CIS Newsletter

No. 202
July 2006


CIS Newsletter celebrates 18 years & still going strong!
Bringing news to over 140 countries in the CIS Network!


Contents

  1. Editorial
  2. News from Geneva Annual Meeting
  3. CIS Workshop - 13 September 2006
  4. WHO
  5. Singapore
  6. Teenage workers
  7. Poland
  8. CIS web site - additions
  9. News from around the world - Africa, Canada, European Agency for Safety and Health at Work, Finland, ICFTU, Middle East, UK and USA
  10. Diary of Events

Editorial

Dear CIS Colleagues

Moving into the second of the year already - starting with your CIS Newsletter July 2006

The preparation for the CIS Annual Meeting and Workshop progresses - see some more details below. Wednesday - Friday, 13 -15 September 2006, Geneva, Switzerland.

You should have received Gabor Sandi's invitation by now, and hopefully have now started to make your plans to be at this year's CIS Annual General Meeting. We should aim to move along in developing the FUTURE of the CIS Network. Your ideas are very much needed - and if for some reason you cannot attend the meeting - then write your ideas down and send them in for the discussions.

At the CIS meeting we will also be saying farewell to Dr Jukka Takala, who will be taking up his new job as Director of the European Agency for Safety and Health at Work. I am sure that you all would like to give him your good wishes at the CIS meeting.

Are you travelling to the CIS Meeting in SEPTEMBER 2006? Could you please let CIS know email Gabor Sandi sandi@ilo.org Annick Virot virot@ilo.org and myself sp@sheilapantry.com with your ideas?

Last month I sent a list of Geneva Hotels to all the CIS Newsletter lists of recipients - if you need help in locating a hotel - email me or the CIS Secretariat. Some of us are staying at the Hotel Windsor, central Geneva and not far from the bus stop at Cornavin Station to take you to the ILO. It is a very busy week in Geneva the week of our meetings - so hurry to book you hotel!

If you are planning conferences, training courses and seminars, or revamping your services - please send me some news. If you have a winning formula perhaps you might like to share it with others - so do send some news - don't keep it to yourself. Remember that your News in the CIS Newsletter goes to over 140 countries and gets re-used in other magazines and websites. CIS Newsletters on the web are getting more and more used... With many hundreds of hits per month......Publicity means... tell them (would be customers as well as existing customers of your Information services), tell them and tell them again...

Already some ideas put forward last year are starting to take place. So please make time to read the contents of this Newsletter - it is amazing how far it reaches - after every edition I get messages from outside of the CIS network from people who want to receive it on a regular basis. I know that everyone is very mega busy, short of time and finance of course - but hopefully you find the items in the CIS Newsletter are worth investing some time - if only to scan through the items and find out what is happening in this wider OSH world of ours. And perhaps make a Newsletter of your own from it and from information in OSH UPDATE.

Many thanks to you who have sent emails and news - these are always gratefully received and are used as soon as possible.

Remember you can see CIS Newsletter on the web site www.sheilapantry.com/cis where back issues are stored.

Remember >>>> Surviving in 2006... By promotion, publicity and telling the World that CIS and its network exists!

All good wishes to you, your families 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
www.oshupdate.com


News from Geneva

Gabor Sandi, Head CIS has sent invitation letters will be sent to individuals regarding the CIS Annual Meeting.

Here it is - start making your plans. There are 4 major conferences being held in Geneva the week of our Meeting and Workshop - so you may find hotels rather full.

Dear Colleague

It is a pleasure to invite you to the 44th annual Meeting of CIS National and Collaborating Centres, which will take place at ILO Headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland on Thursday 14 and Friday 15 September 2006. The meeting will be preceded on 13 September 2006 , for those who are interested, by a one-day hands-on computers training session on the use of new information resources in OSH, kindly organized by Sheila Pantry.

The Meeting will be held in Meeting Room IV at the R3 level of the ILO Building. Simultaneous interpretation will be offered between English and French.

The provisional agenda of the CIS annual meeting is as follows:

Thursday, 14 September 2006

Friday, 15 September 2006

Please note that the time devoted to the presentation of Reports by CIS Centres should be kept to a bare minimum. We respectfully ask Centres to limit their presentation to about 5 minutes, enough time for a very brief overview of their activities in the past year, with a special mention of new or modified activities if any. As usual, CIS welcomes the submission of longer reports in printed or electronic format, and will install them on its web site, if possible.

If you intend to attend the Meeting, please inform the CIS Secretariat at the address given below, specifying in addition if you will also participate in the hands-on training session offered on Wednesday, 13 September 2006.

As in past years, CIS is unable to contribute financially to the participation of Centre representatives at its meetings.

Our secretariat will be happy to help you find accommodation in Geneva. We shall also send information about how to get from the airport to downtown Geneva, as well as other practical matters, to all those who confirm their participation.

Your confirmation should be sent by e-mail to: CISCENTRES@ilo.org Alternatively, you can send it by mail to: Gabor Sandi, Head, CIS, International Labour Office, 4, route des Morillons, 1211 Genève 22, Switzerland


News about the CIS Information Workshop, Wednesday, 13 September 2006 at the ILO, Geneva

The CIS meeting will be preceded on Wednesday, 13 September 2006 by a one-day hands-on computers training session on the use of new information resources in occupational safety and health.

There will be a room full of computers for the delegates to use to explore these services. The whole training day aims to build on existing knowledge and skills and show how to use these new services to the advantage of CIS Centres wherever they are in the world.

Learning Objectives

At the completion of the day participants will have:

The Workshop is aimed at:

CIS OSH Information managers responsible for information dissemination and services who wish to improve their services. Invest your time in attending! There are many new things to be learned.

This is a free of charge workshop given by experienced practitioners - Irja Laamanen - Finland, Roman Litvyakov - ILO, Barbara Szczepanowska, Poland and Sheila Pantry, UK.

How to register

If you wish to attend this free workshop Please send your name as soon as possible to Sheila Pantry | Email: sp@sheilapantry.com | Fax: +44 1909 771024.


More News from Geneva

Annick Virot sends this brief note on the deliberations and outcome of the Committee on Safety and Health at Work which sat in Geneva during the International Labour Conference from 31 May 2006 to 16 June 2006.

The Committee elected its Officers as follows: Dr Békés (Government member from Hungary) as Chairperson, Mr. Lötter (Employer member from South Africa) as Employer Vice-Chaiperson, Ms Seminario (Worker member from the USA) as Worker Vice-Chairperson and Mr Kang'ethe (Government member from Kenya) as Reporter.

The text of the report adopted by the Committee is available at the address below. It includes a resolution on asbestos presented by the Worker members which was heatedly debated and opposed strongly by the Employers members who - although they understood the importance of the asbestos issue - were of the opinion that the Committee was not the right forum for discussion and who argued that they had not come prepared for such a technical discussion. Please see: www.ilo.org/public/english/standards/relm/ilc/ilc95/pdf/pr-20.pdf

The Committee adopted a Convention accompanied by a Recommendation with the ultimate goal of placing OSH at a high level in the national and global agendas. The new instruments namely the Promotional Framework for Occupational Safety and Health Convention, 2006 and the Promotional Framework for Occupational Safety and Health Recommendation, 2006, are available at:

The Convention was adopted almost unanimously by the Conference Plenary of the International Labour Conference (with only one country voting against it). It is thus hoped that the Convention will be ratified (and implemented) rapidly by large number of countries. The figure of 100 ratifications within the next five years was mentioned during the deliberations.

The Press Release on the work of the ILO committee can be found at www.ilo.org/public/english/bureau/inf/pr/2006/34.htm as well as this one on Labour Inspection at www.ilo.org/public/english/bureau/inf/features/06/ilc06_unsafework.htm


News from WHO

Almost a quarter of all disease caused by environmental exposure

As much as 24% of global disease is caused by environmental exposures which can be averted. Well-targeted interventions can prevent much of this environmental risk, the World Health Organization (WHO) demonstrates in a report issued today. The report further estimates that more than 33% of disease in children under the age of 5 is caused by environmental exposures. Preventing environmental risk could save as many as four million lives a year in children alone, mostly in developing countries.

The report, Preventing disease through healthy environments - towards an estimate of the environmental burden of disease, is the most comprehensive and systematic study yet undertaken on how preventable environmental hazards contribute to a wide range of diseases and injuries. By focusing on the environmental causes of disease, and how various diseases are influenced by environmental factors, the analysis breaks new ground in understanding the interactions between environment and health. The estimate reflects how much death, illness and disability could be realistically avoided every year as a result of better environmental management.

"The report issued today is a major contribution to ongoing efforts to better define the links between environment and health," said Dr Anders Nordström, Acting WHO Director-General. "We have always known that the environment influences health very profoundly, but these estimates are the best to date. This will help us to demonstrate that wise investment to create a supportive environment can be a successful strategy in improving health and achieving development that is sustainable."

The report estimates that more than 13 million deaths annually are due to preventable environmental causes. Nearly one third of death and disease in the least developed regions is due to environmental causes. Over 40% of deaths from malaria and an estimated 94% of deaths from diarrhoeal diseases, two of the world's biggest childhood killers, could be prevented through better environmental management.

The four main diseases influenced by poor environments are diarrhoea, lower respiratory infections, various forms of unintentional injuries, and malaria. Measures which could be taken now to reduce this environmental disease burden include the promotion of safe household water storage and better hygienic measures; the use of cleaner and safer fuels; increased safety of the built environment, more judicious use and management of toxic substances in the home and workplace; better water resource management.

"For the first time, this new report shows how specific diseases and injuries are influenced by environmental risks and by how much," said Dr Maria Neira, Director of WHO's Department for Public Health and Environment. "It also shows very clearly the gains that would accrue both to public health and to the general environment by a series of straightforward, coordinated investments. We call on ministries of health, environment and other partners to work together to ensure that these environmental and public health gains become a reality."

This research, which involved systematic review of literature as well as surveys of over 100 experts worldwide, identifies specific diseases impacted by certain well-known environmental hazards - and by how much. "It brings together the best evidence available today on environmental links to health in 85 categories of disease and injury. Since the research focuses strictly on environmental hazards that are amenable to change, we can also see where preventive health measures combined with better environmental management and cleanup can have the biggest impact. In effect, we now have a 'hit list' for problems we need to tackle most urgently in terms of health and the environment," noted Dr Neira.

Diseases with the largest total annual health burden from environmental factors, in terms of death, illness and disability or Disability Adjusted Life Years (DALYs)1 are:

Most of the same environmentally-triggered diseases also rank as the biggest killers outright - although they rank somewhat differently in order of lethality. Diseases with the largest absolute number of deaths annually from modifiable environmental factors (these are all parts of the environment amenable to change using available technologies, policies, preventive and public health measure). These diseases include:

The report shows that one way or another, the environment significantly affects more than 80% of these major diseases. Moreover, it looks to quantify only those environmental hazards that are modifiable - that is, those that are readily amenable to change through policies or technologies that already exist. The report also spells out us how much environment-related disease is preventable.

By acting assertively and setting priorities for measures aimed at curbing the most serious killers, millions of unnecessary deaths can be prevented every year. Working with sectors such as energy, transport, agriculture and industry to ameliorate the root environmental causes of ill health is crucial.

1DALYs = Disability Adjusted Life Years: The sum of years of potential life lost due to premature mortality and the years of productive life lost due to disability.

For further information contact:


News from Singapore

95th session of the International Labour Conference, 2006
Singapore: Charting a new roadmap for safer workplaces

The Conference Committee on Safety and Health will consider a promotional framework for occupational safety and health (OSH), including a Convention supplemented by a Recommendation. The proposed instruments would support placing occupational safety and health high at national agendas, and promote safer and healthier working environments worldwide. To propel Singapore to the world's top ten safest places to work, the country's Ministry of Manpower (MOM) has already formulated a similar OSH framework at the national level to make possible significant improvements in the safety and health of Singapore's workers. ILO Online reports from Singapore.

On 20 April 2004, the Nicoll Highway collapse in Singapore not only killed 4 workers on the spot but also prompted an urgent call for change. At the same time, a review committee was convened in May 2004 to examine safety standards in the construction industry.

Singapore's safety standards have improved steadily over the past 20 years, but in 2002 its workplace fatality rate at 4.9 per 100,000 employees was still higher than the European Union's average rate of 2.5. In 2004, 83 people lost their lives in work-related accidents here.

The grave mistakes that were uncovered in the process of the inquiry on the highway collapse led to an interim report, calling for immediate action to be taken to address systemic weaknesses in the construction industry. After a year-long probe, the committee concluded that a string of errors in design, construction, monitoring and supervision; regulatory weaknesses; and the lack of defensive systems and emergency planning contributed to the accident.

Based on the entire life-cycle of a construction project, the committee proposed several recommendations, including centralizing building control functions at the Building and Construction Authority to preserve the integrity of the system and maintain public accountability; strengthening disciplinary actions against professionals; incorporating safety records in tenders for public sector projects; tightening regulation for deep excavation projects and temporary works; and requiring licensing for specialist contractors.

What's more, the Ministry of Manpower (MOM) formulated a new OSH framework to make possible significant improvements in the safety and health of Singapore's workers - with the ambitious goal to propel Singapore to the world's top ten safest places to work in the world. While the ultimate goal is for zero fatalities, MOM will first strive to reduce deaths at workplaces by a third in five years, and then by half within a decade or sooner.

Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong underlined the importance of occupational safety and health in his address at the 2006 ASEAN Labour Ministers' Meeting: "While we push for greater flexibility and competitiveness, this must never be done at the expense of workers' safety. We must send a clear and unequivocal message to all companies that basic workplace standards must never be compromised in the pursuit of profit."

Singapore's decades-old Factories Act was replaced by the new Workplace Safety and Health Act in March 2006. Companies have to establish an OSH management system, identify and manage OSH risks at work and foster a strong OSH culture so that all employees can stay healthy and safe while at work. With the enactment of the new OSH Act, the Ministry of Manpower decided to increase its staff on OSH by 50 per cent (from 200 to 300) and established a new OSH inspectorate.

Workplace safety is everybody's responsibility

The message on the MOM web site couldn't be clearer: "Be safe or be sorry. Call 63171016 to report unsafe workplaces". The new Workplace Safety and Health Act engages all stakeholders and increases penalties for poor OSH management. By stating the desired OSH outcomes instead of specifying exact processes and precise safety measures, the new Act will compel all to identify possible hazards from the onset and to put in place safety systems in their workplaces. In order to improve government monitoring, MOM reinforced its OSH inspection capacity as mentioned above.

Besides a reinforced inspection system, a Workplace Safety & Health Advisory Committee (WSHAC) will strengthen industry self-regulation. Comprising industry leaders, the committee will also advise MOM on the setting of OSH standards and regulations, the promotion of OSH awareness and engagement of industry to raise the level of OSH, and the training of key stakeholders to raise competency and capabilities in OSH. An International Advisory Panel will be set up to help Singapore tap into overseas expertise and experience.

To raise safety awareness and cultivate a safety culture in all stakeholders at workplaces, MOM launched an inaugural National OSH Week on 28 April 2005, in conjunction with the World Day for Safety and Health at Work as declared by the ILO. The week featured seminars and roadshows, with active support and participation from different industries.

As announced by Manpower Minister Dr Ng Eng Hen during the launch of the National OSH Week, the public sector, which accounts for nearly half of the construction demand, will take the lead to improve safety at construction sites. It will place a premium on safety in the procurement process and offer various incentives for good safety performance by successful bidders.

The ILO has been working with a number of countries for the development of national OSH programmes. In Asia, the ILO has been cooperating closely with the Government of Thailand in the formulation of an OSH Master Plan (2000-2006). Similar efforts are underway with the governments of Cambodia, China, Laos, Malaysia, Philippines and Viet Nam.

"Faced with 2.2 million fatalities caused annually by work-related injuries and diseases, delegates to the International Labour Conference will take a significant step towards improving occupational safety and health worldwide. if they adopt the proposed ILO instruments", said Jukka Takala, Director of the ILO's Safework programme. "Singapore is one of the lead countries in Asia now showing the way to an integrated framework for occupational safety and health."

From ILO Online


News from IOSH, UK

Preparing for the teenage invasion

Summer holidays are upon us, which means that teenagers all over the UK will be seizing the chance to make some money during the break from school.

This also means that employers need to be ready for the extra attention these new recruits will need. So, what can health and safety practitioners do to keep eager teens safe at work this summer?

The Institution of Occupational Safety and Health (IOSH) has launched a new free online resource that can help. Wiseup2work has a host of interactive exercises and easy-to-use guidance for practitioners looking for some extra help.

A good starting point is to audit your current arrangements for managing risks to young workers. Consider:

"Employers need to take better care of the young people who work for them," IOSH president Neil Budworth says. "They're more than just an extra pair of hands during a busy trading time, and they need close supervision."

Click on www.wiseup2work.co.uk to see how you can keep young people safe in your workplace this summer.

IOSH is Europe's leading body for health and safety professionals. IOSH has nearly 30,000 members worldwide, including more than 8,000 Chartered Safety and Health Practitioners. The Institution was founded in 1945 and is an independent, not-for-profit organisation that sets professional standards, supports and develops members and provides authoritative advice and guidance on health and safety issues. IOSH is formally recognised by the ILO as an international non-governmental organisation.

Wiseup2work (www.wiseup2work.co.uk) is an interactive online resource for teachers, youth workers, supervisors and employers to use to prepare young people for work. It is sponsored by the Learning and Skills Council and supported by the British Chambers of Commerce and the National Youth Agency.

Contact: Anne Smart, Media and Marketing Assistant, 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 9139 | www.iosh.co.uk


News from Poland

Polish National CIS Centre - CIOP-PIB computer system STER and databases

STER is the computer system supporting safety and health management. It is a product of the Polish National Strategic Programme "Safety and Protection of Man in the Working Environment". STER was developed in the Central Institute for Labour Protection in 1997 and now it is systematically upgraded in step with OSH technical progress, changes in OSH - related legislation and special user needs.

The STER System consists of five modules:

The system allows the employers and the employees of safety and health services and measurement laboratories:

The STER system takes into account the requirements of the Polish up-dated Labour Code allowing:

Assessment of hazards and occupational risk is conducted on the basis of Thresh-old Limit Values (TLV) of harmful agents in the working environment covered by the system in force in Poland.

On the basis of the data loaded to the STER system it is possible to elaborate and print, among other things, for example the following documents:

The STER system works in the Windows 32 environment. Users of the system will be able to receive constantly updated databases as knowledge, legislation and the certification process develop.

The STER system is also integrated with two other computer programs supporting health and safety management - an electronic guide - INFOCHRON CE- with data on Personal Protective Equipment and a Chemical Safety Data Sheets - a computer database.

INFOCHRON CE (Catalogue of Personal Protective Equipment), available on CD-ROM, contains a database of all types of the personal protective equipment with CIOP-PIB certificate. It helps to select suitable personal protective equipment and to use it properly at work-stands. It contain information on available in Poland patterns of personal protective equipment, having the safety certificate, and information on manufacturers and distributors.

Chemical Safety Data Sheets a database available on CD-ROM in Polish, is a unique collection comprising, on a broad basis, in accordance with EU and ILO requirements, the principles of occupational safety, health and environmental protection both during the production, transportation and use of hazardous chemical substances. Each sheet consists of 16 points and includes among others:

More information about the STER system and databases can be obtained at the Central Institute for Labour Protection - National Research Institute (CIOP-PIB), Warsaw, Poland | www.ciop.pl | Email: masuc@ciop.pl


More News from ILO CIS

Brenda Dardelin writes

This is to let you know of a new product on the CIS website. We now provide access to chemical exposure limits for various countries that are available on the Internet. See: www.ilo.org/public/english/protection/safework/cis/products/explim.htm

We currently have information for 28 countries and hope to add more as further information becomes available.

Best regards
Brenda Dardelin
ILO/CIS Geneva

Chemical Exposure Limits

Recommended or mandatory occupational exposure limits (OELs) have been developed in many countries for airborne exposure to gases, vapours and particulates. The most widely used limits, called threshold limit values (TLVs), are those issued in the USA by the American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists (ACGIH).

For airborne exposures, there are three types of limits in common use:

In addition, biological exposure indices (BEIs) represent the concentration of chemicals in the body that would correspond to inhalation exposure at a specific concentration in air.

The texts provide information on the agency responsible for the establishment and publication of exposure limits in each country with an Internet link to a table or database containing the exposure limit values.


News from Finland

The following have been published by the Finnish Institute of Occupational Health

Asian-Pacific Newsletter 2006 No. 1 - Creating health and safety culture
www.ttl.fi/Asian-PacificNewsletter

Contents

The responsibility for opinions expressed in signed articles, studies and other contributions rests solely with their authors, and publication does not constitute an endorsement by the International Labour Office, the World Health Organization or the Finnish Institute of Occupational Health of the opinions expressed in them.

Electronic journals

FIOH publications that are available to readers free of charge are now published on the Internet as well see www.ttl.fi/en/publications/electronic_journals

The FIOH Newsletter, Työterveiset, disseminates health and safety information to society. It is issued four times a year (on 30 March, 15 June, 30 September, and 15 December). Each issue concentrates on a specific theme. A few English editions of the Institute Newsletter have also been published.

The African Newsletter on Occupational Health and Safety has been published since 1991, and continues the traditions of its predecessor, the East-African Newsletter. In helping to publish this periodical, the FIOH supports the global occupational health strategies of the International Labour Office (ILO) and the World Health Organization (WHO). The periodical is targeted at 21 African countries and the experts working in these countries, but it is distributed in some 100 countries.

The Asian-Pacific Newsletter on Occupational Health and Safety (published since 1994) provides the information to occupational health and safety experts in Asian countries. The publication of this periodical, too, supports the International Labour Office (ILO) and WHO Global strategies on Occupational Health for All. It is distributed in some 100 countries. The articles in the periodical are written mostly by specialists from the region.

The Barents Newsletter on Occupational Health and Safety (published since 1998) provides information to occupational health and safety experts in the countries of the Barents region.


News from the International Trade Unions

ICFTU OnLine: International Trade Unions welcome ILO Child Labour Debate

The international trade union movement has welcomed the holding of a key debate at the International Labour Organisation's Annual Conference, as a key moment for the international community to examine progress in eliminating child labour and ensuring that every child goes to school.

Governments, employers and trade unions discussed the ILO report "The end of child labour: Within Reach" at the Conference. The report sets out results in implementing ILO Child Labour Conventions, and identifies a number of key challenges for the coming years.

"This debate will we hope be a real turning point, bringing the entire international community to a comprehensive commitment to get the tens of millions of child labourers out of work and into school" said Willy Thys, General Secretary of the World Confederation of Labour.

The report sets a target for the elimination of the "Worst Forms" of child labour, under ILO Convention 182, by the year 2016, and includes figures indicating a major reduction of children suffering the worst forms of exploitation. It also sets out some future reference points for international action, including strengthening the "Worldwide Movement" against child labour and building further cooperation with trade unions and employers.

Trade unions are concerned nevertheless that some may seek to use the ILO report as a justification for focusing on the most egregious forms of child labour, while not tackling the broader problems of insufficient provision of quality education, and poor regulation of labour markets. Such an approach risks merely moving children from very hazardous to less hazardous work, while avoiding tackling the fundamental reasons that children end up in work instead of school. Therefore, the ILO Convention 138 on Minimum Age for Employment must always remain the benchmark for policy and for action.

"We are calling for clear commitment to free, universal, relevant compulsory education, publicly provided and of high quality. Fulltime education provided by qualified/properly trained teachers will break the cycle of poverty by leading to gainful decent jobs. But to really make a difference, education must be inclusive and reach out to disadvantaged groups such as the poor, girls, ethnic minorities, migrants, rural communities, handicapped and AIDS-affected children", said Fred van Leeuwen, General Secretary of Education International, stressing that "the universal right to education is not negotiable".

"Along with education, the other major issue is decent jobs for adults" said ICFTU General Secretary Guy Ryder. "Where adults in the household have decent jobs, the pressure to allow children to fall out of school and into work is removed. So action on child labour must always be linked to other labour rights, especially those concerning discrimination, forced labour and freedom of association and the right to collective bargaining for better incomes and decent working conditions", he added.

Unions will also be using the Geneva meeting to highlight the work being done by trade unions around the world aimed at eliminating child labour, including community mobilisation for education, action to change the policies of the International Monetary Fund, World Bank and other institutions, agreements with employers, rehabilitation of child labourers, cooperation programmes with the ILO and other groups, and organising adult workers to improve household incomes and combat poverty. Action on the most common forms of child exploitation, in particular in agriculture and domestic service, also features high on the union agenda.

Global Unions comprises of:

The WCL represents 30 million workers worldwide.

For more information, please contact the ICFTU Press Department on +32 2 224 0204 or +32 476 621 018.


BOHS Annals of Occupational Hygiene paper selected for OUP centenary collection

Oxford University Press (OUP) has celebrated its 100 years of publishing by picking 100 papers, from the scores of thousands published in its 180 journals over the years, that have made "a significant impact in a particular field, that had changed perceptions, were the most highly cited articles, or that were recognised as simply outstanding pieces of research." A paper from the June 2000 edition of BOHS's scientific journal, Annals of Occupational Hygiene, has been selected. Entitled 'The quantitative risks of mesothelioma and lung cancer in relation to asbestos exposure', this paper is still being downloaded from the Annals website over 100 times in most months, despite being over five years' old, and has had many citations. The full text can be downloaded free from the Annals website, http://annhyg.oupjournals.org/.

The authors, John T Hodgson and Andrew Darnton, are delighted to have been included and proud to be in esteemed company: amongst the other papers is one from 1950 by Alan Turing, often called the father of modern computer science, on whether a computer could replicate the brain; and the first publication of a limerick by AE Housman. The complete list of all 100 papers selected is at www.oxfordjournals.org/news/centenary.

The 'Annals of Occupational Hygiene' has been BOHS's research journal for 46 years, and is now one of the world's longest-standing and leading publications in the field. It's available both on-line as well as in hard copy. The on-line edition allows browsing or free-text searching of the 2,900 or so items that have been published since 1972.

For further information contact: Anthea Page, Communications Officer, BOHS, 5/6 Melbourne Court, Millennium Way, Pride Park, Derby, DE24 8LZ, UK | Tel: +44 (0)1332 250701 | Email anthea@bohs.org | BOHS website: www.bohs.org


News from ILO London

Monica Evans writes from the ILO London Office

Dear Sheila

Thank you so much for including me in your newsletter to date. Some very useful information came my way in it which has helped with some enquiries. However, the ILO has no funds to continue my post and I leave at the end of June 2006. That leaves Bill Brett in the office - his email is brett@ilo-london.org.uk. If he is not already on your circulation list, you may like to add him.

Best regards
Monica

Monica Evans, International Labour Office, Millbank Tower, 21-24 Millbank, London SW1P 4QP | Tel: +44(0)20 7828 6401 Ext 201 | Fax: +44(0)20 72335925

From June 30 onwards London will no longer have a Communications and Information post so please contact: ILO Department of Communication main numbers: ILO Communications | Tel.: +4122/799-7912 | Fax: +4122/799-8577 | Email: communication@ilo.org | Web site: www.ilo.org | Chief of media services: netter@ilo.org | French desk: g6dcomm@ilo.org | Spanish desk: cordova@ilo.org | General queries: rohland@ilo.org | Press briefings and events: perthuis@ilo.org | Video/radio: naets-sekiguchi@ilo.org


Important News from BOHS

BOHS launches annual student bursary scheme

The British Occupational Hygiene Society (BOHS) is delighted to announce the launch of its first ever bursary scheme, for students wanting to gain a higher education qualification in occupational Hygiene. BOHS will offer up to five bursaries every year, each of up to £4,000 towards the payment of academic fees.

There is no catch! BOHS is a registered charity, with a simple aim: to help to reduce work-related ill-health, and this bursary scheme is one of a number of initiatives designed to promote education and research in occupational hygiene.

The bursary programme is open to any students who are either registered on, or have been offered a place on, a UK-based post-graduate course that has been approved by the Faculty of Occupational Hygiene. Bursaries will be awarded biannually; the closing date for the first round of applications is 31st July 2006, and candidates will be informed of the result within two weeks of this deadline. The next round of applications will be assessed after 31st January 2007.

For full details of the scheme, including a complete list of eligible courses and how to apply, visit the 'Education and Training' section of the BOHS website on www.bohs.org

Occupational hygiene is about eliminating or controlling health hazards in the workplace (NOT about washing hands properly!), and the primary objective of the profession is to protect the long-term health and well-being of those at work. The British Occupational Hygiene Society (BOHS) is the definitive voice of occupational hygiene and has strong alliances with other health and safety organisations, the HSE, trade unions and business.

BOHS was formed in 1953 and its aim is simple: to help to reduce work-related ill-health. With members from within industry, health, education and research, it is by far the biggest hygiene society in Europe, and has been strengthened by its merger in April 2003 with the British Institute of Occupational Hygienists. The Faculty of Occupational Hygiene within BOHS plays a vital role in developing and maintaining the professional standards of hygienists, and is recognised internationally as a major professional examination and qualification body.

For further information contact: Anthea Page, Communications Officer, BOHS, 5/6 Melbourne Court, Millennium Way, Pride Park, Derby, DE24 8LZ, UK | Tel: +44 (0)1332 250701 | Email anthea@bohs.org | BOHS website: www.bohs.org


News from the Middle East

IOSH Middle East Branch becomes a reality

IOSH (Institution of Occupational Safety and Health) is continuing to influence a safer world of work by launching a new virtual branch in the Middle East.

The new branch is officially launched in Dubai on 1 June by IOSH President Neil Budworth at a special seminar, with speakers from regional governments, the oil, gas and construction industries. The launch is a welcome one for the region, particularly given the keen interest in health and safety issues in the Middle East.

Commenting on the launch, Neil Budworth said: "The launch of a Middle East Branch is a big step for IOSH. It is a rapidly developing area which is benefiting from significant local and international investment. This presents many challenges for the health and safety profession, and a new branch can only help practitioners in the region to meet these challenges.

"For IOSH, this is a major development because it gives us our fourth international branch, and geographically our largest. Given the dynamism, energy and enthusiasm of members in the region, I hope that the interest and proactive nature of members will continue. I hope they will develop significant profile for their branch, and for IOSH, in the region."

The new branch will help members in the Middle East to link up and support each other and to share information. It will also be seeking to address legal complications surrounding health and safety in the region, and to raise awareness of the role of practitioners and of health and safety.

Emma Ross, interim head of international affairs at IOSH, said: "The new branch has been set up as a virtual branch due to the wide geographical area it covers, and it will operate through cross-regional contact and co-operation. The formation of a Middle East Branch is the result of many years hard work."

The Middle East Branch is planning to arrange informal meetings, and as the branch develops, countries within the region may choose to become formal sub-sections, known as districts, within the branch structure.

More information on the new branch and the launch event can be obtained by contacting Jacoba Slee, IOSH international affairs officer, on +44 (0)116 257 3208 or email jacoba.slee@iosh.co.uk Alternatively, visit www.iosh.co.uk/branches

Paul Marston, Media Officer, 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 9141 | www.iosh.co.uk


News from the USA

Award for US National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) Education and Information Division (EID) Paul A. Schulte, PhD

Paul A. Schulte, PhD, Director of the Education and Information Division, US National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) received the 2006 Kammer Merit in Authorship Award for his study "Characterizing the burden of occupational injury and disease" from the American College of Occupational and Environmental Medicine (ACOEM).

The Award recognizes outstanding articles published in the Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine. The literature review (J Occup Environ Med 2005 Jun; 47(6):607-622) provided a comprehensive characterization of the burden incurred by occupational injury and disease. Schulte found that while the magnitude of occupational disease and injury burden is significant, it is underestimated, and there is a need for an integrated approach to address these underestimates.

The CIS Network sending many congratulations to Paul on receiving this award.

NIOSH publications

Applications of Ground-Based Radar to Mine Slope Monitoring [DHHS (NIOSH) Pub. No. 2006-116]
This publication summarizes developments in the application of ground-based radar to slope stability monitoring and presents information on NIOSH-sponsored experiments recently completed.
The report can be accessed at www.cdc.gov/niosh/mining/pubs/pubreference/outputid1721.htm

Temperature Corrections to Earth Pressure Cells Embedded in Cemented Backfill [DHHS (NIOSH) Pub. No. 2006-103]
This report presents findings from a study by NIOSH and industry to determine physical stress more accurately in backfill used to help keep mines physically stable. The study investigates a process using thermistors to record temperature readings which correct for the influence of temperature on stress data. Determining backfill stress is an important part of evaluating mine safety, whether personnel are working in proximity to backfill or in other areas of the mine where backfill is an integral part of regional support.
The report can be accessed at www.cdc.gov/niosh/mining/pubs/pubreference/outputid1698.htm

Health Hazard Evaluations


News from Africa

Communiqué from ARLAC

We, the representatives of the social partners responsible for Labour and Employment (safe work) in the ARLAC member countries on Botswana, Lesotho, Malawi, Namibia, Nigeria, South Africa, Swaziland and Zimbabwe met at the African Regional Labour Administration Centre, Harare Zimbabwe from the 8th to 12th May 2006 and discussed, the Role of Labour Administration in promoting Safe Work.

Participants noted that the high rate of work-related incident, injuries, fatalities and diseases, hence an indication of failure of current initiatives and efforts.

In response, participants noted the main challenges facing the provision of decent and safe work in Africa.

  1. Lack of national policies and adequate legal framework in some countries;
  2. Lack of capacity, skills and manpower;
  3. Lack of Political Will;
  4. Inadequate sensitisation and information services;
  5. Budgetary constraints;
  6. Bureaucracy;
  7. Lack of preventive culture at national & enterprise levels; and
  8. Lack of sub-regional collaboration and cooperation.

In recognition of the fact that some member states and social partners are making valuable efforts and initiatives in promoting safe work, and we therefore recommend the following best practices to be the guiding principles to promote safe work within the Labour Administration systems -

  1. Ratification and domestication of ILO Conventions on OSH and modernising Labour Inspection systems;
  2. Promotion of a preventive culture and adoption of systems approach to OSH management;
  3. Capacitating social partners through Labour Administration workshops, seminars, establishment of safety committees at enterprise level and involving workers representatives as well as introducing OSH into school curriculum;
  4. HIV & AIDS and occupational diseases mainstreaming into Labour Inspection system;
  5. Establishment of effective national tripartite OSH councils; and
  6. Creation of national centres for networking, collaboration and information sharing at local, national and sub-regional level.

The participants further observed that valuable conclusions reached at similar for a continue to lack meaningful monitoring and evaluation mechanisms. We therefore subscribe to and adopt the resolution of the Khartoum September 2005 meeting relating to the establishment of a scorecard.

For continuity and consistency, we recommend a follow-up meeting of the same group of participants to review the implementation of the action plan below.

Action Plan

Objectives

Strategies

Action by who

Time frame

National policies and legal framework - OSH, Labour Inspection, HIV & AIDS etc

- Promote social dialogue and tripartism;

- inclusion of other relevant parties

Social Partners

2009

Capacity, skills and manpower development

- Integrate Labour Inspection services

- Recruit more inspectors

- Develop training programmes

- Train inspectors, workers and line management

Government

ILO & ARLAC

2010

2009

Ongoing

Ongoing

Information and awareness

- Establish a comprehensive national CIS

- Adhere to regional and international initiatives on OSH

Government; Business; and Trade Unions

Media

2008

2007

Budgetary constraints

- Prioritising OSH and placing it high on the national development agenda

Government and Business

2007-2008

Bureaucracy

- Review and reform systems pertaining to Labour Administration

Government

2009

Preventive culture

- Promoting systems approach to the management of OSH

Social Partners

2008

Sub-regional collaboration and co-operation

- Harmonisation of legal framework & OSH standards

- Develop and implement sub-regional Monitoring and Evaluation Protocol (Scorecard)

Social partners at the sub-regional level

ARLAC

2010

Contact: Mary Muchengeti, Information Officer/Documentalist, ARLAC | Email: mary@arlac.org.zw


News from Canada

Expecting The Unexpected? You should, for the sake of emergency preparedness

What is the likelihood of a natural disaster striking the building where you work, or a chemical spill forcing your family to evacuate from the neighbourhood? No one knows for sure when, or if, disaster will strike. What we do know is that planning could make it far less disastrous.

During Emergency Preparedness Week, May 7 to 13, 2006, the Canadian government initiated a public education campaign titled "72 hours... Is your family prepared?" To mark the occasion, the government designed an emergency preparedness guide to help Canadians be self-sufficient for at least 72 hours in the event of an emergency.

It's important to know in advance who to call, what to do, and who will be in charge during an emergency. There's no time to figure it out when disaster strikes.

Employers have a responsibility to develop a plan, share it with their employees, and test it to make sure the plan works. For starters, an emergency plan covers essentials such as how to alert and evacuate staff, who is responsible for assisting handicapped individuals, where to find alternate medical aid, how to handle casualties, and where staff should gather for a head count once they are out of the danger zone.

Planning ahead can help prevent fatalities, injuries and property damage. It also speeds up the back-to-work process after an emergency has halted operations.

Besides providing guidance during a crisis, an emergency plan may help to equip your workplace by flagging deficiencies, such as a lack of emergency resources, supplies, or trained personnel. In addition, an emergency plan demonstrates the organization's commitment to workers' safety.

Emergency preparedness is equally important in the home. Learn what hazards exist in your area and what other types of risks for which you should be prepared. These may include flooding, earthquakes, chemical spills, power outages etc.

You need to:

Develop an emergency plan so everyone will know what to do and where to go if there is an emergency. Once you have an emergency plan, make sure everyone in your home knows it well and has access to a copy. The Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness Canada website has an online tool to help you prepare a plan in about twenty minutes.

Your home must also have an emergency kit with all of the supplies you and your family need to survive for 72 hours during or after an emergency. Store the kit in easy to carry duffle bags or backpacks, in a location that is easy to access. Make sure everyone in the household knows where it is.

Your emergency kit should contain the following basic items:

Additional Kit Supplies

Mahatma Gandhi once said, "The future depends on what we do in the present." Planning and preparing today for emergencies that may occur in the future, are preventive steps that will help keep people protected and safe in their homes and in the workplace during an emergency.

Other resources

Thanks to CCOHS OSH ANSWERS: www.ccohs.ca/newsletters/hsreport/issues/2006/05/ezine.html?id=5112&link=3#oshanswers

The Health & Safety Report is produced by the Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety (CCOHS). You can subscribe yourself go to www.ccohs.ca/newsletters/hsreport/subscribe.html


News from the USA

The June issue of LIFELINES ONLINE (Vol. III, No. 1) is available at the LHSFNA website. These are the headlines:

To view the stories and access our website, click www.lhsfna.org.

Also, please note that back issues of LIFELINES ONLINE - as well as the print magazine, LIFELINES - are posted for online viewing. The LIFELINES ONLINE archive and LIFELINES archive are fully searchable, so you can find the articles that relate to your topic of interest.

As always, they look forward to your feedback and comments on their website and LIFELINES ONLINE.

Contact: Steve Clark, Communications Manager, Laborers' Health and Safety Fund of North America, 905 16th Street, NW, Washington, USA


EurOHSE Masterclasses 2006/7

EurOhse 2006/7 Masterclasses will provide key points for future activities for all those responsible for securing good standards of health and safety in the workplace, and excellent networking opportunities.

The Trainers are all very experienced and the first four Masterclasses will be held in November 2006 and two more in February 2007 at the Imperial Hotel, Russell Square London, details as follows:

Monday, 6 November 2006
The Six Day-to-Day Habits of a Pro-Active Safety Culture: Active Monitoring in the workplace Trainer - Dr Tim Marsh, Managing Director of Ryder-Marsh (Safety) Limited

Tuesday 7 November 2006
MASTERCLASS - Training in management of road risk (MORR)
Trainers - Roger Bibbings, Occupational Safety Advisor, RoSPA, Dr Will Murray, Research Director for Interactive Driving Systems and Chief Inspector Ian Brooks, Metropolitan Police

Wednesday 8 November 2006
MASTERCLASS - How to implement drinks and drugs policies in the workplace
Trainers - Ava Fine and John Griffiths, Work2 Health

Thursday 9 November 2006
MASTERCLASS - Working at Heights
Trainers - Geoff Hornby, Alex Sammut and Paul Ramsden, ISAC UK Ltd

Tuesday 6 February 2007
MASTERCLASS on Training of Business Continuity Management teams
Trainer - John Sharp, FBCI (Hon) FCMI, MCIM, Managing Director, Kiln House Associates Ltd and the Continuity Forum, Policy and Development Director.

Wednesday 7 February 2007
MASTERCLASS on Training of emergency planning teams
Trainer - Les Moseley, University of Coventry, Director of the Coventry Centre for Disaster Management and Course Leader for the professional diploma course in Emergency Planning

Places will be limited for these interactive Masterclasses ... Bookings have already started - make sure that you book early.

SPECIAL REGISTRATION OFFER

The cost per Masterclass is £295.
If you register for 2 Masterclass events you will receive a 10% discount.
If you register for 4 or more Masterclass events you will receive a 20% discount

Payment must be received prior to the event. Delegates are responsible for making hotel bookings. The organisers reserve the right to alter the content of the programme. Payment can be made online via our secure World Pay system, payment can be made by cheque or you can request an invoice to be sent to you. This booking includes admission to the Masterclass and lunch/coffee for the day.

For further details regarding the content of the Masterclasses contact the programme organiser Sheila Pantry | Tel: +44 (0) 1909 771024 | Email: sp@sheilapantry.com

For further details regarding booking a place contact: EurOhse 2006, Office and Logistics Manager, European Occupational Health and Safety Magazine (EurOhs), Angel Business Communications Ltd, Unit 6, Bow Court, Fletchworth Gate, Burnsall Road, Coventry, CV5 6SP, UK | Tel: +44 (0) 2476 718970 | Fax: +44 (0) 2476 718971 | Email: jesse@angelbc.co.uk


News from Canada

E-Courses Focus on Prevention of Workplace Violence

The Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety (CCOHS) has released a trio of e-courses that focus on preventing violence in the workplace. Workplace violence is violence or the threat of violence against workers. It can occur in or outside the workplace and can range from harassment, threats and verbal abuse to physical assaults and even homicide. Whatever form it takes, workplace violence is a serious issue that affects all business sectors and occupations and the safety and security of every employee and employer. CCOHS has developed three new e-courses to help increase awareness, suggest preventive measures and provide information to help develop a workplace violence prevention program.

Violence in the Workplace: Awareness: www.ccohs.ca/products/courses/violence_awareness
This fifteen minute course, offered free of charge, helps promote awareness of this important issue and serves as a introduction to the other CCOHS Workplace Violence e-courses.

Recognize the Risk and Take Action: www.ccohs.ca/products/courses/recognize_violence
Designed for frontline supervisors and workers, the course describes what workplace violence is, the consequences of workplace violence and preventive measures that can be taken. It takes approximately one hour to complete the course.

Establish a Prevention Program: www.ccohs.ca/products/courses/prevent_violence
The course introduces managers, supervisors and employees to the key components of an effective workplace violence prevention program. It provides the knowledge and tools they need to eliminate or minimize the potential for workplace violence by developing a prevention program for their organization. The course takes approximately 90 minutes to complete.

CCOHS E-learning courses are unique in that they provide the user with course content that is

Pricing and registration details are available on the CCOHS website: www.ccohs.ca/education

Contact: Eleanor Irwin, Manager - Marketing Sales and Communications | Tel: + 1905.572.2981 ext. 4408 | Email: eleanori@ccohs.ca | www.ccohs-cchst.ca


Make my day...

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


Diary of Events

If you have details of any conferences, seminars, training courses and events then please send to your Editor. You can also check and please use any of the data in www.oshworld.com/diary.html. This month we are concentrating on Week for Safety and Health at Work 2006: Safe Start: 23- 27 October 2006.

The European Agency for Safety and Health at Work campaign slogan is 'Safe Start' and is dedicated to the occupational safety and health of young people. These webpages contain helpful information for young people, employers, parents and supervisors of young people. European Week 2006 will run from 23rd - 27th October.

This year's European Week for Safety and Health at Work is dedicated to young people to ensure a safe and healthy start to their working lives.

The Safe Start campaign is backed by all Member States, candidate and EFTA countries, the Austria and Finland EU Presidencies, the European Parliament and the European Commission, and by the European Social Partners.

European Week campaigns focus on promoting improved prevention at the workplace level by involving all the relevant stakeholders. In 2006, the campaign will also promote activities in schools, colleges and the wider education community, and promote the issue among the relevant policy makers in the education field. The Agency has already carried out several projects on the 'mainstreaming of OSH into education' and the campaign will draw on these resources.

The Safe Start campaign has two distinct elements:

In the workplace:

In the education community:

There is a need for "awareness raising" and education from an early stage - risk education and the prevention culture are the key factors for maintaining and improving the quality of work. This includes mainstreaming OSH into activities on youth employment and workplace training and development; and into education in schools, colleges and vocational training. Pre-work health and safety education and training are part of preparing young people for work, and part of the life-long learning agenda.

For this year's UK campaign HSE is working in partnership with the Institution of Occupational Safety & Health (IOSH), Trades Union Congress (TUC), Learning and Skills Council (LSC), and EEF, the Manufacturers' Organisation.

The purpose of this partnership is to raise awareness on occupational safety and health of young people through the distribution of Action Packs; providing links to key stakeholders' webpages (for example, IOSH's wiseup2work website that is specifically aimed at young people and the LSC's good practice safelearner website); the joint production of guidance and the Basic Hazard Awareness Course; and events and competitions.

For European Week itself, you may like to organise your own activities and events to raise awareness of the issues. To find out more information on this, and for the links to our partners' webpages, please click on the links of the left hand side. Alternatively please visit the website of the European Agency for Safety and Health at Work where you can find out more about the European Good Practice Awards 2006.

www.hse.gov.uk/campaigns/euroweek/index.htm

Perhaps all countries around the world can use the topic for publicity in their countries?


Don't forget

13-15 September 2006 - CIS Annual Meeting 2006 and Training Workshop, Geneva - see above for details... more in August edition.