G.Z. Occupational Safety and Health Management Systems. Practical commentary for Guidelines ILO OSH 2001 / Series: OSH Management, number 4 - Perm, 2003. Moreover we wrote, published and disseminated 10 books (in Russian): various handbook for managers: standard's documents and commentaries, OSH textbooks for state organization managers or for OSH division staff or for worker's representatives training (all recommended by Russian Labour Ministry). All books had 3-d or 4-d edition with add-ins and corrections. Chief editor of books is professor Grigory Faynburg.

You can find more information about our Centre on our Centre Site www.safework.perm.ru

Head of the InfoCentre - Prof. Grigory Faynburg | Email: faynburg@pstu.ru

Contact Email of the InfoCentre: safety@pstu.ru

Request for information from PERM

Firstly, I repeat Wiking's cry: yes, yes, we want all the publications that you can give us in RUSSIAN AND in ENGLISH too!!!

We need textbooks, manual books, surveys of accident statistics, prevention measures and theoretical monographies! Unfortunately, we need editorial helping with our "english" text! And we need contacts!!!

Yes, we want to receive information from other CIS Centres and OSH organisations. (in Russian preferencerable, in English really) But there is problem. Some time ago I received good letter and magazines from Polish InfoCentre - CIOB PIB. All documents were in English, but I have only documents in Russian only!!!! I have not information in English which I can sent to my colleages! So currently it is a one-way line of traffic! I don't like this!

SO CIS Centres ... please added Grigory Faynburg, PERM Centre to your mailing list!

CIS, KOREA Occupational Safety and Health Agency

Operation of Information Center

To provide assistance in taking appropriate measures regarding cases involving safety and health, KOSHA translates into Korean a variety of technical materials on important subjects regarding industrial safety that are published in foreign countries and distributes them.

During the time when the prevention of lumbago and musculoskeletal disorders is being stressed, KOSHA distributed Gestes et postures de scurite dans le travail (Behavior and Posture Related to Transport Safety) published by France's Institut National de Recherche et de Sécurité to safety and health managers at industrial sites. As a handbook used by safety monitors who provide training on the principle of behavior for transporting made by personnel, the book has become very popular.

Other translation projects include the chemical product risk management guidelines regarding the damage and danger of serious chemical industry accidents published by the Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation Board (CSB) of the US and the contents of various accident reports. By providing translated information through online systems, KOSHA presents technical and managerial matters on the danger of serious accidents and actions to be taken after accidents.

For other information services, KOSHA has built a Multimedia Information Service System to ensure the convenience of library users and enable easy access to the library of the KOSHA main office among employees working at 20 regional head offices and area offices. With the current trend of reproducing offline materials into online materials (CD-ROM, diskettes, audio-visual materials), the establishment of this system allows users in remote areas to conveniently search materials from their own PC without the need to visit the library.

During the Week of Occupational Safety and Health, an information search contest was held for KOSHANET members to improve their consciousness vis-à-vis the utilization of Internet information. The activities of the information center can be found on home.kosha.net/~cissys, while inquiries on domestic materials and detailed information on the articles published in KOSHA's English newsletter on cissys@kosha.net.

Safety and Health Technology Information Services

KOSHA has built a database containing domestic and foreign safety and health materials. Dubbed as the KOSHANET service (www.kosha.or.kr), it provides such materials to workplaces, workers, safety and health personnel, and general public free of charge (as of December 31, 2003, KOSHANET members number 121,536).

Materials provided through the KOSHANET cover 12 fields including government policies and legal information on safety and health, information on safety and health technology, Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS), KOSHA CODE, and cases of accidents.

In particular, information on some 50,000 kinds of MSDS for toxic chemical products is very popular among the members. Currently, there are some 185,000 records containing such information saved to the DB (equivalent to 520,000 sheets of A4 paper).

Since 2001, KOSHA has begun providing diversified technical information services through the Internet, including various safety and health-related video materials and virtual safety and health training. In 2003, KOSHA launched a website integrating the KOSHA website and the KOSHANET service that used to be operated separately. The recently introduced integrated website acts as a cyber civil affairs office that receives civil petitions and applications for regular inspection and training through the Internet and provides the Closed User Group (CUG) service that serves as a venue for managers from each field to meet through online systems. Safety managers and workers at workplaces can therefore exchange opinions and solve technical problems through the KOSHANET.

KOSHA plans to open a cyber simulation center in the future, expand safety and health web contents, and provide a community in the cyber world. By building a safety and health website that can be easily accessed by anyone and offering related information to the general public and safety and health personnel, the agency is expected to play an important role in preventing accidents at industrial sites.

US NORA Team Examines the Changing Nature of Work

The workplace is rapidly changing, creating new and unstudied safety and health challenges. Organizational restructuring, new communication technologies, and extended work shifts have left many workers facing increased job demands and longer work days. The NORA Organization of Work Team examines how these trends affect worker health and safety. Team leader Steve Sauter explains the team's mission is to identify "what is known and not known about the health and safety implications and to promote research to fill these knowledge gaps."

The team responded to these knowledge gaps with it's white paper The Changing Organization of Work and the Safety and Health of Working People, published in 2002. Subgroups now focus on two high priority issues: work organization and women's health and the health and safety consequences of long working hours. Long working hours was also the theme of a successful conference the team recently co-sponsored with the University of Maryland; the Journal of the American Medical Association published the conference results in the July 7, 2004 issue. In addition, the team supports 21 research projects and funds 11 graduate training programs in the organization of work. Visit the team's Web page to learn more about their research and the NIOSH Stress Topic page to find related information about the organization of work.

White paper link www.cdc.gov/niosh/02-116pd.html
Team Web page Link www.cdc.gov/niosh/nora/pastnora.html
Stress Topic Page link www.cdc.gov/niosh/topics/stress

Division of Applied Research and Technology (DART)

New Test Provides Real-Time Assessment of Vaccine Effectiveness

DART researchers developed a prototype assay test kit to evaluate the effectiveness of anthrax vaccine in first responders, decontamination workers and military personnel almost instantaneously, compared with traditional tests that may take days. DART scientists are now collaborating with the Naval Institute for Dental and Biomedical Research to evaluate the prototype. More information can be found in "Determination of serum IgG antibodies to Bacillus anthracis protective antigen in environmental sampling workers using a fluorescent covalent microsphere immunoassay," Occup Environ Med (2004) 61:703-708 or by contacting Raymond Biagini at RBiagini@cdc.gov or John Snawder at JSnawder@cdc.gov

Division of Respiratory Disease Studies (DRDS)

Organizing the International Beryllium Research Symposium

Christine Schuler and Mark Hoover are collaborating, on behalf of NIOSH, with scientists at the Institut de recherche Robert-Sauvé en santé et en sécurité du travail (IRSST) and the National Jewish Medical and Research Center, as members of the organizing committee for an International Beryllium Research Symposium to be held in Montreal, Quebec, Canada, March 8-11, 2005. Information on this symposium can be found at www.irsst.qc.ca/en

Division of Safety Research (DSR)

Expanding Outreach to the Fire Service

NIOSH's Fire Fighter Fatality Investigation and Prevention Program expanded its outreach to fire fighters and fire departments across the U.S. by collaborating with the editors of several widely read fire service trade journals to publish summary versions of selected investigative reports from the program. This cost-free strategy enables NIOSH to disseminate information for preventing fire fighter fatalities to at least 1.8 million fire service personnel. More information on the program can be found at www.cdc.gov/niosh/firehome.html

Software for Ground Control in Mine Design

From its research on ground control, NIOSH has developed a number of software packages to help mine planners, managers, and others in designing mines and troubleshooting problems to prevent roof falls that may result in death or serious injury to miners. The software packages include programs on "Analysis of Longwall Pillar Stability," "Analysis of Retreat Mining Pillar Stability," "Analysis of Horizontal Stress Effects in Mining," "LAMODEL" for calculating stresses and displacements in thin seams or veins, "Analysis of Roof Bolt Systems," Coal Mine Roof Rating," and "Troubleshooting Guide for Roof Support Systems." Users have hailed the programs as "very useful" and a "type of help [that] keeps us safer and more productive." These software packages can be accessed at www.cdc.gov/niosh/mining/topics/topicpage25.htm. Further information is available from Christopher Mark, NIOSH Pittsburgh Research Laboratory, at CMark@cdc.gov

New Book

Healthy beginnings: Guidance on safe maternity at work
By Jane Paul
International Labour Office Geneva

First published 2004

ISBN 92-2-115238-3 (soft cover)
ISBN 92-2-115239-1 (.pdf version)

OSH UPDATE: new Internet based service from Sheila Pantry Associates Ltd

Want to keep up-to-date in worldwide occupational health, safety, hygiene, road safety, water safety, environment trends and the latest information? Do budget constraints not allow you to buy all the journals, newsletters and documents that contain the latest information? Can't afford the time to search for the latest information, legislation and standards? No staff to search for this information? And no time yourself to spend hours searching for information?

Then a new, very affordable Internet based service OSH UPDATE, from Sheila Pantry Associates Ltd is the answer for you.

Powered by Head Software International's Headfast/Discovery Internet publishing software*, OSH UPDATE will be launched in the Autumn 2004 and updated monthly.

It contains a number of bibliographic databases from worldwide authoritative sources such as the UK Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (RoSPA), US National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), Canada Ryerson University, the International Labour Office CIS Health and Safety Centre, HSELINE, from the UK Health and Safety Executive Information Services, European Union legislation and other legislation sources and OSH standards specifications.

OSH UPDATE will expand - we are continuing to make agreements with other well-known information producers around the world and these databases will also be included.

As well as the latest information many reference sources go back 80 or more years and so a valuable tool for researchers.

This new aggregation of databases will contain thousands of relevant references with abstracts or keywords and will keep you and your colleagues alerted to hot topics such as the health risks of nanotechnology, corporate killing, bioterrorism, management of road risks, preparedness and business continuity.

The title price for a single user via the Internet will be GBP250.00 / US$ 450.00 per year - less than 68 pence / 1.2 dollars per day.

The price reflects our aim to bring health and safety guidance, advice, research, journal articles, papers, standards to the attention of health and safety practitioners and managers, researchers, trade union safety representatives, occupational physicians, information specialists in industry, colleges and universities, government staff, inspectors, university and college safety directors, university and college lecturers and those in training - at a cost that is affordable and a service that is time efficient.

If you are interested in taking up this service on trial please complete the OSH UPDATE Interest Form, or contact us to ask further questions.

Sheila Pantry OBE BA FCLIP, Sheila Pantry Associates Ltd, 85 The Meadows, Todwick, Sheffield S26 1JG, UK | Tel: +44 (0) 1909 771024 | Fax: +44 (0) 1909 772829 | Email: sp@sheilapantry.com | www.sheilapantry.com | www.oshworld.com | www.shebuyersguide.com
Electronic Products: Environment Plus | Fire Worldwide | OSH Ireland | OSH UPDATE

* Headfast/Discovery is being used for important bibliographic and full text information services on the Internet by other publishers including CERAM Research, Ellis Publications, Inspec, Nielsen BookData, Oxmill Publishing and TWI.

OSHFE web sites to explore

HONG KONG

Asia Monitor Resource Centre (AMRC)   HONG KONG
www.amrc.org.hk
The Asia Monitor Resource Centre (AMRC) is an independent, non-government organisation
(NGO) that focuses on Asian labour concerns. It provides information, training, research and support to NGOs, labour and women's organizations with a wide range of online resources.

AUSTRALIA

Chem Alert 2 (RMT)   AUSTRALIA
www.chemalert.com.au
Chem Alert 2 is a comprehensive, quality-assured chemical management software system that provides access to MSDSs, Chem Alert 2 Reports, stock management functionality, safe handling procedures and storage requirements for tens of thousands of commercial chemical products. Chem Alert 2 is very easy to use and is designed to reduce organisation's chemical management workload, increase worksite safety around hazardous substances, and save organisations money by reducing chemical use. Chem Alert 2 offers organisations large or small a chemical management solution to suit their needs.

LUXEMBOURG

Eur-lex   LUXEMBOURG
http://eur-lex.europa.eu
European Commission portal, result of a merger between the Eur-Lex and Celex websites includes details of European legislation and proposals, Official Journal of the European Union, Directives, Recommendations, Decisions, Treaties, Publications, case law and links to other Commission sites then this is the site for you. This new site provides a unique, high performance tool, which combines the navigation possibilities of EUR-Lex and the search modes of Celex. In addition, the free-of-charge access is guaranteed to all and the multi-lingual nature of site has been reinforced thanks to the inclusion of the new official EU languages.

UK

Fire Kills   UK
http://firekills.direct.gov.uk
UK Government web site that gives details of advice and guidance on the dangers of fires. Links to campaigns, The Fire and Rescue Service, leaflets and other details.

Health and Safety Executive: Putting the Record Straight   UK
www.hse.gov.uk/press/record.htm
The UK Health and Safety Executive (HSE) Press Office website responding to health and safety related articles and reports in the British media. The Health and Safety Commission and Executive (HSC/E) also takes an interest when other organisations respond to the media and put the record straight about health and safety and there is a link to these items.

Health and Safety Executive: Surface Engineering Industry   UK
www.hse.gov.uk/surfaceengineering
The UK Health and Safety Executive (HSE) website for the surface engineering industry
is designed to give everyone working in the industry access to free, up to date advice on health and safety.

Health and Safety Executive: Waste Management and Recycling Industry   UK
www.hse.gov.uk/waste
The UK Health and Safety Executive (HSE) website designed to help waste management and recycling industries and aims to give everyone working in the industry access to free, up to date advice on health and safety.

USA

Environmental Protection Agency EPA: Radiation   USA
http://radiation.supportportal.com
Environmental Protection Agency frequently asked questions (FAQs) on radiation.

Federal Aviation Administration FAA: Radiation Exposure During Air Travel   USA
www.faa.gov/data_research/research/med_humanfacs/aeromedical/radiobiology/reports
Federal Aviation Administration FAA Reports on Radiation Exposure During Air Travel

Food and Drug Administration FDA: X-ray Exposure from X-ray Machines   USA
www.fda.gov/Radiation-EmittingProducts/ElectronicProductRadiationControlProgram/IndustryGuidance
Food and Drug Administration FDA frequently asked questions (FAQs) about x-ray Machines.

Mesothelioma Study   USA
www.mesostudy.com
US based organisation web site that contains a collection of resources related to the rare cancer mesothelioma and asbestos.

National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health   NIOSH   X-ray Exposure from Airport Scanners   USA
www.cdc.gov/niosh/topics/airportscreener
National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health NIOSH advice and guidance on x-ray exposure from airport scanners

Nuclear Regulatory Commission: Radiation Protection   USA
www.nrc.gov/about-nrc/radiation.html
Nuclear Regulatory Commission website advice and guidance on radiation protection. NRC's primary mission is to protect public health and safety, and the environment from the effects of radiation from nuclear reactors, materials, and waste facilities. This section of the NRC's web site discusses the sources of different types of radiation, its effects, and its regulation.

Diary of Events

3-4 November 2004 - Living to work - working to live. Tomorrow's work-life balance in Europe
European Foundation, Dublin, Ireland
Contact: European Foundation, Dublin, Ireland | Tel: +44 (0) 1322 660 070 | Fax: +44 (0) 1322 616 376 | Email: Karin.allfree@nexusmedia.com | www.eurofound.ie

8 November 2004 - 30 years on - the Future of the Health and Safety Commission
TUC, Congress House, Great Russell St, London WC1B 3LS, UK
Contact: 30th Anniversary conference, Health and Safety Unit, OSD, TUC, Congress House, Great Russell Street, London WC1B3LS, UK | Email: healthandsafety@tuc.org.uk

8-11 November 2004 - Mold, Moisture and Remediation Workshop
ACGIH Professional Learning Center, 1330 Kemper Meadow Drive, Cincinnati, Ohio, USA.
Contact: Anna Schmid, American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists | Tel: +1 513 742 6163 ext 101 | Fax: +1 513 742 3355 | Email: meetings@acgih.org

18 November 2004 - Asbestos Training Issues: Seminar for analysts, surveyors and consultants
Old Assembly Rooms, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, UK
Contact: BOHS, Georgian House, Great Northern Road, Derby DE1 1LT, UK | Tel: +44 (0) 1332 298101 | Email: anthea@bohs.org | www.bohs.org

23 November 2004 - The New Noise and Vibration Directives: an update for industry
Society of Chemical Industry,14/15 Belgrave Square London SW1X, UK
Contact: BOHS, Georgian House, Great Northern Road, Derby DE1 1LT, UK | Tel: +44 (0) 1332 298101 | Email: anthea@bohs.org | www.bohs.org

8-11 March 2005 - International Beryllium Research Symposium
Montreal, Quebec Canada
Contact: IRSST, 505, boulevard de Maisonneuve Ouest Montréal (Québec), Canada H3A 3C2 | Beryllium2005@irsst.qc.ca | www.irsst.qc.ca/en/intro-be-2005.html

30-31 March 2005 - Fire and Explosion issues on oil and gas onshore plants
UK
Contact: Martin Homer, The Steel Construction Institute, Silwood Park, Ascot, Berkshire SL5 7QN, UK | Tel: +44(0)1344 623 345 | Email: fabig@steel-sci.com

Make my day......

Send Your news to your Editor: sp@sheilapantry.com