News from around the World

News Archive

April 2015

Europe Day – 9 May 2015

2015 Europe Day is 9th May and marks the 65th anniversary of the “Schuman declaration” and the historical start of European integration. The European Union is working for a stronger Europe in the world and the European Agency for Safety and Health at Work (EU-OSHA) contributes to making Europe a safer, healthier and more productive place to work.

This 9th May, EU-OSHA is going out into Bilbao to raise awareness on the importance of effectively managing stress and psychosocial risks at the workplace through its Europe-wide campaign Healthy Workplaces Manage Stress. You can support #EUmanagestress with us following @EU_OSHA social channels.

The EU Institutions are also opening their doors to the public for the entire day. Learn more about Open Doors Day of the European Institutions and join #euopendoors many activities.

28 April 2015 – Day of action to remember thousands killed and injured at work

The thousands of people who have been killed, disabled, seriously injured or made ill through their work will be remembered during a day of action to commemorate their plight.

The UK will unite at the dozens of events being held to mark Workers’ Memorial Day tomorrow (Tuesday, April 28). The events, held in honour of those who have suffered, also provide an opportunity to reflect on the reasons why, and what can be done differently going forward.

Workers’ Memorial Day is an internationally recognised event which gives people across the world the chance to remember those who were killed or seriously injured while doing their job or who suffer from work-related ill health, such as asbestos-related conditions.

This year, the theme will be “removing exposure to hazardous substances in the workplace” and people wishing to pay their respects can find their nearest memorial site at the UK Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents’ (RoSPA) National Occupational Safety and Health Committee (NOSHC) website, which can be accessed via www.rospa.com/occupational-safety/conferences-events/workers-memorial-day.

It includes details of the locations of memorials from plaques to pillars, as well as photographs, details of temporary commemorative sites, links to other sources of information and a diary of events.

Karen McDonnell, RoSPA’s occupational safety and health policy adviser, said: “Workers’ Memorial Day is a significant day in the occupational calendar in which the thousands of people who have lost their lives in workplace accidents or suffered serious injury or ill health are commemorated.

“It is also a chance for people to make a stand against such tragedies and help prevent further needless accidents and deaths.

“Our comprehensive website provides all the information you need to get involved and take part in events tomorrow. Some of the memorials commemorate high-profile disasters that claimed the lives of many workers while others remember lesser-known accidents. In each case, there are lessons to be learned about how to prevent these happening again. We need to stop “new” people having “old” accidents by continuing to campaign for improvements in health and safety standards in businesses across the UK, and spread the good practice we have developed in the UK across the wider world.

“In 2013/14 133 people were killed at work, while a staggering 1.2 million people suffered from a work-related illness, so it is an issue that cannot be ignored. We hope people will come together tomorrow to mark this significant day.”

Teresa Budworth, chairman of NOSHC, said: “Workers’ Memorial Day reminds us of why we’re here. As safety and health practitioners, our job is to save lives and prevent life changing injury and ill-health caused by work.

“It is a sad fact that much of our safety legislation was a response to events leading to significant loss of life. The Health and Safety at Work Act came about because of the tragic events at Aberfan [where more than 130 people were buried by a coal slag heap]. Doing our job to the best of our ability, safeguarding others and responding proportionately to risks, honours those who died in these tragic events.”

UK Health and Safety Executive (HSE) statement on the Government’s final progress report on health and safety reforms

This final progress report from the UK Department for Work and Pensions marks a major milestone in the achievements HSE has made in delivering reforms to health and safety legislation and guidance.

Through both the dedication of our staff and close engagement with business and other stakeholders, we have simplified and modernised a large amount of regulation without compromising standards of protection for workers.

There have been a number of reviews of health and safety in recent years and they have all shown that the system we have in Great Britain remains fit for purpose.

We have made significant progress in reducing regulatory burdens for business by further helping them understand what they need to do to keep their workers safe.

We have tackled over interpretation of legal requirements and reduced the overall stock of legislation by 50%. We have also undertaken an extensive guidance review.

HSE is 40 years old this year. Having demonstrated our ability to evolve, we will continue to adapt and embrace new ways of working, and through close engagement with business and other stakeholders, ensure regulations remain effective and fit for purpose.

We are proud of our regulatory system and what it has achieved in protecting the lives of workers in Great Britain.

Dr. Richard Judge
Chief Executive

Full report: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/improving-health-and-safety-final-report-march-2015

Where the best paying health and safety jobs are in the UK

The construction and civil engineering sectors in the UK in London and the South East currently offer the best opportunities for jobs in the health and safety profession in the UK, according to new research.

The latest annual Jobs Barometer from NEBOSH (National Examination Board in Occupational Safety and Health), revealed that more than a quarter (29%) of nationally advertised health and safety management vacancies fell within the construction and civil engineering sectors. These were followed by manufacturing (13%), consulting (11%), public sector (10%) and utilities (7%).

Out of all nationally advertised health and safety positions in February and March 2015, 42% were based in London, followed by 19% in the surrounding South East region. 17% were in the North of England, 12% in the Midlands, 5% in the South West & Wales and 3% in Scotland.

Construction and civil engineering offered the highest average top-end salaries of these sectors at £50,000. Next was utilities at £46K, followed by consulting £43K and manufacturing £38K. The lowest average top-end salaries on offer were in the public sector at £33,000 per annum.

The average top-end wage for all health and safety jobs advertised was £46,000. However, qualifications and professional status made a considerable difference to the salaries available. For example, where applicants were required to hold a NEBOSH Diploma qualification, the average top end salary was £49,000. This figure fell to £42,000 when a Diploma was not specified. Overall, 55% of all positions advertised insisted on candidates holding a NEBOSH Diploma, up from 48% last year and 41% five years ago. The highest salary on offer was in the banking and finance sector based in London. The position of ‘Global Head of Health and Safety’ attracted an annual wage of £125,000. Both a NEBOSH Diploma and CMIOSH were required.

“Compared to five years ago, the average salary on offer in the health and safety jobs market has hardly changed, rising to £46K this year from £45K in 2011,” said Teresa Budworth, NEBOSH Chief Executive. “However, what we can see is that more and more employers are demanding professional qualifications and status, and that they are willing to offer better salaries to secure those who value their own continuing professional development.”

More than a third (38%) of vacancies called for a NEBOSH Certificate level qualification, up from 33% last year and 30% in 2011. Overall, 92% of positions asked for either some form of NEBOSH qualification and/or Membership of IOSH, up by 4% from 88% in 2014.

As noted in previous years, many of the health and safety management roles on offer also featured responsibilities for environmental (39%) and quality (18%) management.

Bangladesh: Two years on, disaster fund has $9 million shortfall

With one month to go before the second anniversary of the Rana Plaza disaster, the organisations spearheading the campaign for justice have launched a countdown campaign to remind consumers, governments and major brands that this is still eluding the thousands of workers killed or injured. Global unions IndustriALL and UNI together with the Clean Clothes Campaign are ramping up demands on global brands linked to the disaster to fill an US$ 8.5 million gap in the funding needed to deliver full and fair compensation to each of the over 5,000 individuals with eligible claims. So far US$ 21.5 million has been paid into the Rana Plaza Donors Trust Fund through contributions from buyers, the Bangladesh Prime Ministers Fund and other private donors.

But it is calculated that at least US$ 30 million is needed to cover compensation claims. To date claimants have only received no more than 70 per cent of what they are owed, with further payments delayed as a result of the failure of brands to pay the US$ 8.5 million shortfall. The groups say amongst the worst offenders is Benetton, which is yet to pay a penny into the Fund. Others, including Walmart, Mango and The Children’s Place, are being singled out for making donations that fall far short of expectations.

Other companies still to pay the required amount include Lee Cooper, JC Penny, Matalan and Kik. IndustriALL general secretary Jyrki Raina said: “For an industry that is all about image, the garment brands are taking shockingly long to do the right thing and close one of the most shameful chapters in the history book of the global clothing industry.” He added: “It has been almost two years since this industrial homicide; the victims and their families are owed compensation and the possibility to build a new future.” UNI general secretary Philip Jennings said: “The clock is ticking and we expect to see nothing less than full and generous contributions by 24 April 24 from every brand still to pay. Garment industry brands pride themselves on being trend setters and responding to the fast-changing fashion world. In this case the brakes have been firmly slammed on.”

https://www.tuc.org.uk/workplace-issues/health-and-safety/risks-newsletter/risks-2015/tuc-risks-696-28-march-2016#_Toc414969203

US NIOSH Releases New Tobacco Report

A new US NIOSH report has been released that recommends that all workplaces become tobacco-free and that employers make tobacco cessation programs available to workers.

These latest recommendations, which also encompass the use of Electronic Nicotine Delivery Systems (ENDS), or e-cigarettes, are aimed at protecting workers from the occupational hazards of tobacco and the effects of second-hand exposure to tobacco smoke and emissions from e-cigarettes.

Full publication: www.cdc.gov/niosh/docs/2015-113/default.html

US NIOSH Publication on Silica / Asphalt Milling

NIOSH has developed a new document through the Silica/Asphalt Milling Machine Partnership. This document provides best practices to help reduce respirable crystalline silica exposures during asphalt pavement milling in highway construction. NIOSH thanks the partnership for 10 years of successful collaborative research. To access the document, visit www.cdc.gov/niosh/docs/2015-105.

To learn more about engineering controls for silica in construction, visit www.cdc.gov/niosh/topics/silica/constructionControlMain.html. For more information, contact CDR Duane Hammond at DHammond@cdc.gov or 513.841.4286.

US NIOSH Study Spans over Thirty Years of Hearing Loss Trends

A new study from NIOSH examines thirty years of hearing loss trends experienced by workers exposed to noise while on the job, across various industries. The study, published by the American Journal of Industrial Medicine, found that while progress has been made in reducing the risk of hearing loss within most industry sectors, additional efforts are needed within the Mining, Construction, and Healthcare and Social Assistance sectors. www.cdc.gov/niosh/updates/upd-03-04-15.html

US NIOSH Health Hazard Evaluation (HHE) Program Update

Precautions Against Lead Exposure Provided to a Battery Recycling Company

Lead overexposures among employees led HHE Program investigators to recommend enclosing the battery breaker and shredder, improving ventilation, and providing more protective respirators for certain jobs.

Final report: www.cdc.gov/niosh/hhe/reports/pdfs/2012-0071-3224.pdf

Recommendations Provided to Reduce Exposures to Solvents in Dry-cleaning Shops

Evaluations of solvent exposures at three dry-cleaning shops found the potential for air and skin exposures. HHE Program investigators provided recommendations on work practices, housekeeping, equipment maintenance, and the appropriate selection and use of PPE.

Final report: www.cdc.gov/niosh/hhe/reports/pdfs/2012-0084-3227.pdf

Event: Human factors application in major hazard industries Conference

6 and 7 October 2015 – Aberdeen, UK

Call for abstracts deadline extended to 30 April 2015.

The deadline has been extended to submit an abstract for this biennial two-day conference, which returns in 2015 and will explore the practical application of human factors in the management of major accident hazards (MAH) in the energy and allied process industries.

The event will focus on two key themes:

• Assuring human factors performance: How can we ensure high performance through human and organisational factors?
• Preventing incidents before they happen: How can we effectively investigate and analyse incidents and embed learning. How can we prevent incidents before they occur?

This conference, organised by the Energy Institute (EI)’s Human and Organisational Factors committee and the Stichting Tripod Foundation, will enable the learning and sharing of good practice between companies and industries, and offers excellent networking opportunities with delegates from around the world representing operating companies, suppliers, consultancies, and academia.

https://www.energyinst.org/events/human-factors-conference

Event: 3rd International Conference on Radiation and Applications in various fields of research

8-12 June 2015 – Montenegro

Health Effects of Non-Ionizing Radiation Discussion Group would like to inform you that the Preliminary programme is available on the website.

Also, the Registration form is available on the website.

Although the registration deadline is 22 May 2015, if you are going to participate, please fill-in the registration form as soon as you know the dates of your arrival and departure. After filling-in the registration form, if there are any arrival / departure changes, please inform them via conference e-mail (info@rad-conference.org). We will try to organize the shuttles convenient for the majority of participants for all three airports in accordance with the landing schedule by special prices.

They have received more than 600 abstracts from more than 50 countries, and we are very grateful to all authors for sending their abstracts.

The title list of abstracts, the profiles of potential participants, the statistics of the abstract number per topic and per country, and the draft version of the Book of Abstracts can be found on conference website.

Please note that it is NOT necessary to have a contribution to participate in RAD 2015 Conference. If you do not have a contribution, but you wish to participate, you should register yourself as a regular participant and take a participation in this event.

RAD 2015 Conference Secretariat

www.rad-conference.org

BSRIA new publications

Legionnaires’ Disease set of 2 guides (LWT2)

This set replaces our previous legionella set (LWT) and contains Legionnaires’ Disease – Risk Assessment (BG 57/2015) and Legionnaire’s Disease – Operation and Maintenance Log Book (BG 58/2015) due for release April 2015. Save 30% by ordering both guides together.

Legionnaires’ Disease – Risk Assessment has been written to provide a structured framework for a legionella risk assessment that may be carried out by competent in-house staff or specialist consultants. It replaces BSRIA guide AG20/2000 and has been updated to take account of later standards and guidance documents including the 2013 edition of the Approved Code of Practice and Guidance (ACOP) and associated guidance (HSG274 part 1-3).

The guide will assist the risk assessor to gauge the risk posed by legionella bacteria in a wide range of situations and where necessary make recommendations to reduce and control that risk. It contains editable pro-formas in the appendices that can be used as a template for the risk assessments.

Legionnaire’s Disease – Operation and Maintenance Log Book (BG 58/2015) is due for release April 2015. This guide will cover the recording of operation and maintenance data for risk systems and include a selection of editable forms for the common risk systems that can be used to create the log book.

https://www.bsria.co.uk/information-membership/bookshop/publication/legionnaires-disease-set-of-2-guides

ECETOC publication presents concept for the grouping and safety assessment of nanomaterials

The safety of nanomaterials can be ensured by undertaking animal testing only as a very last resort. This is the premise and promise of the Decision-making framework for the grouping and testing of nanomaterials – DF4nanoGrouping. The ECETOC Nano Task Force has developed the DF4nanoGrouping based upon an earlier review of existing approaches for the grouping and testing of nanomaterials published in summer 2014.

Science-based grouping approaches allow the prediction of a substance’s toxicity by comparing it to other similar substances. Thereby, the safety of substances may be determined while considerably saving time, money and animal experimentation. However, the grouping of nanomaterials is more complex than that of ‘conventional’ substances. It requires the joint consideration of physical, chemical and biological properties. Due to this complexity, to date, a unified, comprehensive grouping concept for nanomaterials has not been available. DF4nanoGrouping helps close this severe knowledge gap for hazard and risk assessment.

In three tiers, DF4nanoGrouping takes into consideration all relevant properties of nanomaterials. Step-by-step, potential hazards are ruled out. Safe nanomaterials are identified using non-animal testing, which may then be confirmed applying special animal tests. Further work of the ECETOC Nano Task Force is dedicated to corroborating the applicability of DF4nanoGrouping and promoting its regulatory acceptance.

The ECETOC Nano Task Force Decision-making framework for the grouping and testing of nanomaterials – DF4nanoGrouping is published as an Open Access article in Regulatory Toxicology and Pharmacology.

Arts J, Hadi M, Irfan MA, Keene AM, Kreiling R, Lyon D, Maier M, Michel K, Petry T, Sauer UG, Warheit D, Wiench K, Wohlleben W, Landsiedel R. 2015
A decision-making framework for the grouping and testing of nanomaterials (DF4nanoGrouping)
Regulatory Toxicology and Pharmacology

www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0273230015000549

ECHA publishes list of pending Article 95 applications

To increase transparency ahead of the 1 September 2015 deadline for compliance with Article 95 of the Biocidal Products Regulation (BPR), ECHA publishes a list of all pending Article 95 applications.

The list which contains applications for which ECHA has not yet taken a decision will be updated regularly and its publication will be synchronised with the list of active substances and suppliers (the “Article 95 list”).

http://echa.europa.eu/view-article/-/journal_content/title/echa-publishes-list-of-pending-article-95-applications

Substances selected for hazard assessment now included in PACT

The Public Activities Coordination Tool (PACT) table has been extended to include substances selected by authorities for hazard assessment. The PACT table previously included only substances for which a risk management option analysis (RMOA) was completed or was under development. The informal hazard assessment aims to clarify whether a substance does or does not have suspected PBT/vPvB (persistent, bioaccumulative and toxic/very persistent and very bioaccumulative) properties or endocrine disrupting properties. The assessing Member States use ECHA’s PBT and Endocrine Disruptor expert groups to get advice from experts of other authorities and stakeholder organisations for their assessments.

The website text has also been updated to provide further information on the PACT table, and a glossary explaining technical details of this table.

Early information through PACT gives registrants more time to make sure that their registration data is up-to-date, and for stakeholders to prepare their contributions to a formal risk management process, which may potentially follow if the suspected hazard properties are confirmed.

http://echa.europa.eu/view-article/-/journal_content/title/echa-e-news-1-april-2015#aui_3_2_0_1579

Event: Comprehensive Industrial Hygiene – The Application of Basic Principles

13-17 July 2015 – Boston, MA, USA

Work-related injury and illness significantly impact both employee productivity and employers’ bottom line. Beyond these direct costs, public perception of an organization can be adversely affected by health, safety, and environmental issues. The program focuses on how to anticipate, evaluate, prevent, and control a wide range of hazards in the workplace.

Improving employee health and safety increases productivity and reduces costs associated with health-related productivity loss. This course enables participants to practice skills they can immediately apply to improve employee health and safety in their organizations.

Learning Objectives

By the end of the course, participants will be able to:

• Evaluate work practices and engineering control techniques for the prevention of occupational disease
• Recognize health hazards in occupational settings
• Select control measures specific to exposures
• Determine the physiological and toxicological effects of exposures to workplace hazards
• Understand the physical and chemical behaviour of aerosols and gas mixtures
• Analyze industrial exhaust ventilation systems
• Identify methods to measure and control noise stress in the workplace
• Understand the effects of ionizing and non-ionizing radiation
• Analyze and control risk factors for musculoskeletal disorders and design workplace ergonomics programs

https://www.hsph.harvard.edu/ecpe

OSHA official challenges access industry to uphold safety record

“Safety is not a luxury; it’s a necessity that every worker deserves,” said Jordan Barab, US Deputy Assistant Secretary of Labor for Occupational Safety and Health, speaking to an audience of about 250 at the IPAF Summit on 26 March 2015 in Washington, DC, USA.

Falls from height remain the leading cause of occupational fatalities in the US and many other countries. Preliminary data for 2013 show 574 fatal falls across all industries in the US, with 284 in construction and 88 in residential, revealed Mr Barab in his presentation.

He commended the powered access industry for its commitment to providing safe equipment for work at height, and commended IPAF for providing training in multiple languages, including Spanish and Chinese, thus enabling training in languages that workers can understand.

Mr Barab announced that OSHA would be turning its attention to aerial lift use in residential construction and also called on IPAF and its members to support OSHA’s National Safety Stand-Down which runs from 4 to 15 May 2015. This is a major effort to prevent falls in construction through education and awareness that will involve some three million workers across the US. Details are at www.osha.gov/StopFallsStandDown

IPAF CEO Tim Whiteman confirmed that IPAF would give OSHA’s Safety Stand-Down its full support, calling on resources from IPAF’s accident reporting project and other safety campaigns.

The next IPAF Summit will be held with the International Awards for Powered Access (IAPAs) on 17 March 2016 in Madrid, Spain. Watch for event details at www.iapa-summit.info

Presentations from the IPAF Summit are available at the Resources section of www.ipaf.org

Event: IOHA London 2015

Hilton Hotel, London Metropole

The countdown continues. Have you booked your place?

This year the International Occupational Hygiene Association (IOHA) conference comes to the UK for the first time. This gives British Occupational Hygiene Society (BOHS) members an amazing opportunity to visit this prestigious conference and there is still time to book your place, but with only three weeks to go you’ll have to be quick. As well as listening to over 150 speakers from around the world, you can also enrol on any of the 10 professional developments courses we have on offer or maybe even let your hair down and book a ticket for our London Monopoly themed gala dinner.

Can’t come yourself, but don’t want to miss out? There a still some exhibition and sponsorship opportunities available so you could still showcase your company on this international stage.

www.ioha2015.org

ECHA focuses on substances that matter most

Together with the Member States and the European Commission, ECHA is focusing its efforts on the substances that matter most for human health and the environment. According to the first annual report on SVHC Roadmap implementation, hundreds of substances were reviewed in 2014.

The SVHC Roadmap 2020 involves screening, assessment and the analysis of further risk management options for substances of concern. The aim of the Roadmap is to have all relevant substances of very high concern (SVHCs) on the Candidate List.

This Annual Report describes the main achievements and progress of the SVHC Roadmap to 2020 since its adoption in February 2013 until the end of 2014. It is the first report of its kind on the SVHC Roadmap and ECHA plans to provide one each year.

So far, lots of work has concentrated on substances that are already known to be carcinogenic, mutagenic and toxic for reproduction (CMRs). All of these substances have been screened, the registered ones have been further scrutinised and work is ongoing to identify structurally similar substances which need to be further assessed. This work has resulted in 145 substances being included in the Candidate List due to their CMR properties, out of which 29 are included in the Authorisation List. ECHA and the Member States are now working to identify new CMRs. This will be done either by proposing new harmonised classification and labelling (based on available data) or, where further information is needed, through substance evaluation.

Work on substances with persistent, bioaccumulative and toxic properties (PBTs) is also progressing. However, for many of these substances, more information is needed before conclusions can be made on whether they are PBTs or not. Consequently, the number of potential PBT substances in the assessment phase is high. Where further testing is needed, it will obviously take a substantial amount of time before work on the substances can progress. Work on identifying endocrine disruptors has also started. This all will result in a growing number of risk management option analysis cases (RMOAs). Currently, information on 98 ongoing or completed RMOAs is available on ECHA’s website.

So far, 20 substances with persistent, bioaccumulative and toxic/very persistent and very bioaccumulative properties (PBT/vPvBs) have been included in the Candidate List and two of them are in the Authorisation List. Additionally, five substances have been included in the Candidate List due to their endocrine disrupting properties.

http://echa.europa.eu/view-article/-/journal_content/title/echa-focuses-on-substances-that-matter-most

EUROSHNET Conference 2015: Improving the quality of working life

“Quality of working life” is a current buzzword. The EUROSHNET network of experts invites interested parties to its 5th European conference, to be held in Seville from 14-16 October, 2015 to discuss the challenges presented by the “quality of working life” for standardization, testing and certification in occupational safety and health.

The term “quality of working life” encompasses a number of different aspects, ranging from income and job security, through qualifications and further training, to the reconciliation of occupational and private life. Occupational safety and health is a key aspect. Fundamentally, the concept’s intent is for people to work in a healthy environment and with safe work equipment. All stakeholders share this objective: employers benefit from high productivity, employees are protected against avoidable health hazards.

How, though, can the stakeholders and instruments all be brought together efficiently in such a way that the shared objective is reached? One conclusion from the 4th EUROSHNET conference, held in Helsinki in 2012, was that market surveillance has an important role to play in product safety. In consideration of the scarcity of resources however, a call was made for closer co-operation between the market surveillance bodies and for a division of labour at European level, for example by further development and wider use of the ICSMS network. Users, public authorities and market surveillance bodies were also encouraged to become more involved in standardization, since they possess valuable experience from the field that would not otherwise be used. Product users in particular have lacked opportunities to provide feedback of their experiences, both within companies and to manufacturers and standards committees.

An invitation to Seville

The 5th conference, to be held in Seville and hosted by INSHT, the Spanish OSH institute, takes a fresh look at how people can remain healthy and work productively, longer. What contribution can be made to this by the various instruments of occupational safety and health, such as standardization, testing and certification, regulation, market surveillance, research and co-operation? How can these elements be used intelligently in combination such that the quality of work is improved effectively?

Come to Seville to discuss these issues with manufacturers and users of products, delegates from European and national authorities, employees at OSH institutions, and other OSH stakeholders. Interactive programme elements such as the “World Café” will give participants the opportunity to contribute their own experience and ideas.

Delegates from the European Commission will report on changes planned by the EU in the area of product safety and occupational safety and health. Further talks will address the controversial ISO standardization project concerning OSH management systems, the growing standardization of services, and the opportunities for and limits to the certification of the qualifications and skills of persons.

An entire afternoon will be devoted to workshops that will examine the OSH instruments referred to above more closely. Participants can choose from six topics and share their experience, develop their ideas and extend their personal networks in small groups.

On the final day of the conference, delegates from the spheres of standardization, testing and certification, regulation, research, market surveillance and co-operation will summarize how these instruments can be further developed and combined for the purposes of occupational safety and health in the coming decade.

In the accompanying poster exhibition, experts have the opportunity to present projects in progress or the results of their work. The deadline for the submission of poster proposals is 12 June 2015.

Practical information

The main conference language will be English. Simultaneous translation into German, French and Spanish will be provided for lectures and panel discussions. The detailed conference programme, information on the venue, hotels and travel information and the registration form can be found at www.euroshnet-conference.eu. Register by 31 May 2015 to take advantage of their early-bird discount.

Contact: Sonja Miesner, miesner@kan.de | Michael Robert, robert@kan.de

Event: A+A 2015 – Special show première: “Safe Rescue Operations from Heights and Depths”

27-30 October 2015, Düsseldorf

Successful rescue operations in extreme situations: cooperation partner THW shows how it’s done – in Hall 6.

A+A 2015, the international event for health and safety at work trade fair and convention, 27-30 October 2015, will include the première of a special show entitled “Safe Rescue Operations from Heights and Depths”. The event will be held in cooperation with the Federal Agency for Technical Relief (THW). “Using a diving pool and a roofed-over climbing facility, the demonstrations will feature rescue operations of accident victims in extreme situations, both above and under water,” says Birgit Horn, Director of A+A 2015 from Messe Düsseldorf. The demonstrations will be running live in Hall 6 on each day of the trade fair. The focus will be on the occupational safety of helpers and on appropriate personal protection equipment (e.g. fall protection).

Three thematic areas will be presented under the label A+A Live: Personal Protection, Occupational Safety and Healthy Workplace / Corporate Health, each in their own special action areas where they will function as scheduled elements of the overall event. The aim is to convey best practices, showing innovative products and procedures. Alongside the new special show “Safe Rescue Operations from Heights and Depths”, there will be a range of well established theme parks: Fire Protection and Emergency Management by the German Corporate Firefighters’ Association (WFVD) (which also forms part of Occupational Safety in Hall 6), the Safety & Security Innovation Park (in Hall 7a), Corporate Health & Workplace Design (in Hall 10) and the A+A Fashion Show (in Hall 11).

The main target group of A+A includes experts in occupational health & safety and security management, specialist retailers, HR managers, buyers from industry, company doctors, owners of small businesses, staff councils, works councils, firefighters, relief workers and the police force.

When A+A was launched in 1954, it was set up as an event on “Occupational Health and Safety and Occupational Medicine”, but it has since then developed into a leading international meeting point for health and safety at work. It is held at two-year intervals. With over 1,600 exhibitors and more than 63,000 trade visitors (from 69 countries) in 2013, A+A achieved record values in its history. After a good development of registrations for the trade fair, A+A 2015 is set to reach yet another record of nearly 1,800 exhibitors.

Further details about A+A 2015 can be found on www.AplusA.de

Event: ErgoX – An Extraordinary Ergonomics Event

June 17–19, 2015, Hyatt Regency Orange County, minutes from Disneyland, USA

Introducing ErgoX, an eXtraordinary ergonomics event that provides practical, usable, and impactful solutions for the daily challenges faced by ergonomists and safety specialists across a wide range of office and industrial settings.

At ErgoX, world-class leaders in the ergonomics field will translate the latest scientific findings and best practices into effective information, procedures, tools, and approaches you can use to improve your work safety and wellness outcomes – all in a unique, user-friendly, and intimate setting.

ErgoX is focused on helping you find solutions to your specific ergonomics challenges through our expert panel and innovative “State Your Case” poster session. Bring your challenges and problems and let ErgoX provide the solutions.

https://www.hfes.org/web/HFESMeetings/ergoX.html

RR1043 Endotoxin in metal working fluid (MWF) mist

The risks to respiratory health from exposure to bacterial endotoxins are well established. The aims of the UK Health and Safety Laboratory research were to:

• Review the evidence used to develop the health based recommended occupational exposure limit (HBROEL) for endotoxin of 90 endotoxin units per cubic metre (EU/m³) over an 8-hour period proposed by the Health Council for the Netherlands (DECOS); and to assess its relevance as a ‘benchmark’ to assess risks to respiratory health caused by endotoxin in metal working fluid mists.
• Assess whether the published evidence on endotoxin concentration in metal working fluids provides sufficient evidence that concentrations in mist are sufficient to cause harm to human health

The research concluded that there was a large discrepancy between concentrations of endotoxin and viable bacteria in mist compared to the concentrations in bulk fluid with airborne endotoxin levels generally falling close to or beneath the DECOS recommended level, whilst sump levels generally exceeded these by 100 to 1000 fold. Levels of viable bacteria captured in air were low compared to the levels in the sumps.

Further research is required to determine whether the discrepancy between bulk endotoxin and airborne levels is real or whether this is due to the impact of sampling or analytical methodology

Full report: www.hse.gov.uk/research/rrhtm/rr1043.htm

Second European Survey of Enterprises on New and Emerging Risks (ESENER-2)

The second edition of European Agency for Safety and Health at Work Europe-wide survey of enterprises, ESENER-2, collected responses from almost 50,000 enterprises on OSH management and workplace risks, with a particular focus on psychosocial risks, worker participation, and drivers and barriers to action. The aim is to provide nationally comparable data to help in policy-making and assist workplaces to deal with risks more effectively. This initial analysis presents a selection of the results.

Second European Survey of Enterprises on New and Emerging Risks (ESENER-2)
European Agency for Safety and Health at Work
Luxembourg, Office for Official Publications of the European Communities; L 2985; TE-RO-15-001-EN-N; 9 February 2015; 8 pages

https://osha.europa.eu/en/publications/reports/esener-ii-first-findings.pdf/view

Maternity Protection in SMEs: An international review

Although rarely quantified, the cost of maternity protection in SMEs is widely perceived to be greater than the benefits and to lead to competitive disadvantage. This review by the International Labour Office (ILO), suggests that effective maternity protection is not only feasible in SMEs but can offer a range of positive productivity-related outcomes for enterprises. To achieve these positive effects, and for maternity, paternity and family responsibilities to become “a normal fact of business life”, maternity protection and other work-family balance measures need to fit into the practices and interests of SMEs.

The report proposes a multi-pronged approach, involving strategies adopted at state, market, community and family levels to combat gender inequality, support SMEs and ultimately achieve wider development objectives.

This report reviews the key international literature on the outcomes of maternity protection in small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). It also addresses the questions of how, to what extent and under what conditions maternity protection in SMEs can generate positive outcomes for enterprises as well as broader society, considering implications for policy and practice.

Maternity Protection in SMEs: An international review
Lewis, Suzan; Stumbitz, Bianca; Miles, Lilian; Rouse, Julia; International Labour Office (ILO), 20 October 2014, 105 pages

www.ilo.org/global/publications/ilo-bookstore/order-online/books/WCMS_312783/lang--en/index.htm

World Employment and Social Outlook: Trends 2015

The World Employment and Social Outlook: Trends 2015 includes a forecast of worsening global unemployment levels and explains the factors behind it, such as continuing inequality and falling wage shares.

The report looks at the drivers of the rising middle class in the developing world as well as the risk of social unrest, especially in areas of elevated youth unemployment. It also addresses structural factors shaping the world of work, including an aging population and shifts in the skills sought by employers.

World Employment and Social Outlook: Trends 2015
International Labour Office (ILO), 20 January 2015, 100 pages; ISBN 9789221292593 (Print), ISBN 9789221292609 (web PDF)

www.ilo.org/global/research/global-reports/weso/2015/WCMS_337069/lang--en/index.htm