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EditorialThe Unequal OSH World of Information
June 2002 Attending the annual meeting of the International Labour Office CIS Health and Safety Information Centres is a constant reminder that those who most need the access to the wealth of occupational safety, health, fire, environment and chemical information are the ones who do not have access to it. Last week's meeting in Vienna and the accompanying XVIth World Congress on Safety and Health at Work must be like looking into a sweetie shop full of goodies which can only be looked at and not touched. My eternal optimism is that some wonderful fairy godmother in the shape of governments and publishing organisations will make it possible for all workers to have equal access to the essential OSH and related information which can be used to help train and educate those most in need. How much longer do we have to read that current estimates point to some 2 million workers - including children, lose their lives through occupational accidents and work-related diseases each year? Meanwhile those of you able to access quality OSH information should take heed and work to ensure that your management teams and workers have a right to decent work and safe work. This month's FOCUS article is about OSH-ROM - the world's biggest and oldest collection of health and safety information. OSHWORLD's regular pages are constantly updated, with new events planned as far ahead as 2005 in the Diary of Events which lists training courses, symposiums and conferences in many places in the world on a wide range of subjects. Remember that even if you cannot attend these many events, speakers and organisers are often willing to share their knowledge. Look at the details - where possible I add in the web sites of these events so you can request further information. And do let me know if you are organising any occupational safety, health, and environment events so that I can add them to the Diary. Globally there are continually new titles, news items, new products so remember to look at the News to find the latest information. Use OSHWORLD as your portal to many hundreds of validated and authoritative web sites which you can find in the Country and Subject links we offer. New subject topics are constantly brought together as web sites, e.g. information for young workers. Some of the longer standing sites have been built up and now contain vast amounts of information on specific topics, and it is not always apparent that some "nuggets of gold" are available. OSHWORLD goes "data mining" looking for such topics and you will see many entries in the subject links which will take you to these topics. All links are constantly checked to ensure that no "orphan" links exist. And you work smarter not harder if you bookmark OSHWORLD.... we do the checking for you! Most information services have a reference shelf where you can quickly check the reference sources - so OSHWORLD brings you a collection of Reference sources. Remember to look at the Products and Services on this web site and see what is new and updated, such as OSH-ROM which will help all those seeking guidance, advice, good practices and knowledge of legislation from many countries. Already many organisations, consultancies, government departments, local authorities environmental departments around the world are finding this source of information of immense value. Even if you cannot afford to take the hundreds of journals, newsletters, advice and guidance indexed in OSH-ROM at least you are aware of what is being published worldwide. Click onto the various Bookshops to order any new document as they are being published. Many of these Bookshops such as H&H Scientific Information Ltd have a constant stream of new titles available. Please send any suggestions or comments about OSHWORLD - your portal to validated and authoritative information. Remind everyone to make 2002 a zero accident and incident-free year in your workplace. |