CIS Newsletter
No. 260
May 2011
CIS Newsletter celebrates 23 years & still going strong!
Bringing news from Members to Members in over 154 countries in the CIS Network!
The CIS Newsletter is a monthly newsletter for the International Labour Organisation (ILO) International Occupational Health and Safety Information Centres and is edited by Sheila Pantry OBE from the UK. The CIS Newsletter is NOT an official publication of the ILO but a newsletter containing information from Members in CIS Centres and other sources and is intended to be shared by anyone who finds the data contained useful. Users are free to use and reuse the data in these newsletters.
Contents
- Editorial
- 28 April 2011 - Workers Memorial Day worldwide
- News, Events and ideas from around the World from Australia, Belgium, Canada, Chile, Finland, France, Germany, Korea, Paraguay , Portugal, South Africa, Switzerland, Turkey, UK, and USA to name a few!
- Did you know? ILO information around the world
- OSHE websites to explore
- Diary of Events
CIS Members' links:
- The WHO Network of Collaborating Centre Connection (CCC) e-newsletter: www.cdc.gov/niosh/ccc
- ILO CIS Network Newsletters: www.sheilapantry.com/cis
Editorial
Dear Colleagues
28 April is probably the most important date in the occupational safety and health calendar worldwide. You will, no doubt, have organised events for the 28 April 2011 - World Day of Safety and Health. The slogan for the World Day in 2011 - is OSH management system: A tool for continual improvement www.ilo.org/safework/events/safeday/lang--en/index.htm
Look also at the UK Workers Memorial website www.sheilapantry.com/memorial - you may wish to collect similar data for your own country.
There is much to look forward to in our OSH World in 2011!
Meanwhile, as usual the CIS Newsletter contains a roundup of information received from many parts of the OSH World - for which many thanks.
Please continue to send your News - whatever you are planning - any publications, conferences, seminars or training courses, then please send the 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.
Remember that whilst there is so much occupational safety and health information around the world not all will be trustworthy. Make sure that any information that you use is validated and authoritative and up-to-date.
USE IT OR LOSE IT!
Don't forget to continuously promote CIS and the Network!
Do add the CIS logo on the front page of your website would be a good first start. (Checked recently and only a few CIS Centres websites have the logo or links to CIS website).
Please do add the CIS logo on all your publications.
Any views you have on CIS and its work please send into CIS HQ - to Roman Litvyakov litvyakov@ilo.org and Seiji Machida machida@ilo.org
If you are in contact with other CIS Centres and they do not receive the CIS Newsletter alerts then ask them to send me their email and I will include them in them in the monthly alerts.
I am still making BIG PLEA to find out where all the missing people from CIS Centres are now... we need to know when people are leaving their jobs and very importantly who is going to take over!!! PLEASE HELP!
Will you be Surviving in 2011?... perhaps you will if you make efforts in 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
Sheila Pantry Associates Ltd,
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
28 April 2011 - World Day of Safety and Health
Every year, SafeWork, the Programme on Safety and Health at Work and the Environment of the International Labour Office (ILO), prepares a report to serve as a background to this theme.
This year, it discusses the application of an Occupational Safety and Health Management System (OSHMS) for the effective management of hazards and risks in the workplace.
An OSHMS is a preventive method to implement safety and health measures which consists of four steps and incorporates the principle of continual improvement. Its principles are based on the PDCA Cycle: PLAN, DO, CHECK, ACT.
The report recalls that the purpose of OSHMS is to establish a comprehensive and structured mechanism for joint action of management and workers in the implementation of safety and health measures. It can be an effective tool for the management of hazards specific to a given industry, process or organization.
Furthermore, the application of OSHMS can be adapted to a range of situations, from the simple needs of a small scale enterprise to the multiple needs of hazardous and complex industries such as mining, chemical manufacturing or construction.
The ILO 2001 Guidelines on occupational safety and health management systems (ILO-OSH 2001) became a widely used model for developing and implementing national standards in this area. The ILO, with its tripartite structure and its standard-setting role, is the most appropriate body to develop international OSHMS guidelines.
The ILO report for the World Day for Safety and Health at Work in English, French and Spanish, as well as various related promotional materials, are available in Internet. There will also be a press release, a PPT and a video from the DG. We encourage your office to work together with DCOMM at ILO Headquarters to develop media materials and actions.
ILO Headquarters can provide your Office with a printable version of this year's report and poster, as well as the graphic files, if you decide to print it locally. You are welcome to adapt the materials by putting them into local languages. Your office will also receive a number of printed versions of the report, the poster and other promotional materials. We are doing our best to finalize them and send them to you in time for your activities on that date.
Visit the ILO CIS Safework Web site and to use the products: www.ilo.org/safeday
This year, as in previous years, tripartite events will be taking place worldwide.
As in previous years, the focus is on activities in the field. Last year, many countries celebrated World Day for Safety and Health at Work. Events ranged from speeches held by leaders from government, employers' and workers' organizations to workshops and campaigns focusing on occupational safety and health and extensive media coverage.
The activities organised by your office for the World Day for Safety and Health at Work will contribute to its success. CIS HQ would appreciate receiving information of any activities that are developed in your region so that we can report them in our website. Send details to CIS@ilo.org
Since 2003, the International Labour Organization (ILO) observes the World Day for Safety and Health at Work on the 28 of April. This global awareness-raising campaign is intended to focus international attention on emerging trends in the field of occupational safety and health and raise consciousness on the magnitude of work-related injuries, diseases and fatalities worldwide.
The celebration of the annual World Day for Safety and Health at Work is an integral part of the Global Strategy on Occupational Safety and Health: Conclusions adopted by the International Labour Conference at its 91st Session, 2003 for the promotion of a global preventative safety and health culture. It is a key element of the ILO's Programme on Safety and Health at Work and the Environment. Capitalizing on its traditional strengths of tripartism and social dialogue, the ILO stresses the prevention of occupational accidents and diseases globally: www.ilo.org/safework/events/safeday/lang--en/index.htm
For other ideas for publicity and promotion see also CIS Working Party 1 - Publicity, promotion and communication strategy: www.sheilapantry.com/cis/other/wp01.html
In the UK a website has been created listing Memorials to UK workers - for details see www.sheilapantry.com/memorial
News from around the World
News from Australia
Response to concerns about Model Work Health and Safety Regulations
Safe Work Australia Chair, Mr Tom Phillips AM, said the objective of the harmonisation process is not to reduce the size of Work Health and Safety regulation but to ensure uniform safety standards are in place in each jurisdiction throughout Australia. This is consistent with the requirements of the Inter-Governmental Agreement for Regulatory and Operational Reform in Occupational Health and Safety.
"This exercise is about harmonisation and putting everyone on the same page, it is not rationalisation or reform," said Mr Phillips.
The content of the draft WHS Regulations are based on existing Work Health and Safety Regulations in each of the nine jurisdictions all of which vary in length, detail and matters covered.
Many chapters of the draft WHS Regulations address hazards such as noise, confined spaces and falls, or specific industries such as construction, major hazard facilities or diving. Businesses will not need to be familiar with all the regulations, only those relevant to their business.
For national businesses, familiarity with only one set of work health and safety regulations will be easier than needing to know the nine sets that currently exist. For these businesses, thousands of pages of regulations and rules will be replaced by the draft WHS Regulations which are currently approximately 580 pages.
The model WHS Regulations need to ensure effective safety standards and protections for all Australian workers without being overly prescriptive. It is not the number of pages or size that is important, but whether the model WHS Regulations will contain sufficient guidance to duty holders to ensure the health and safety of Australian workers.
As part of the recent public comment process on the model WHS Regulations, a number of submissions raised concerns about the length and level of prescription in the draft regulations. Safe Work Australia specifically sought comment on the level of prescription and the impact of the model WHS Regulations on business as part of this process.
www.safeworkaustralia.gov.au/AboutSafeWorkAustralia/WhatWeDo/Media/Pages/MR110411.aspx
News from Belgium
April 28: Anti-regulation agenda of business groups threatens health and safety at work
International trade unions are warning of the potentially devastating effect of business lobbying to weaken protection for worker's health and safety as workers across the world take part in the International Commemoration Day for Dead and Injured Workers today.
"Business groups and companies in a succession of countries, including some of the world's largest economies, are pushing to reduce protection from hazards at work. If they succeed, more lives will be lost and the toll of work-related injury and illness will increase. Trade unions are challenging the rigged statistics and bogus arguments that are being put forward by business interests that care more about profit than the lives of the people who work for them," said ITUC General Secretary Sharan Burrow.
"Consider the devastation wrought a year ago by the Deepwater Horizon disaster," added Burrow. "Eleven lives lost, environmental devastation and economic costs to the economy in the billions - all down to an appalling disregard for safety aided and abetted by an absence of effective regulation and official oversight. Lessons from this and other disasters like the Fukushima complex in Japan show how critically important regulation and enforcement is. Added to this, 'slow burn' disasters like asbestos mean today's failures to regulate can have a deadly legacy spanning two generations and killing millions."
While accidents at work kill hundreds of thousands each year, this total is dwarfed by the number of deaths from occupational diseases such as work-related cancers. The World Health Organisation estimates the annual toll from asbestos-related diseases alone at 107,000 deaths a year.
"There is plenty of evidence to show the importance and value of proper regulation and enforcement. Lives are saved, and the huge economic costs of occupational accidents and disease are reduced. Studies indicate that possibly more than 20 per cent of major killers worldwide, including cancers, heart and respiratory disease, are related to work. All these are preventable," said Burrow.
The ITUC focus for International Workers' Memorial Day is on the crucial role played by trade unions, strong regulation and effective enforcement in securing safer workplaces.
"Harnessing the on-the-ground knowledge of workers, backed by their unions, is crucial for preventing death and illness. Protection, including through respect for workers' rights to trade union representation, should be expanded and not curtailed in an outbreak of deregulatory fever. Removing or weakening regulations, and depriving workers of union protection costs lives. We need to focus on the burden that poor protection places on families and the public purse - not on some imaginary 'regulatory burden' on business," Burrow concluded.
To hear the April 28 RadioLabour interview with the ITUC's Anabella Rosemberg: www.radiolabour.net/rosemberg-280411.html
The ITUC represents 175 million workers in 151 countries and territories and has 305 national affiliates. Website: www.ituc-csi.org and www.youtube.com/user/ITUCCSI
News from Canada - IRSST
Pain, Depression, Disability and Rehabilitation Outcomes
The results of a new study published by the IRSST (occupational health and safety research institute) indicate that the prevalence of depression in individuals referred for rehabilitation of work-related musculoskeletal injury is as high as 40%.
In previous research, depression has been shown to contribute to longer periods of work absence following injury and lower probability of return to work. The researchers point out that there are different processes by which depression might impact on pain-related disability. Depression might add to the burden of disability associated with pain by accentuating the negative impact of the pain symptoms that ensue from whiplash injury.
In spite of limitations, the present study showed that individuals who enter rehabilitation treatment with high levels of depression are less likely to return to work following treatment. Of the individuals who returned to work, depressed individuals were also less likely to maintain employment. Future research will need to identify the processes by which depression impacts on disability and the intervention approaches that are most effective in targeting disability associated with depression and pain.
To download the document, please visit: www.irsst.qc.ca/en/-irsst-publication-pain-depression-disability-rehabilitation-outcomes.html
News from Canada - CCOHS
Government of Canada announces appointment of new president to Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety
The Honourable Lisa Raitt, Canada's Minister of Labour, announced on 25 March 2011 the appointment of Mr. Stevan Horvath as full time President of the Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety, effective April 11, 2011.
"I am pleased that Mr. Horvath has accepted this position," said Minister Raitt. "With 25 years of experience in business leadership, and 10 years of experience in the field of health and safety, Mr. Horvath will definitely be an asset to the Centre."
Mr. Horvath is presently the Vice-President of Operations for Advanced Inc., a leading supplier of audio visual solutions serving the corporate, government and education markets in Ontario. For more than 10 years, he held a number of positions, including Chairman, on the Board of Directors for the Industrial Accident Prevention Association, a not-for-profit health and safety organization operating in Ontario. Throughout his career, Mr. Horvath has also occupied several senior management positions in both private and public corporations.
Mr. Horvath holds a Bachelor of Science degree from Queen's University and an Industrial Hygiene Certificate from the Faculty of Medicine at the University of Toronto. In addition, Mr. Horvath is a graduate of the Advanced Management Program at Harvard University.
The Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety, located in Hamilton, Ontario, was created in 1978 to promote the fundamental right of Canadians to a healthy and safe working environment. Governed by a tripartite council representing the federal, provincial and territorial governments, employers and workers, the Centre provides Canadians with unbiased and relevant information that supports responsible decision making on health and safety issues in the workplace.
For more information on the Centre, please visit www.ccohs.ca.
News from Canada IRSST
LATEST ISSUE - INFO IRSST (Electronic newsletter from the Institut de recherche Robert-Sauvé en santé et en sécurité du travail)
www.irsst.qc.ca/media/documents/en/InfoIrsst/Archives/InfoIRSST_v09n01.htm
Pleasant reading!
Bernard Lauzon
Advisor to the president and CEO, and Acting Communications Director, IRSST, 505, De Maisonneuve blvd. West, Montréal (Québec), Canada H3A 3C2 | www.irsst.qc.ca | communications@irsst.qc.ca
News from Chile
Chile ratifies ILO Convention 187 on the promotional framework for Occupational Safety and Health
On 27 April 2011 The Government of Chile has delivered to the International Labour Organization the instrument of ratification of ILO Convention No. 187 concerning the Promotional Framework for Occupational Safety and Health.
Ambassador Pedro Oyarce, Permanent Representative of Chile to the United Nations Office in Geneva, delivered the instrument bearing the signature of the President of Chile, Sebastián Piñera, to ILO Director-General Juan Somavia. In ratifying this Convention, Chile commits itself to the continuous promotion of occupational safety and health through national policies, systems and programmes aimed at the prevention of occupational injuries, diseases and deaths.
"Chile has incorporated the main elements and regulations needed to put in place a national safety and health system and will take the necessary steps to establish a national programme, as called for by Convention No. 187", said Ambassador Oyarce. "We would like to thank the ILO for its continued support and promotion of international labour standards which contribute to generate safer and healthier workplaces through tripartite cooperation and dialogue".
On signing the bill launching the legislative process for the ratification of Convention 187 during the ILO's American Regional Meeting held in Santiago, Chile in December 2010, President Piñera observed that the rescue operation of the 33 miners trapped in the San José mine last year underscored the fundamental importance of health and safety issues in the world of work. The Chilean government has set 2011-2012 as the deadline for implementing a national policy on safety and health at work.
The deposit of the instrument of ratification coincides with World Day for Safety and Health at Work, which this year focuses on the implementation of an Occupational Safety and Health Management System (OSHMS) as a tool for securing continual improvement in the prevention of workplace incidents and accidents.
The ILO estimates that 337 million workplace accidents and 2.3 million deaths occur every year, with some 6,300 deaths per day.
"The tragedy is that so many accidents, illnesses and deaths could be prevented with appropriate managerial measures. It is a matter of respecting the dignity of the human being through the dignity of work; of shaping policies that reflect the central role of work in people's lives, in peaceful communities, in stable societies and in resilient economies." said Mr. Somavia in a statement marking the World Day.
As a promotional framework convention, Convention No. 187 provides for coherent and systematic treatment of occupational safety and health and promotes recognition and application of other ILO conventions on occupational safety and health.
Convention 187 was adopted at the 95th Session of the International Labour Conference held in June 2006.
News from Finland
Electronic Newsletter of the Cochrane Occupational Safety and Health Review Group Issue 2, April 2011
This issue also briefly describes the results of our latest review on what works in getting cancer survivors back to work. You can also read about our highly successful Review Group opening seminar in Helsinki and the latest improvements in Review writing software. There are also a few words on what you get by funding our group and finally a little something for the statistically inclined.
Call for funders
The Cochrane Occupational Safety and Health Review Group is an international not-for-profit entity that gathers, summarises and publishes evidence on the effectiveness of occupational safety and health interventions.
With the help of many volunteering authors we have thus far produced 71 review reports on the effectiveness of interventions to improve the quality of working life. They cover a wide range of topics that vary from interventions to improve occupational health in depressed people to workplace interventions to prevent HIV and interventions to prevent noise-induced hearing loss.
We still have an ambitious programme of new reviews and we want to keep the current reviews as up-to-date as possible and still improve their quality. We would greatly benefit from more financial support which we, until now, only receive from the Finnish Institute of Occupational Health.
With more support, we would, for example, be able to create a bursary fund from which we could pay authors to conduct priority reviews. Therefore, we call on all organisations that fund research in the area of Work and Health to contribute to our bursary fund.
How your organisation can contribute: http://osh.cochrane.org/funding-our-group
News from Finland
REACH and CLP terminology in 22 EU languages available now online
A test version of a multilingual terminology database provides the main REACH and CLP terms in 22 EU languages, including the CLP pictograms, hazard and precautionary statements. The database is now online, free of charge.
The European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) launched a terminology project in 2009 to improve the quality of the translations of its documents and to provide companies with a multilingual terminology tool to facilitate communication in the supply chain.
The database was available for final testing. Users can provide feedback by carrying out simple exercises and reporting their experiences between 5 to 13 April. Two User Groups, consisting of the representatives from the Member States Competent Authorities, industry, ECHA, EU bodies and translators, have already tested previous versions last year and found it very useful in their work.
The database can be used by companies to help in the preparation of safety data sheets in multiple languages.
The database offers:
- Around 900 REACH and CLP terms, phrases and definitions
- Pictograms for 9 CLP hazard classes
- 6 substances of very high concern (as a test)
- Alphabetical index containing all entries
- Search preferences with the possibility to customize the interface
- Help section
- Possibilities for registered users to download the terminology, comment on entries and receive news on the database updates
ECHA's terminology database can be used free of charge. The registration is required only for the users who would like to download or comment the data. The database is managed for ECHA by the Translation Centre for the Bodies of the EU (CdT) in Luxembourg.
Further Information
Link to ECHA's multilingual database: http://echa.cdt.europa.eu
ECHA-term leaflet and ECHA-term quick guide in 22 languages: http://echa.cdt.europa.eu/doc.jsp
News from Korea
The 5th Gathering of the National Committee for the Implementation of the Seoul Declaration: Promoting the Seoul Declaration through Activities in Overseas
On April 20, 2011, Korea Occupational Safety and Health Agency (KOSHA; President: Min-Ki Noh) hosted the 5th gathering of the National Committee for the Implementation of the Seoul Declaration in KOSHA headquarters. The National Committee is comprised of representative tripartite organizations (workers, employers, and the government) in the field of safety and health in Korea.
The National Committee for the Implementation of the Seoul Declaration, formed in April 2009, was launched to promote the "Seoul Declaration on Safety and Health at Work." The Seoul Declaration is the first universal charter on safety and health of workers.
At the XVIII World Congress on Safety and Health at Work, the Seoul Declaration was signed by 46 representatives of workers, employers, and government groups. The signatories of the Seoul Declaration promised to protect workers' safety and health.
The National Committee for the Implementation of the Seoul Declaration is comprised of 21 members, including the President of KOSHA, and representatives of Federation of Korean Trade Unions (FKTU), Korean Confederation of Trade Unions (KCTU), the Korean Employers Federation (KEF), and other workplaces.
During the meeting, the past three years' activities since the adoption of the Seoul Declaration were briefed. In addition, discussions were made to further promote the Seoul Declaration through the Korean OSH organizations activities in overseas.
To that end, the participants of the gathering talked about ways to promote the Seoul Declaration during the XIX World Congress on Safety and Health at Work to be held in Istanbul, Turkey later this year. Furthermore, they shared thoughts on encouraging more organizations to join in the activities of ISSA's Special Commission on Accident Prevention, which KOSHA serves as the President of one of its International Sections.
"It is encouraging that the representatives of the tripartite organizations are working to promote prevention culture, highlighted by the Seoul Declaration. They recognize occupational safety and health as the basic right of workers, as well as the important means to achieve economic development. I hope with more active collaboration with workplaces, the principles and significances of the Seoul Declaration become widely spread," said an official from KOSHA.
President Min-Ki Noh of KOSHA (3rd person from the left in the front row) and participants renewed their commitments to promote the Seoul Declaration on Safety and Health at Work.
On April 26, 2011, in honour of the World Safety and Health day at Work, KOSHA published a newsletter on international trends of safety and health at work. Our newsletter have many subscribers including 15 safety and health magazines in Korea, 700 personal subscribers and approximately 1000 staff members.
See www.kosha.net
Finally KOSHA has published its Annual Report 2010
The highlight is that for the first time in 12 years, the rate of occupational injuries and illness of Korea drop to 0.69%.
DongChan Kim / Senior Manager, International Cooperation Center, Secretariat for the Seoul declaration on safety and health at Work, KOSHA, 478, Munemi-ro Bupyeong-gu, inchon 403-711, Republic of Korea | Tel: +82-32-5100-742 | Fax: +82-32-502-7199 | E-mail: cissys@kosha.net or k96025@kosha.net
News from Paraguay
Paraguay must increase efforts to achieve compliance with ILO core labour standards Conventions
A new report by the International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC) on core labour standards in Paraguay, published to coincide with the World Trade Organisation's (WTO) review of its trade policies, has found that the government does not effectively enforce its laws on trade union rights.
The report finds that although to some extent workers have the right to organise, the right to collective bargaining, and the right to strike, there are severe restrictions on exercising these rights. In practice, many cases of anti-union discrimination and harassment against union members have been reported. The report finds that many of these labour rights violations remain unpunished. Furthermore, discrimination in employment and remuneration is widespread. Those experiencing discrimination include women, indigenous people, disabled persons, people living with HIV/AIDS and homosexuals.
The report takes note of estimates that half the country's children work, mainly in agriculture, manufacturing, street vending and domestic servitude. Furthermore, forced labour occurs, usually in the forms of debt bondage and forced prostitution. Many cases of forced labour are found in the region of Chaco and involve persons of indigenous origin. The report calls on the government to strengthen its law enforcing capacities and take urgent measures to address core labour standards violations.
To read the full report: www.ituc-csi.org/report-for-the-wto-general-council,8910.html
The ITUC represents 175 million workers in 151 countries and territories and has 305 national affiliates. Website: www.ituc-csi.org and www.youtube.com/user/ITUCCSI
News from Portugal
The" Autoridade para as Condições do Trabalho" have in association with ILO has produced have a Web page dedicated to National Day for Safety and Health 28 April 2011, with all the information and promotional products, as well as the ILO report translated into Portuguese version.
We invite you to visit and disseminate our Website: www.dnpst.eu
Maria José Liberato
Centre CIS Portugal
News from the UK
A Century of Science in OSH in the UK
2011 is a landmark year for the UK Health and Safety Laboratory (HSL) as it celebrates its 100th birthday.
Founded in 1911 as an experimental station in Cumberland for the investigation of explosions in coal mines, HSL has become an internationally renowned, leading, scientific health and safety facility.
1911 |
Government agrees to fund an experimental station at Eskmeals in Cumberland for the investigation of explosions in coal mines |
1921 |
Establishment of the Safety in Mines Research Board |
1924 |
Acquisition of the Harpur Hill, Buxton site for mining safety work on a large scale |
1928 |
Opening of central laboratories in Portobello Street, Sheffield |
1947 |
Formation of the Safety in Mines Research Establishment (SMRE) as part of the Ministry of Fuel and Power bringing together the work at Sheffield and Buxton |
1957 |
Opening of new laboratory in Red Hill, Sheffield to house engineering and metallurgical work |
1959 |
Formation of Occupational Medicine Laboratory (OML), located in Central London |
1962 |
Opening of second laboratory in Red Hill, Sheffield with provision for breathing apparatus studies, general laboratories, library and conference facilities |
1966 |
Formation of Occupational Hygiene Laboratory (OHL) by the Factory Inspectorate, located in Central London |
1973 |
Relocation of the Occupational Medicine Laboratory and Occupational Hygiene Laboratory to Cricklewood, North London |
1975 |
On formation of the Health and Safety Executive (HSE), SMRE, OHL and OML merged to form HSE's Research and Laboratory Services Division (RLSD) to cover work across a wide range of industrial health and safety topics, RLSD adopts a three laboratory structure:
|
1992 |
Transfer of OMHL from Cricklewood to the purpose-built Robens Building in Sheffield |
1995 |
The restructuring of the three laboratories into single integrated laboratory, the Health and Safety Laboratory (HSL). The laboratory becomes an Agency of HSE. |
November 2004 |
Move to a new, state-of-the-art laboratory on a single site in Buxton. |
For more details about the work and results of HSL see:
News from the UK
Continuous education is good for everyone
NEBOSH (National Examination Board in Occupational Safety and Health) has welcomed the findings of new Government research highlighting the benefits of post-19 further education.
The study by the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS) found that participants in Further Education (FE) beyond the age of 19, including in workplace settings, will generate an extra £75 billion for the UK economy during the course of their lives.
The research also revealed other benefits, including better wages and employment prospects and increased productivity.
NEBOSH Chief Executive, Teresa Budworth commented: "Although the study focuses primarily on Government funded post-19 FE, its findings present a clear message to individuals and employers.
"People who continue to learn and develop skills throughout their lives can earn more, enjoy greater opportunities and have a great deal to offer at work. Education is not simply about preparing for a career, it's a continuous part of developing one."
The BIS research paper 'Measuring the Economic Impact of Further Education' can be found at www.bis.gov.uk/policies/higher-education/research-analysis
NEBOSH is an independent examining board and awarding body with charitable status. It offers a comprehensive range of globally-recognised, vocationally-related qualifications designed to meet the health, safety, environmental and risk management needs of all places of work in both the private and public sectors.
Courses leading to NEBOSH qualifications attract around 30,000 candidates annually and are offered by over 400 course providers in 80 countries around the world. NEBOSH qualifications are recognised by relevant professional membership bodies including the Institution of Occupational Safety and Health (IOSH), the International Institute of Risk and Safety Management (IIRSM) and the Institute of Environmental Management and Assessment (IEMA).
Contact: Julia Whiting, Communications and Marketing Manager, NEBOSH | Tel: +44 (0)116 263 4724 | Mobile: +44 (0)7850 204072 | Email: julia.whiting@nebosh.org.uk | www.nebosh.org.uk
News from the USA
New NIOSH guidance documents explain importance of testing in reducing, preventing worker exposure to respiratory hazards
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration and the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) developed two guidance documents, one for workers and one for employers, which describe the use of spirometry testing to help reduce and prevent worker exposure to respiratory hazards.
Spirometry is a common pulmonary function test that measures how well a person moves air in and out of the lungs. Workers who inhale some types of dusts, gases or other air contaminants can, over time, experience lung damage. The spirometry test may detect breathing problems or significant changes in a worker's lung function at an early stage. The information in these new guidance documents assists employers with identifying and eliminating hazardous workplace exposures and helping reduce or prevent the chances of workers developing lung disease.
The new OSHA-NIOSH-produced Infosheet for employers clarifies what spirometry is, when it is needed, and critical elements that employers can use to evaluate the quality of spirometry services provided to their workers. The Infosheet also describes how monitoring workers' lung function over time can help individuals by identifying problems early and make the workplace safer by identifying when workplace respiratory hazards are causing problems that must be corrected. The companion document, OSHA-NIOSH Worker Info, explains to workers the importance of taking a spirometry test, what to do during the test, and their right to receive an explanation and copy of test results.
"Spirometry is the best available test for early detection of decreasing or abnormal lung function," said Assistant Secretary of Labor for Occupational Safety and Health Dr. David Michaels. "Our joint effort with NIOSH in developing these products will help broaden outreach and enhance knowledge of preventive measures aimed at protecting worker health and safety."
"We are pleased to join with OSHA in emphasizing the important role of spirometry in preventing costly, debilitating, and potentially fatal occupational lung diseases," said NIOSH Director John Howard, M.D. "These tests are a vital component of health and safety programs in workplaces where workers may be exposed to hazardous airborne contaminants."
OSHA also recommends spirometry testing for workers exposed to diacetyl and diacetyl substitutes. The agency recently issued a Safety and Health Information Bulletin on Occupational Exposure to Flavoring Substances: Health Effects and Hazard Controls and a companion Worker Alert on Diacetyl and Substitutes. These documents recommend that employers include spirometry testing in their medical surveillance programs to identify workers experiencing adverse health effects from exposure to flavorings, including food flavorings containing diacetyl.
Under the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970, employers are responsible for providing safe and healthful workplaces for their employees. OSHA's role is to assure these conditions for America's working men and women by setting and enforcing standards, and providing training, education and assistance. For more information, visit www.osha.gov
News from the USA
NIOSH Workplace Safety Messages on Spanish-Language TV
NIOSH developed content for a series of short Spanish-language videos on occupational safety and health for the Hispanic Information and Telecommunications Network (HITN). The videos, narrated by Maria Sofia Lioce of NIOSH, aired on a live national Spanish-language talk show on HITN. The videos featured topics on
- silicosis
- tobacco disease
- construction and fall prevention
- preventing infections due to hepatitis B, HIV, and other bloodborne pathogens
- working teens
- occupational cancer
News from the USA
NIOSH Updates Resources for Construction Safety
Construction workers and employers build our roads, houses, and workplaces and repair and maintain our nation's physical infrastructure. Construction includes building new structures, renovations involving additions, alterations, or maintenance, and repair of buildings or engineering projects such as highways or utility systems.
The NIOSH Construction Programme provides national and world leadership to prevent work-related illness, injury, disability, and death by systematically gathering information, conducting targeted scientific research, and translating the knowledge gained into products, solutions and services tailored to meet construction needs. In collaboration with industry and labor partners and stakeholders, including OSHA, NIOSH is dedicated to improving safety and health conditions for all construction workers. In 2009, there were 816 fatal on-the-job injuries to construction workers - more than in any other single industry sector and nearly one out of every five work-related deaths in the U.S. that year (19%).
www.cdc.gov/niosh/construction
News from the USA
The April issue of LIFELINES ONLINE (Vol. VII, No. 11) is available at the LHSFNA website. These are the headlines:
- On-the-Job Safety Threatened in Washington and Wisconsin
- Related, New Social Research: Right-to-Work Laws and Fatalities in Construction
- Ten Questions about Safety Culture
- OSHA: New Directions at 40
- Nanomaterials in Construction
- Have You Scheduled Your Health Fair Yet?
- Top Your Pizza with Moderation
- New Publications from the LHSFNA
- More Young People Suffer Strokes
- No One Immune to Heart Attack
- Users Pursue Dangerous Highs
- Individual Mandate at Center of PPACA Controversy
- Health Care Reform Updates
To view the stories and access our website, click www.lhsfna.org.
Also, please note that back issues of LIFELINES ONLINE - as well as our 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, we look forward to your feedback and comments on our website and LIFELINES ONLINE.
Steve Clark, Communications Manager, Laborers' Health and Safety Fund of North America, 905 16th Street, NW, Washington, DC 20006
Did you know? ILO information around the world
The ILO Library in Geneva, Switzerland working together with ILO information centres around the world, has created a Global Information Network to disseminate and provide access to ILO knowledge.
This site provides addresses of information centres in ILO offices in the country or territory, or in the surrounding region. It also provides the addresses of depository libraries for ILO publications in each country or territory listed.
Checkout your country: www.ilo.org/dyn/depolib/depolib_screens.main_page_uk
OSHE web sites to explore...
We look at websites in different parts of the world that are offering quality information. This month we look at a variety of websites from the USA.
Also look in www.oshworld.com/links.html for hundreds of links to authoritative and validated web sites... constantly updated.
This collection of authoritative and validated organisations' websites are listed first alphabetically under country name and then alphabetically under the first word of the organisation. The subject index expands the information of these websites, especially where there are many important sources of information which may not be apparent from a first look at a particular web site.
If you have a favourite site which should be included in this list please email details to: sp@sheilapantry.com
And if we do not have your web site listed please send it to me sp@sheilapantry.com
Factory Mutual Insurance Company FM USA
www.fmglobal.com
Factory Mutual Insurance Company known as FM Global which is an insurance organisation
with a unique focus on risk assessment. Offers insurance and risk transfer information,
research, standards and testing, resource centre, and news room information.
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.
Federal Emergency Management Agency Acronyms and Abbreviations
USA
www.fema.gov/plan/prepare/faat.shtm
From the United States Federal Emergency Management Agency this List of Acronyms
and Abbreviations will help those seeking American definitions, terms and
abbreviations.
Federal Emergency Management Agency Wildland Fire: Preparedness
USA
www.usfa.fema.gov/subjects/wildfire/safetyinfo.shtm
Federal Emergency Management Agency's Wildland Update Web page is designed to help
firefighters and community leaders locate important and up-to-date information on
preparing for and fighting wildland fires, such as weather predictions, current aviation
strategy, community programs and a six minute safety briefing. The Web page includes links
to the National Fire Plan, FIREWISE and the handbook "Preparing a Community Wildfire
Plan".
Federal World USA
www.fedworld.gov
Updated with a wide selection of US Federal Services, databases, government reports, links
to National Technical Information Services NTIS and others.
Federation of Drug & Alcohol Professionals FDAP USA
www.drinkanddrugs.net
Federation of Drug & Alcohol Professionals (FDAP) is the web portal for substance misuse
specialists and those in the wider health, social care and criminal justice fields who
deal with drug and alcohol issues in the course of their work. It is also the website for
the fortnightly magazine Drink and Drugs
News. This site gives access to latest news, training, research and guidance
for practitioners and line managers, feature articles on drugs and alcohol issues
Federation of Drug & Alcohol Professionals (FDAP), in association with Wired
(research, training and consultancy).
Fire Management Today FMT USA
www.fs.fed.us/fire/fmt
Fire Management Today formerly Fire Management Notes full text international journal is
published quarterly and aimed at the wildland fire community, it contains a wide range of
subject on fire behaviour, fire ecology, fuels management, firefighting
experiences, incident management, preparedness, prevention, safety, suppression,
training, and wildland-urban interface.
Fire Engineering USA
www.pennwell.com
Fire Engineering and related journals published by the Pennwell publishers.
Fire Engineering Magazine USA
www.fireengineering.com
Fire training information provided by the Fire Engineering Magazine includes programmes,
classes and educational development needs, books, videos and articles.
Fire Resources USA
www.wpi.edu/Academics/Depts/Fire/Resources
Fire information resources and links to organisations internationally including
governments
FireSafe USA
www.firesafe.org
is the home page and resource directory for safety information which also offers website
and document hosting to agencies and non-profit organisations.
Florida Agricultural Information Retrieval System USA
http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu
Florida Agricultural Information Retrieval System from the Institute of Food and
Agricultural Science.
Food and Drug Administration FDA Radiological Health Programme
USA
www.fda.gov/Radiation-EmittingProducts
FDA Center for Devices and Radiological Health Radiological Health Programme website gives
details on radiation safety, radiation doses, questions and answers and other resources.
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.
Forest Service USA
www.fs.fed.us
Forest Service contains details of News, programmes, fire information and reports,
managing fires, and also the National Interagency Fire Centre Daily Report.
FS-World USA
www.fs-world.com
Covers news, e-articles, new products arena, F-S World in print, events and an information
centre. Part of the Fire and Safety Group.
Harvard School of Public Health; Center for Work, Health, and Well-being; WorkLife
Center for Excellence USA
http://centerforworkhealth.sph.harvard.edu
US Center for Work, Health, and Well-being is one of three WorkLife Centers for Excellence
that the US National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) funds to support
and expand multi-disciplinary research, training, and education in this area. See
"Resources" for a list and information on all of the WorkLife Centers for Excellence.
Hazardous Chemicals Database USA
http://ull.chemistry.uakron.edu/erd
Searchable database of 1500 chemicals including hazard information, toxicology and further
information.
Diary of Events
These events may inspire you to create similar training courses and conferences/seminars in your own country.
These are taken from the OSHWORLD Diary of Events see www.oshworld.com/diary.html which is intended as a guide to the wide range of Health, Safety, Fire, Chemical, Environment events, conferences, seminars, training courses and other related activities worldwide. It is updated during the first week of the month, and includes validated Internet links to further information. If you cannot attend these events the organisers are usually willing to let you have papers and other information, if you contact them
5-6 May 2011 - Risk Conference
University of Glasgow, UK
Contact: The University of Glasgow, Loughborough University and the Engineering and
Physical Sciences Research Council |
www.dcs.gla.ac.uk/irmp
Readers may also wish to take a free trial of FIREINF and OSH UPDATE
www.sheilapantry.com/interest.html
16-18 May 2011 - The 19th Annual Canadian Environmental Conference & Tradeshow - CANECT
2011
Mississauga, Ontario, Canada
Contact: Email denise@canect.net |
www.envirogate.ca/index.php/spring-programs-canect/overview
17-18 May 2011 - Health and Safety Conference & Trade Show: Partners in Prevention 2011
Mississauga, Ontario, Canada
Contact: Email: conference@iapa.ca |
www.healthandsafetyontario.ca/bundles/conference2011/index.asp
Readers may also wish to take a free trial of FIREINF and OSH UPDATE
www.sheilapantry.com/interest.html
18-19 May 2011 - Prévent'Ouest: Theme The Congress of reference for risk control and
quality of work life
Rennes, France
Contact: Officiel Prévention | Email:
preventica@preventica.com |
www.preventica.com/preventica-evenements.php
Readers may also wish to take a free trial of FIREINF and OSH UPDATE
www.sheilapantry.com/interest.html
26-27 May 2011 - 3ème Congrès Francophone sur les TMS (troubles musculo-squelettiques)
Grenoble, France
Contact: The French National Agency for the Improvement of Working Conditions (ANACT) and
University of Grenoble | Email: tms@ptolemee.com |
www.officiel-prevention.com/sante-hygiene-medecine-du-travail-sst/salon-journee-hygiene-et-securite/anact-1086.php?rub=37&ssrub=140&offreid=1086
5-8 June 2011 - 5th International Conference on Occupational & Environmental Exposure
of Skin to Chemicals, OEESC
Toronto, Canada
Contact: www.oeesc.org
6-8 September 2011 - OSH Expo Africa 2011
Johannesburg, South Africa
Contact: www.oshexpoafrica.com
Readers may also wish to take a free trial of FIREINF and OSH UPDATE
www.sheilapantry.com/interest.html
7-9 September 2011 - EPICOH 2011 - 22nd International Conference on Epidemiology in
Occupational Health
Oxford, UK
Contact: http://epicohoxford2011.org.uk
11-15 September 2011 - XIXth World Congress on Safety and Health at Work
Istanbul, Turkey
Note: Organized by the International Labour Organization (ILO), the International Social
Security Association (ISSA) and the Turkish Ministry of Labour and Social Security
Information: (Venue) Haliç Congress Centre, Istanbul, Turkey | Phone: (+90) 312 215 80 86
| Fax: (+90) 312 215 50 27 | Email:
info@safety2011turkey.org |
www.safety2011turkey.org
11-15 September 2011 - Participation at the International Film and Multimedia Festival
on Occupational Safety and Health (OSH) will take place during the XIX World Congress on
OSH in Istanbul
Invitation to submit an entry has been extended to 28 February 2011
Istanbul, Turkey
Contact: Veronique De Broeck, Secretary General, ISSA, Information Section, Prevent,
Gachardstraat 88, B-1050 Brussels, Belgium | Tel: +32 2 643 44 92 | Fax: +32 2 643 44 40 |
Email: veronique.debroeck@prevent.be |
You can use the online entry form at
www.issa.int/8thIFMF
14-16 September 2011 - 46th Congress of the French language Ergonomics Society (SELF):
Theme Ergonomics at the crossroad of hazards
Paris, France
Contact: Email: self2011@ergonomie-self.org
|
www.ergonomie-self.org/content/content49384.html
25-29 September 2011 - 8th European Congress of Chemical Engineering (ECCE-8)
Berlin, Germany
Contact: DECHEMA e.V. Congress Department, P.O.B. 15 01 04, 60061 Frankfurt am Main,
Germany |
http://events.dechema.de/ecce2011.html
26-28 September 2011 - 4th International Conference on Concrete Repair - Concrete
Solutions 2011
Dresden, Germany
Contact: Email: info@concrete-solutions.info
| www.concrete-solutions.info
27-28 September 2011 - Health Safety and Environment Conference & Trade Show - HSE
Canada 2011
Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Contact: Email: nate@urbanlivingevents.com
| www.hsecanada.ca
27-29 September 2011 - Préventica: Theme - The Congress of reference for risk control
and quality of work life
Lyon, France
Contact: Officiel Prévention | Email:
preventica@preventica.com |
www.preventica.com/preventica-evenements.php