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EditorialHave a safe and healthy Summer Holiday!
August 2002 For many people this is the time of the year when holidays are taken. Already the news has brought great sadness as we hear of lives lost in accidents whilst seeking to enjoy holidays or a day's outing. Others are finding that the food and drink causes illness, whilst many complain that the mode of transport, especially air travel, leaves them feeling unwell for days. We must take all of our workplace health and safety training with us on holiday, and anticipate any problems. Remember, having fun can be dangerous too, so enjoy your Summer holidays, but have a healthy and safe one! There are many good pieces of advice to be found on websites such as OSHWORLD and also in the health and safety collections of information such as OSH-ROM which continues to grow as it has done for over 16 years. The references and abstracts in OSH-ROM gives access to quality information to help all those seeking good advice and guidance. A 30 day free trial is available. Contact Safchem Services, The Farthings, Meesden, Buntingford, HERTS SG9 0BA, UK, Telephone: +44 (0) 1279 778971, Web: www.safchemhaz.co.uk This month's FOCUS article is about Knowledge Gaps and Research Directions in the Changing World of Work and the Safety and Health of People. Organisational practices have changed dramatically in recent years. To compete more effectively, many companies have restructured themselves and downsized their workforces, increased their reliance on non-traditional employment practices that depend on temporary workers and contractor-supplied labor, and adopted more flexible and lean production technologies. These revolutionary changes in the organisation of work have far outpaced our understanding of their implications for work life quality and safety and health on the job. Around the world, research is being carried out by various occupational safety, health and environment (OSHE) organisations looking into various aspects of working environment and how it affects the workers. This month the FOCUS is on what is now happening in the USA. 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 on web sites, e.g. anthrax and bio-monitoring. 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 Fire Worldwide which will help all those seeking guidance, advice ,good practices and knowledge of legislation from many countries. Already many organisations, fire brigades consultancies, government departments and fire organisations 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 at least you are aware of what is being published worldwide and also see the ever increasing range of full text information - 1000s of full text pages now in Fire Worldwide. See for yourself and take a free 30 trial - either via the Internet on on CD-ROM. 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, and also on your Holidays! |