Editorial

2005 - Aim to make real OSH improvements this year

January 2005
Sheila Pantry OBE

May I wish everyone a safe, healthy and happy New Year wherever you are working in the world! Many people returning to work after the festivities will, no doubt, be making plans to improve the standards of occupational safety and health (OSH). It is important that continuous risk assessments are made as practices and systems in the workplace are constantly changed. Your assessments may also indicate training requirements and updates and re-thinking how systems and services can be improved.

Your organisation could submit entries for the 2005 RoSPA Occupational Health and Safety Awards. This is the ultimate testimonial to your company's commitment to health and safety. Undoubtedly, the most effective method of proving your health and safety ability to 'peers', suppliers and shareholders. Which is why every year The Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents www.rospa.com - one of the world's leading health and safety organisations - invites companies of all sizes, from all sectors of industry and commerce and from all over the world to enter Occupational Health and Safety Awards Scheme www.rospa.com/awards

These awards are aimed at companies who wish to prove to themselves and others that they take health and safety seriously. Also to those who are willing to play their part in raising health and safety standards right across the board, by working hard to improve their own performance.

Your Brand New Service - OSH UPDATE - take a 30 day free trial NOW

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

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

Powered by Head Software International's Headfast/Discovery Internet publishing software, OSH UPDATE was launched in Autumn 2004 and updated monthly. It contains a number of bibliographic databases from worldwide authoritative sources such as the UK Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (RoSPA), the UK Health and Safety Executive, US National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), Canada Ryerson University, the International Labour Office CIS Health and Safety Centre, European Union legislation and other legislation sources and OSH standards specifications including those from the British Standards Institution.

OSH UPDATE records will have links to the full text where possible.

OSH UPDATE will expand - we are continuing to make agreements with other well-known information producers around the world and these databases will also be included. As well as the latest information many reference sources go back 80 or more years and so a valuable tool for researchers.

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

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

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

Take a 30 day free trial NOW.....email: sp@sheilapantry.com

Update your 2005 Diary

As you start your New Year's diary think about the training, which perhaps has not been carried out for you and others. Look at the latest additions to the Diary of Events and you will see plans have been made already worldwide up to 2006 to have training courses, symposiums and conferences in many places in the world on a wide range of subjects. Don't forget that in September 2005 there will be a major conference EurOhse2005 www.eurohse2005.com to be held in London. Already bookings have been made. So do not wait until it is too late to get into this important annual event that is growing in success and acclaim from delegates from around the world.

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 OSHE events so that I can add them to the Diary.

Your OSHWorld Portal celebrates its 3rd anniversary

OSHWORLD celebrates its third anniversary with this edition! I do hope you find the information in it useful in your daily work. Globally there are continually new titles, news items, new products so remember to look at the News to find the latest information from a number of sources.

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. drugs and alcohol abuse in the workplace.

This month's FOCUS article is on Control Banding - Threat or Benefit? by Paul Oldershaw, Head of the UK Health and Safety Executive's Central Specialist Division and Immediate Past President of British Occupational Hygiene Society (BOHS).

Remember to look at the Products and Services on this web site and see what is new and updated, such as Fire Worldwide which has attracted users not only from the UK but around the world. It is a unique combination of full text and bibliographic databases concerning all aspects of fire and fire safety. George Collins, Chairman of the Executive Council of the Institute of Fire Prevention Officers says, "This collection of information is extremely valuable for those working in today's risk based fire industry who need up-to-date consultation, guidance and advice"

Most information services have a reference shelf where you can quickly check the reference sources - so OSHWORLD brings you a collection of Reference sources.

Click onto the various Bookshops to order any new document as they are being published.

Please send any suggestions or comments about OSHWORLD - your portal to validated and authoritative information. Remember also to look at our other really useful sites - www.sheilapantry.com and www.shebuyersguide.com.

Have a zero accident and incident-free year in 2005 in your workplace!