News from around the World

News Archive

December 2011

EAOHP Conference in Switzerland - Swiss Federal Institute of Technology - 11-13 April 2012

The European Academy of Occupational Health Psychology in collaboration with the Division of Public and Organizational Health (POH) of the University of Zurich and the ETH Zurich is holding its 10th conference of the European Academy of Occupational Health Psychology on 11 -13 April, 2012, at the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology - ETH Zurich.

The Conference theme is "The contribution of occupational health psychology to individual, organizational & public health". In the complex, fast changing service and knowledge society, health is strongly influenced by the continuously changing interaction between organizations and their employees. Occupational health psychology aims to improve this interaction and thus can simultaneously contribute to individual, organizational and public health. The conference will address how to balance interventions and outcomes on these levels and thus how to increase equal health opportunities in our society.

For more information about the conference please go to the EAOHP website at www.eaohp.org/conference.html

Need quality OSH and FIRE information?
Then do as many worldwide information seekers do - access FIREINF and OSH UPDATE

Keeping up with the latest worldwide OSH and fire information can be a time consuming exercise, but help is available if you subscribe to the ever growing OSH UPDATE collection of 20 databases and the FIREINF collection of 17 databases.

It is worth spending time checking out the latest reports and other guidance and advice that have recently produced from worldwide validated and authoritative sources. You will find many such pieces of advice and guidance in OSH UPDATE www.oshupdate.com and in FIREINF www.fireinf.com

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The British Occupational Hygiene Society welcomes the publication of important new research to benchmark the preventable causes of cancer in the UK

Published in the British Journal of Cancer the results show that occupational exposure to dusts, chemicals and other workplace pollutants are important causes of cancer in the UK that up to now have not been effectively controlled. We note that occupational cancers are the third most important cause after smoking and diet/alcohol consumption; accounting for about 4% of all cancers - almost 12,000 cases each year. The main causes have been recognized for many years: asbestos, crystalline silica dust, diesel exhaust and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) found in tars, soot and other similar materials. Activities and exposures associated with these four agents alone account for almost 6,000 occupational cancers each year. However, we also note that each year more than 2,000 cases of breast cancer in women are attributed to shift work that involves working at night or other unusual shift patterns that may disrupt the internal body clock.

All of these cancers could have been prevented through better recognition of the risks within occupations and BOHS believes that with appropriate focused efforts almost all occupational cancers could ultimately be prevented. This goal would take time to achieve because there is a very long lag between workers first being exposed to carcinogens and any disease being diagnosed, but if we do not act now then the present death toll will continue. BOHS calls on government, industry and workers representatives to work with us to plan to eliminate occupational cancer in the UK and drive down the toll inflicted on the working population.

You can join BOHS by visiting www.bohs.org where there is an online application form and details of membership benefits.

Fire Safer Cigarettes - New EU safety standard and test method

On 17 November 2011, the European Commission referenced a new safety standard (EN 16156) and test method (EN ISO 12863) for cigarettes in the Official Journal of the European Union. The safety standard requires that no more than 25 per cent of tested cigarettes should achieve a full length burn when not being actively smoked. The European Union expectation is that the manufacturers of all cigarettes intended for sale in the European Union will comply with the new safety standard.

UK Implementation

The Department for Business Innovation and Skills (BIS) communicated the existence of the new standard for cigarettes through the trading standards Interlink to Local Authority Trading Standards departments.

This confirmed the UK Government's expectation that all cigarettes sold in the UK will comply with the new safety standard. As is normal with Reference Standards, BIS have not instructed nor expect Trading Standards to enforce compliance; it is for local Trading Standards departments to determine their role in any monitoring and enforcement activity.

The UK tobacco manufacturers have confirmed that all cigarettes being produced for the UK market are compliant with the new safety standard.

Guidelines on Corporate Governance for Process Safety

These will be launched by OECD at a conference to be held on 14-15 June 2012 in Paris, France. The Energy Institute (EI) sits on the steering group that has prepared these guidelines and this conference will bring together leading representatives from government and industry to explore how good leadership can drive improvements in process safety.

Senior executives should register by contacting Marie-Chantal Huet, marie-chantal.huet@oecd.org

FORUM publishes a facts report on inspections conducted from May 2010 to April 2011

FORUM has completed the second round of inspections of its first coordinated enforcement project (REF-1) and reveals the results in a facts report. It focuses on the results of 791 inspections conducted from May 2010 to April 2011 in 19 countries of the Economic European Area on registration obligations and the SDS.

The results of the second and final phase of the REF-1 enforcement project are similar to the results of the first phase of the project in 2009.

The Forum will publish the full report with conclusions and recommendations for inspectors. This will be made public in due time on the ECHA website.

Future developments in IUCLID

The IUCLID team announces its plans for the future development of IUCLID, and introduces new communication channels to keep users better informed.

To keep users updated on the current state of the IUCLID project, and the important future milestones, the 'IUCLID 5 Project' sections of the IUCLID website have been updated. Important information about future releases is available on the web page 'Development'. For example, there is information about the next maintenance release, IUCLID 5.3.2, and the next major service release, IUCLID 5.4. The latter involves changes to the software requirements for IUCLID, such as the ending of support for the web application server, WebLogic.

In the past, news alerts published on the IUCLID website that are considered to be of importance, have been sent to all the IUCLID users registered on the website and listed as wishing to receive information related to IUCLID. The IUCLID team would like to use this communication channel more often, and in a more targeted way. To this end, users registered on the IUCLID website can now subscribe to one or more information streams that are tailored to various different areas of interest.

It appears that in the past, the majority of the user accounts on the IUCLID website were created by the people in charge of maintaining the IUCLID software. Therefore, many users have not been receiving announcements directly. The IUCLID team would prefer to be able to send information straight to all users of IUCLID. Therefore, we encourage all users of IUCLID to create their own accounts and to subscribe to the information channel(s) of their choice. Examples of the channels available are shown below:

• News Alerts
• FAQ updates
• IT-related information
• Business-related information

Finally, we would also like to remind all users that they can still submit ideas on how to improve IUCLID to the forum hosted by the OECD, IUCLID User Requirements Forum. Please note that any issues considered as a bug or installation problem should be reported to the ECHA Helpdesk.

Further Information: https://echa.europa.eu/view-article/-/journal_content/eac9261f-187c-4449-9294-882a3c0f0268

JISHA's Annual Report and Activities 2011

Akiko Taguchi, Director, International Affairs Center, JISHA, Japan writes:

In March 2011, Japan experienced the greatest earthquake and tsunami disaster the nation ever faced, with more than 20,000 victims including the missing and more than 120,000 evacuees. In addition the disaster occurred in an area near the Fukushima Nuclear Power Plant, causing more damage. I would like to reiterate my sincere appreciation for the condolences, support and donations offered from the organisations concerned worldwide.

The latest Annual report - 2011 from the Japan Industrial Safety and Health Association (JISHA) shows a range of activities undertaken, including:

• Proactive development of programs relating to risk assessment and OSHMS
• Ensuring Health and Promoting Comfortable Workplace Environments
• Promotion of Safety and Health education
• Expansion of the Zero-Accident Campaign
• Provision of Safety and Health Technical Services
• International cooperation
• Assistance to small and medium sized enterprises
• Production and Distribution of Publications
• National Events and Campaigns
• Research and surveys
• Industrial Safety Campaign Century Project
• Japan Bioassay Research Centre

For copies of the English language version of the 2010 JISHA Annual Report contact: JISHA, (ILO-CIS National Centre in Japan), 5-35-1 Shiba, Minato-ku, Tokyo 108-0014, Japan | Tel/Fax +81 3 3454 4596 | Email: kokusai@jisha.or.jp | www.jisha.or.jp

BOHS are pleased to announce the Preliminary Programme for OH2012

Earn extra CPD Points - On the day prior to the Annual Conference we will be running a series of four Professional Development Courses:

• Bayesian Statistics; Overview and Applications in Sampling Data Interpretation and Exposure Risk Assessment
• Diploma of Professional Competence in Occupational Hygiene; One day taster
• Certificate Oral Interview Taster
• Communication Skills for Occupational Hygienists

Further information: www.bohs.org/qualifications-training

US-UK Chief Fire Officer Symposium

The next US-UK Chief Fire Officer Symposium will take place on 15-17 May 2012. It will be hosted by the US National Fire Protection Association in Boston, Massachusetts. The annual event enables fire service leaders from both sides of the Atlantic to discuss future local and national level issues.

This latest forum will examine whether traditional approaches to fire suppression are still valid and the challenges of delivering fire services in a fiscally challenging world. The new generation of fire service leaders are encouraged to attend. To confirm your interest, email wppfdtx@aol.com and copy in firstfirecall@aol.com

ECHA publishes report on the experiences of successful REACH registrants

The feedback of REACH registrants, given in response to a survey by ECHA, provides valuable information for future registrants as well as for the Agency ahead of the 2013 deadline.

In July 2011, ECHA conducted a survey with companies who had successfully submitted a registration under REACH. The survey aimed to learn about the companies' experiences in preparing and submitting registrations and to identify areas in which the Agency could improve its services. Almost 900 companies responded to the survey; over 21% of the companies that registered their substances under REACH. The majority of responses came from large companies based in Germany, the United Kingdom, Italy, France and Spain. The share of SMEs (46%) having responded to the survey was significantly higher than their proportion among registrants.

The survey revealed interesting findings. For instance, 40% of companies prepared their dossiers with the support of consultants. According to the companies, the most important reasons for outsourcing the work were a limited capacity within the company or the desire to minimise the administrative burden within the company. With regard to the registration costs, the respondents indicated that the largest expenses were related to the registration fees, the collection of necessary information and consultancy services. The answers about the importance of various aspects in preparing for 2013 deadline showed that it is essential to have a sufficient knowledge of English as the language in which nearly all SIEFs are conducted, to nominate the Lead Registrant early, and to train staff on REACH / registration procedures.

ECHA was pleased to see that the companies appreciated the material provided by the Agency - 92% of respondents used it. 17% of registrants who submitted dossiers containing a Chemical Safety Report with an Exposure Scenario made use of the Chesar tool provided by ECHA.

Based on the feedback, ECHA is planning support for 2013 registrants: the Agency will continue developing and promoting the Chesar tool for Chemical Safety Assessments and Reports, it will work further to provide updated supporting material and will aim to further improve its communication channels.

Furhter information: https://echa.europa.eu/view-article/-/journal_content/82dddd9a-74de-43c9-a14a-b8225ab5d095

Europe: Deregulation a threat to work safety

A European Commission plan to weaken health and safety protection in the majority of Europe's workplaces will leave workers in jeopardy, the European Trade Union Confederation (ETUC) has warned. A letter from the union body to The European Union's Heads of State and Government expresses 'serious concerns' about a European Commission report, 'Minimising regulatory burden for SMEs (small and medium-sized enterprises)', to be discussed at the next European Council. ETUC says the report has far-reaching consequences for workers. It adds that while ETUC recognises the important contribution made by these firms in jobs and growth creation, it opposes the proposal to exempt some undertaking 'low risk' work from EU risk assessment requirements. The letter notes 'exempting small companies carrying out low risk activities from producing a written risk assessment will increase the exposure of workers to risks arising at the workplace.' It adds: 'All available data suggest that the risks are greater in microenterprises, which constitute the bulk of all European enterprises. Moreover, the Commission has not offered a definition of what they mean by low risk. This would actually require a prior risk assessment. An activity may be low risk in terms of accidents, but high risk in terms of psychosocial factors. Besides, the cost of excluding micro-enterprises should be calculated with regard to increased risks of injury and other health and safety problems.' ETUC is urging the European Council to reject any further deregulation.

https://www.tuc.org.uk/workplace-issues/risks-newsletter/risks-2011/risks-535-10-december-2011#tuc-20391-19

Global Brands promise to ditch hazardous chemicals

Six major international clothing brands have announced a 'joint roadmap' intended to dramatically reduce the use of hazardous chemicals in their supply chains. Adidas Group, C&A, H&M, Li Ning, Nike Inc and Puma say the initiative will lead the apparel and footwear industry towards zero discharge of hazardous chemicals by 2020. The roadmap covers the full supply chain for all products, initially focusing on clothing, and is based on individual commitments by each of the brands. The initiative is a direct response to 'Dirty Laundry', a July report from Greenpeace which exposed toxic use and related pollution in production facilities in China.

The roadmap commits the firms to identify all chemicals used in textile manufacturing, a phase-out of hazardous chemicals and to projects to encourage sector wide chemical disclosure. Any company wishing to join is invited to publish an individual commitment and sign up to the initiative. Several projects on disclosure will be undertaken during the next year, such as exploring options for suppliers to disclose their chemical inventory. In the initial stage, facilities shared by the six brands will be targeted. These are located in China, Philippines, Taiwan, Bangladesh, Thailand, India and Indonesia.

https://www.tuc.org.uk/workplace-issues/risks-newsletter/risks-2011/risks-535-10-december-2011#tuc-20391-20

US: New Findings Show Construction Workers Face Higher Occupational Risks

Dr. Sue Dong of CPWR - the US Center for Construction Research and Training - recently presented new research findings at the American Public Health Association conference, showing that construction workers have a significantly higher lifetime risk of premature death due to occupational injury (1/200 chance of dying from a work-related injury over a 45-year career). Given that the Occupational Safety and Health Administration considers a lifetime risk of 1 death in 1,000 workers to be significant, the findings of Dr. Dong et al. are important.

To view the presentation visit: www.lhsfna.org/files/Dong_APHA_Lifetime_risk_103111.pdf

More information: www.apha.org/news-and-media/news-releases/apha-news-releases/construction-workers-experience-significant-lifetime-risk-of-occupational-injury-premature-death

New "Nail Gun Safety: The Facts" US Website Launched

Dr. Hester Lipscomb of Duke University in conjunction with CPWR - The Center for Construction Research and Training - launched a new website www.nailgunfacts.org on 2 December 2011.

The website provides video interviews with workers, and information on how nail guns work and how to prevent nail gun injuries. It also provides access to nail gun research articles from Dr. Lipscomb and her carpenter co-researchers Dennis Patterson and Jim Nolan.

UK Health and Safety Executive welcomes Lofstedt review

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has welcomed the publication of the Lofstedt review.

Employment Minister Chris Grayling commissioned the independent review in March 2011 and appointed Professor Ragnar Lofstedt - Director of the King's Centre for Risk Management at King's College, London - to chair it.

Professor Lofstedt has made 19 recommendations aimed at reducing the burden of unnecessary regulation on businesses while maintaining Britain's health and safety performance, which is among the best internationally. The Government has accepted his recommendations.

Judith Hackitt, the Chair of HSE, said:

Professor Lofstedt's insightful report will go a long way to refocusing health and safety in Great Britain on those things that matter - supporting those who want to do the right thing and reducing rates of work-related death, injury and ill health.

We must have a system of health and safety which enables employers to make sensible and proportionate decisions about managing genuine workplace risks.

Simplifying and streamlining the stock of regulations, focusing enforcement on higher risk businesses, clarifying requirements, and rebalancing the civil litigation system - these are all practical, positive steps.

Poor regulation - that which adds unnecessary bureaucracy with no real benefits - drives out confidence in good regulation.

We welcome these reforms because they are good for workers and employers but also for the significant contribution they will make to restoring the rightful reputation of real health and safety.

HSE said it would meet the timetable set by the Government for implementing those recommendations for which it was responsible.

Another Government regulatory reform initiative, the Red Tape Challenge, will report in the New Year on further possible changes to the stock of health and safety regulations.

1. The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) is Britain's national regulator for workplace health and safety. It aims to reduce death, injury and ill health. It does so through research, providing information and advice, and working with local authority partners by inspection, investigation and enforcement.
2. The Lofstedt review is available on the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) website: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/reclaiming-health-and-safety-for-all-lofstedt-report
3. Details about the Red Tape Challenge: www.redtapechallenge.cabinetoffice.gov.uk/about

International Awards for Powered Access 2012

Entries are now open for the International Awards for Powered Access (IAPAs) 2012, jointly organised by Access International and IPAF. The awards ceremony and dinner will be held on 29 March 2012 at the Sheraton Roma Hotel in Rome, Italy. They follow the IPAF Summit which starts at 13:30 on the same day. See the attached press release. Details at www.iapa-summit.info

International Powered Access Federation

Offices in: UK, Chile, France, Germany, Italy, Netherlands, Singapore, Spain, Switzerland and USA | Tel: +44 (0)15395 66700 or +41 (0)61 227 9000 | Email: info@ipaf.org | www.ipaf.org

ICEFA V - Fifth International Conference on Engineering Failure Analysis

1-4 July 2012, Hilton Hotel, The Hague, The Netherlands

CALL FOR ABSTRACTS! Deadline: 17th February 2012

The modern innovation cycle now demands that component design involves a whole-of-life approach, incorporating an awareness of manufacture, safety, reliability, environmental sensitivity and disposal. This has focussed attention on the pivotal role of failure analysis as an essential tool to improve equipment availability, help prevent accidents and disasters and to inform the processes of design, manufacture, operation and maintenance of key plant and equipment.

Topic areas for abstracts submissions:

• Engineering failure modes for metallic and non-metallic engineering materials
• Approaches to failure analysis
• Case studies of failures in industry sectors such as aerospace, marine and offshore, automotive, rail, power generation, mining and minerals, consumer goods, medical devices and others
• Historical disasters
• Structural and architectural failures
• Failure analysis, maintenance and reliability
• Role of failure analysis in the design process
• Legal matters, ethical issues and insurance in the failure analysis industry
• Training and accreditation in failure analysis research and industry

The strengths of past conferences have been the emphasis on practical application of technical knowledge to engineering failure analysis and the extensive use of case studies to the development of an understanding of engineering failures. The case study approach is strongly encouraged as an important mechanism for developing a body of knowledge well rooted in practical experience.

Attendance at this conference will enable you to:

• Access unique, high-quality content
• Hear, meet and learn from internationally renowned researchers in the fast-moving and dynamic field of failure analysis and prevention
• Appreciate the state-of-the-art in engineering failure analysis and prevention and anticipate future directions.
• Profit from the inter-disciplinary and multi-disciplinary character of the conference: hear world class speakers and leading researchers on all aspects of engineering failure analysis and prevention from the fields of mechanical, manufacturing, aeronautical, civil, chemical, corrosion and design engineering
• Be part of new developments by presenting your latest research.
• Network with an interdisciplinary group - including researchers from all fields related to engineering failure analysis

For all queries regarding your submitted abstract and programme queries please contact: Wei Zhao | Email: w.zhao@elsevier.com

For marketing queries, please contact: Mareike Gutschener, Marketing | Email: m.gutschner@elsevier.com

For all other queries, please contact: Email: Customerservice-FAIL12@elsevier.com

www.icefaconference.com

Latest World Fire Statistics - Information Bulletin of the World Fire Statistics Centre

The World Fire Statistics Centre publishes a newsletter, World Fire Statistic Information Bulletin of the World Fire Statistics Centre, (WFSC) which appears annually. The latest No. 27 has just been published.

It presents statistics on national fire costs from over 20 leading countries in an effort to persuade governments to adopt strategies aimed at reducing the cost of fire. The WFSC newsletter has been published since March 1984 and Nos. 13 to 27 are available in the virtual library.

For the No. 27 click onto www.genevaassociation.org/PDF/WFSC/GA2011-FIRE27.pdf

For further information on the World Fire Statistics Centre contact: Prof. Brian Woodrow, Director, World Fire Statistics Center, 3 Hickory Street, N1G2X2, Guelph, Ontario, CANADA | Tel: +1 519 821 5682 | Email: wfsc@genevaassociation.org or woodrow@uoguelph.ca

Training Courses from the ILO International Training Centre, Turin

DID YOU KNOW?...

That the ILO International Training Centre based in Turin, Italy offers around 150 open courses every year but it implements around 450 courses. Most of the courses are tailor-made for Training Course projects and national and international organizations

You can access to the brochures of the open courses on Occupational Safety and Health for 2012.

www.itcilo.org/en

An Essential Tool for Hazard Management: OSH Essentials can help you build your workplace hazard management plan

The workplace can be fraught with all types of hazards - ergonomic, physical, and safety to name a few - that can harm your employees or make them ill. If you want to improve the health and safety of your workplace, hazard management is a good place to start. CCOHS has created OSH Essentials™, a new online tool to help you build your plan to manage your workplace hazards.

OSH Essentials

With OSH Essentials you can easily navigate a step-by-step process to help you identify, asses and control workplace hazards, to keep your workplace healthy and safe.

This interactive online tool provides you with practical information to help recognize, assess and control hazards in your workplace. Checklists guide you through the steps of reviewing workplace activities, identifying potential hazards, and learning relevant legislation by key sections. Choose from suggested control measures to create your final action plan that will help address the risks in your workplace.

Currently there are ten OSH Essentials topics from which to choose, with more already in the works:

1. Excessive Noise
2. Incorrect Lighting Levels
3. Manual Materials Handling: Musculoskeletal Disorder Prevention
4. Manual Materials Handling: Seated Work
5. Slips and Trips
6. Working Alone
7. Working in Hot Indoor Environments
8. Working in Hot Outdoor Environments
9. Working on Ladders
10. Workplace Violence

When you purchase an OSH Essentials topic, you instantly gain access to it over the web and for the next 30 days.

Access Legislation

If you need access to Canadian legislation related to your topic, OSH Essentials provides a summary and detailed lists of relevant federal, provincial and territorial legislation. You can select from two Legislation options:

1. Federal plus one jurisdiction of your choice ($20 for 30-day access)
2. Federal plus all jurisdictions ($25 for 30-day access)

All OSH Essentials content is developed and reviewed by CCOHS' team of technical specialists.

Learn more about OSH Essentials as well as details about each topic.

Workplace Health Without Borders

In the Spring of 2011, a group of occupational hygienists and other activists came together in Toronto, Canada to found Workplace Health Without Borders, a not-for-profit organisation, to address these issues. WHWB hopes to incorporate ideas from, and work with other groups who have set up similar organisations.

Building on ideas explored by occupational hygienists in Norway, the United States and elsewhere, Workplace Health Without Borders has the goal of engaging volunteers in improving workplace health in those regions of the world with under-served worker populations.

The focus of WHWB is to provide workers and employers with technical assistance, training and skills development to help them to develop the capacity and infrastructure to manage and improve the health conditions in their workplaces.

WHWB intent is also to focus on helping Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) who serve communities and workplaces in developing countries to integrate occupational health into their work.

Interest in WHWB is growing rapidly. Nearly 40 people attended a meeting at the AIHce in Portland, USA on 18 May 2011, and everyone who attended agreed to join and volunteer in one capacity or another. There is still a need for enthusiastic volunteers. Whatever your area of interest, if you are interested in the concept of a globally active occupational hygiene group, there is a place for you with WHWB.

The WHWB web site www.whwb.org contains links to other resources and relevant organisations.

WHWB's Vision - A world where workers do not get sick because of their work.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), almost 2/3 of the world's 3 billion workers are employed in unhealthy and unsafe working conditions. The International Labour Organization (ILO) reports nearly 2 million deaths each year from occupational disease. In addition, about 160 million of the world's workers get sick every year due to non-fatal occupational diseases. Most of the world's workers do not have access to occupational hygiene expertise. They lack the resources, knowledge and technology to identify and control workplace exposure to disease-causing agents such as chemicals, microorganisms, noise and radiation.

First South East Europe Workplace Academy: Healthy Workplaces for Health Workers

Zagreb, Croatia by Susan Wilburn

The South East Europe (SEE) Network on Workers' Health with leadership from Prof Jadranka Mustajbegovic Head of the Andrija Stampar School of Public Health WHO Collaborating Centre for Occupational Health and Prof. Jovanka Karadzinska Bislimovska of the Institute of Occupational Health in the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia launched the first South East Europe Workplace Academy on health care worker (HCW) occupational health in Zagreb, Croatia at the end of June, 2011.

WHO Collaborating Centres for Occupational Health from Finland (FIOH), Institute and Outpatient Clinic for Occupational and Environmental Medicine in Munich Germany, Coronel Institute for Occupational Health, The Netherlands, and the International Healthcare Worker Safety Center in Virginia, USA provided expert trainers for the academy.

Occupational health and safety is a key issue for HCWs. Changes in the delivery of public health care services raise concerns about whether occupational health and safety standards will be adhered to by different providers. Increased violence experienced by HCWs poses a new and growing occupational health problem. With changing occupational health and safety risks, legislation and standards need to be reviewed regularly, especially in relation to trade agreements that set international standards for companies operating in national environments.

The elimination, prevention, diagnosis and treatment of traditional occupational health and safety problems, occupational diseases, injuries and unreasonable workloads require a wider coverage and higher efficiency of Occupational Health Services (OHS). The Basic Occupational Health Services (BOHS) initiative established the ultimate objective: to provide occupational health services for all working people in the world, regardless of the sector of economy, mode of employment, size of the workplace or geographical location.

Establishment of the South East Europe Workplace Academy (SEEWA) addressed these issues and was a result of a long term development of training activities in the Region. Participants at the academy gathered from Austria, Bosnia and Herzogovina, Croatia, Montenegro, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Serbia, Turkey as well as Finland, the Netherlands and Switzerland. A reception was hosted by the Mayor of Zagreb.

Topics and workshops included:

• Basic Occupational Health Services (BOHS) orientation, planning, surveillance and assessment
• Joint WHO-ILO Joint Policy Guidelines for Improving Health Worker Access to HIV and TB prevention, treatment, care and support www.who.int/occupational_health/publications/hiv_tb_guidelines/en
• WHO-ILO Framework for National Occupational Health Programmes for Health Workers
• WHO Protecting health workers - preventing needlestick injuries training of trainers using the WHO tool kit (www.who.int/occupational_health/activities/pnitoolkit/en) together with a workshop on the Evaluation and selection of safer sharps devices to assist in the implementation of the EU Framework Directive on Sharps Injury Prevention.
• Surveillance of occupational exposure to bloodborne pathogens using the EPINet system
• Preventing and controlling exposure to hazardous drugs
• Addressing workplace violence
• Success stories, education and initiatives

For a full list of activities covered at the Academy, please see: www.uems-occupationalmedicine.com/userfiles/1st_SEEWA_2011-Information_21_03_11-3(1).pdf

The Nordic model: work-life balance - A trap or an opportunity? (Course 6202)

To be held on 24 - 27 April 2012 at The Norwegian National Institute of Occupational Health (STAMI), Oslo, Norway

Women's participation in labour force has increased throughout the world. In the Nordic countries women's and men's employment rates are almost identical. Having children influences the employment rates of both women and men. A successful work-life balance constitutes an important health resource for both working parents, and particularly for working women.

Objectives

A broad perspective will be used by taking into consideration

1. the male/female perspective,
2. the multiple ethnic and class divisions in balancing of work-family interaction; and
3. the intergenerational care, particularly those 'sandwiched' working women and men who take care of their ageing parents while taking care of their own children and families.

Call for abstracts

Participants are encouraged to send their abstracts, which will be presented and discussed during interactive rounds. Two of the abstracts will be selected for presentation during the course. The deadline for submitting the abstracts is 10 April 2012.

Course leader

Professor Kaisa Kauppinen, Finnish Institute of Occupational Health

Registration fee: 490 Euros (course material included, meals and coffees excluded).

Registration deadline: 10 April 2012.

Contact: Zsuzsanna Renkó-Michelsén, Course Coordinator, NIVA, Topeliuksenkatu 41 a A, 00250 Helsinki, Finland | Tel: +358 (0)30 474 2498 | www.niva.org

Reminder: ICOH March 18-23, 2012

The International Commission on Occupational Health will host the International Congress this year in Cancun, Mexico, March 18-23, 2012.

The dates and the scientific program cand details regarding hotels and other information about Cancun are online at the Congress website.

Abstracts have been called which link to the theme of 'Occupational health for all: From research to practice'. All submissions are subject to review and all presenters must register for the Conference.

www.icohweb.org