CIS Newsletter

No. 167
August 2003

CIS Newsletter celebrates 15 years & still going strong! Bringing news to over 135 countries in the CIS Network

Editorial

Dear CIS Colleagues

Who ever said that August was a "dead month" for news is not working in the health and safety world...... as you will see below. There is a lot to think about and take note of - I hope you enjoy the variety of news this month. Read about:

As usual, many thanks to all the contributors to this edition of your Newsletter - all news however small is most welcomed. If you are planning any publications, seminars or training courses, then please send your details to me so that we can share your efforts with others. Don't forget to send me your latest news! And please share this newsletter with others.

Over 100 individuals and organisations have let me know that wish to receive the Newsletter by email....if you wish to join just let me know and I will send it. CIS newsletters can be found on www.sheilapantry.com click onto CIS Newsletters!

Perhaps your own website will want to link to them?

Finally please note the very important EurOhse2003 conference to be held in London UK, on 4 and 5 November 2003 - click onto www.eurohse2003.com for details. The conference looks Forward and the speakers from around the world will be addressing the future of health and safety. Book now and be in the vanguard!

Best wishes to you and your colleagues.

Sheila Pantry, OBE

Sheila Pantry Associates Ltd, 85 The Meadows, Todwick, Sheffield S26 1JG, UK
Tel: +44 1909 771024
Fax: +44 1909 772829
Email: sp@sheilapantry.com
www.oshworld.com
www.sheilapantry.com
www.shebuyersguide.com

CIS NETWORK OF NATIONAL INFORMATION CENTRES..........
WORKING TOGETHER AND HELPING EACH OTHER....

News from around the world

Finnish research on the food industry

The Finnish Institute of Occupational Health has launched an extensive development and research project focusing on the food industry, to be implemented during 2003-2006. The project aims to produce new tailor-made tools for the food industry that will be used to improve the quality of operations and personnel well-being, in addition to traditional risk assessment methods. The preliminary results of the pilot study of the project were promising. In the factory where the project was carried out, the quality of work life, well-being and commitment to work had improved. Breakdowns and losses in production, as well as overtime were reduced, while security of the supplies improved.

The pilot study was carried out during 2001-2003 in three food factories, with about 400 people participating. Paced work and irregular working hours are on the increase in the food industry. About 40,000 people work in the food industry, which is the fourth-largest industry in Finland, after the metal, forest and chemical industries. Studies indicate that certain stress factors, such as paced work and irregular working hours, are on the increase in the food industry. Only some 40% of the members of the Finnish Food Workers' Union have a regular daytime job. On the other hand, resource factors, such as the opportunity to influence matters at work, are diminishing. The general psychosocial strain of working life has also increased.

The Food industry still has the highest risk of occupational disease

The strain of food-processing work is evident in the statistics on occupational diseases and accidents, and sickness absenteeism. Workers in the food industry still have the highest risk of contracting an occupational disease, when examined according to the branch of industry and occupation. 61% of occupational diseases are strain injuries, and 80% of these are musculoskeletal problems in the upper limbs.

www.ttl.fi/en

News from the UK

Research on the effects of flash fires

A research report assessing the effects of flash fires on building occupants has been published by the UK Health and Safety Executive (HSE), as part of a programme to develop risk-based tools for land-use planning.

A flash fire can occur following loss of containment incidents involving volatile or "flashing" flammable liquids. Unless ignition occurs immediately there is a possibility of a flammable vapour cloud forming that could later ignite at some distance from he source. Following ignition, the flame front can "flash back" to the source. When modelling the effects of such fires, for the purposes of risk assessment, the usual assumption is that any unprotected people caught in the open air by a flash fire flame front will be killed but that the proportion of fatalities is significantly lower for those sheltered within buildings

The report considers the likelihood of secondary ignition of building interiors, based on the incident heat flux from a fire and the duration of exposure, and assesses the proportion of occupants who may not escape the secondary fire. A key finding is the increased probability of fatalities due to multi-point ignitions where fire engulfs a whole building, compared with that for single-point ignitions, where only one building elevation is exposed to the initial fire.

The report suggests that the probability of death from secondary fires, initiated by a flash fire, is approximately 2% in an office building and about 21% in a dwelling at night.

This research was commissioned by HSE's Hazardous Installations Directorate (HID) and carried out by W.S Atkins Consultants Ltd., managed by the HID Methodology & Standards Development Unit. It will be used by HSE in assessing safety reports submitted under the Control of Major Accident Hazards Regulations 1999.

Copies of 'Effects of flash fires on building occupants' (Research Report 084) ISBN 0 7176 2181 2, PRICE £15 can be ordered online at www.hsebooks.co.uk or from HSE Books, PO Box 1999, Sudbury, Suffolk CO10 2WA UK | Tel: +44 (0)1787-881165 | Fax: +44 (0)1787-313995.

Full text on www.hse.gov.uk/research/rrhtm/index.htm

HSE publishes research on the use of Work Equipment Directive

The UK Health and Safety Executive has published a research report on the evaluation of the implementation of the Use of Work Equipment Directive (UWED) and the Amended Use of Work Equipment Directive (AUWED) in the UK.

The report evaluates the implementation of the Amending Directive (95/63/EC) to the Use of Work Equipment Directive (89/655/EEC) in Great Britain as enacted by the Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998 (PUWER 98) and the Lifting Operations and Lifting Equipment Regulations (LOLER). The evaluation describes how organisations responded to the regulations, the costs and benefits, compliance problems and areas where improvement could be made to the regulations and approved codes of practices (ACoPs).

Among the key findings are that duty holders believe that the regulations have led to safety improvements, such as safer equipment, improved working practices and a more competent workforce. The regulations are also generally believed to be an improvement on previous industry-specific regulations, and offer many advantages such as flexibility and practicality.

Duty holders, including small and medium sized enterprises (SME's), have, on the whole, reported that they do not believe that the costs of compliance with PUWER 98 and LOLER have caused concern. The costs of this legislation were examined across a number of sectors, including construction, local authorities, agriculture, health care and social services.

The introduction of LOLER and PUWER 98 has yet to generate a detectable reduction in injury rates. However, this is not surprising as the requirement to fit restraining systems and rollover protection to workplace transport only came into force on 5 December 2002, and therefore the full benefits of PUWER 98 were not captured within the timescale of the evaluation. There are also no apparent changes in defect rates or productivity.

The research found that there is a reasonable level of awareness and compliance with the regulations, although there is a need to communicate better with SME's, as over a third of small businesses, with equipment covered by the regulations, had not heard of the legislation.

The review highlighted a number of areas where the regulations, or ACoP, could be improved. These areas included: - the need for more basic English and clearer Guidance to enable SME's to better understand the regulations; the need for the ACoPs to contain indexes; the need for more industry specific guidance and practical examples; and the need for greater clarity and consistency surrounding terminology such as "competent person" and "thorough examination."

The review was carried out because the European Commission requires Member States to report on implementation of Directives after 5 years and the research enables Britain to meet that commitment. The Lifting Operations and Lifting Equipment Regulations (LOLER) and the Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998 (PUWER 98) implemented the Amended Use of Work Equipment Directive (AUWED) (95/63/EC) in Great Britain, in 1998.

A copy of the report Evaluation of the implementation of the use of work equipment directive and the amending directive to the use of work equipment directive in the UK series RR 125 and ISBN 0 7176 2702 0, priced £20 can be purchased from HSE Books at PO Box 1999, Sudbury, Suffolk, CO10 2WA, (tel: 01787 881165, fax: 01787 313995). The report will shortly be available on the HSE website at www.hse.gov.uk/research/rrhtm/index.htm

News from Canada

CCOHS ADDRESS CHANGE

Dr Abeytunga writes:

This brief note is to let you know that CCOHS has moved to a new location on Friday, August 8, 2003. As of that date, the mailing address will be:

Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety (CCOHS)
135 Hunter Street East
Hamilton, ON, Canada
L8N 1M5

Our phone and fax numbers and e-mail addresses will remain unchanged.

P.K. Abeytunga, MSc., PhD.
Vice-President and Director General
Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety
135 Hunter St. E.
Hamilton ON, Canada L8N 1M5
Tel: 905 572-2981, ext. 4537
Fax: 905 572-4419
Email: abey@ccohs.ca

Visit Canada's National Resource for Workplace Health and Safety Information: www.ccohs.ca

The Future of OSH in Europe is in November 2003!

EUROSHE 2003 Conference Aiming for a Healthier and Safer European Workscene

This conference looks at the major themes of the European Commission's Adapting to change in work and society: a new Community Strategy on health and safety at work 2002-2006. It will be held on Tuesday 4 November 2003 and Wednesday 5 November 2003 at the Royal National Hotel, Russell Square, London, UK.

It is organised by Angel Business Publications Ltd publishers of the European Occupational Health and Safety Magazine (EurOhs) and Sheila Pantry Associates Ltd. Sheila Pantry OBE is also editor of EurOhs. The conference is in association with the Chartered Institute of Environmental Health.

Croner.CCH Group Ltd, long time major publishers in health and safety information are the EurOhse2003 conference sponsors. Dr Brian Kellard will be the Chairman for the first morning of the conference on Tuesday, 4 November 2003.

Eminent speakers with backgrounds in government, industry, research and education will discuss future ways of working and training, the need for risk assessment for all aspects of everyday and work life, corporate killing, fire safety, managing road risks, fitness for work.

Speakers will also cover researching for tomorrow's workplace, enabling the disabled in the workplace and the roles of the social partners in securing a healthier and safer workplace.

This conference will provide key points for future activities for all those responsible for securing good standards of health and safety in the workplace.

The speakers and chairpersons include:

Dr Vernon (Vern) Putz Anderson, Ph.D., CPE, Chief Information Resources Branch, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) , Cincinnati, USA. will be speaking on the results of research and prevention programmes that NIOSH has carried out and also future programmes. Vern Anderson will also be speaking about the new ways of disseminating occupational safety and health information, training and education.

Dr. Janet L. Asherson BSc. MBA. D.Phil. Confederation of British Industries, Head of Environmental Affairs where her policy areas cover health, safety, environment, energy and biotechnology. She has been a member of the UK Government Advisory Committee on Toxic Substances and the Industrial Injuries Advisory Council. She is currently Employers' Chairperson and Member of the European Commission Advisory Committee on Safety, Hygiene and Health Protection at Work. Member of the Administrative Board of the European Health and Safety Agency

Dr Asherson will be speaking on European Business working together to secure a healthier and safer workplace.

Roger Bibbings, Occupational Safety Advisor, The Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents

As a senior manager in RoSPA's Safety Policy Division, Roger's role is to advise the Society on all matters associated with work related risk and to help it expand its contribution to the British 'health and safety system'.

Roger Bibbings will be speaking on the management of road risk and the implications for both management and the drivers.

Willy Buschak, Deputy Director, European Foundation for the Improvement of Living and Working Conditions

In 1991, Willy Buschak joined the European Trade Union Confederation (ETUC) in Brussels, Belgium, as Confederal Secretary for democratisation of the economy, health and safety at the workplace, and research policy. In 1995, his brief was extended to include the environment, consumer policy and the information society. Since April 2003 he has been Deputy Director of the Foundation.

He has also been an active member on various advisory committees, including the Advisory Committee on Safety, Hygiene and Health Protection at the Workplace, Industrial Research and Development, and the General Consultative Forum on the Environment.

Willy will be speaking on researching for a better future: trends and problems for tomorrow's workforce.

Dennis Davis OBE OStJ QFSM CEng CIMgt FIFireE (Life) MInstE

HM Chief Inspector of Fire Services for Scotland, HM Fire Service Inspectorate. He is a past President of the Institution of Fire Engineers [1988] and current Management Committee Chairman. He has also served as President of the Chief and Assistant Chief Fire Officers' Association (CACFOA) [1997]. He is the First Delegate of the United Kingdom to the Comité Technique International de Prévention et d'Extinction du Feu (CTIF) and currently chairs the European Union Sub-Commission of the CTIF. The Sub-Commission was established to help create a safer Europe from fire.

Dennis will be speaking about ensuring that fire safety is high on the European agenda and the implications for tomorrow's workforce.

Terry Fahy Human Resource Manager, Gandon Enterprises, Dublin, Project Director, Access Ability

Terry read Sociology at University of Dublin, Trinity College where she obtained a BA (Mod). For several years Terry held the position of General Manager of one of the Gandon Enterprise companies; this is the commercial wing of the Rehab Group. Her role as Project Director of Access Ability involves her in the wider community; this includes working with employers, their employees and local community initiatives.

Terry will be speaking about enabling the disabled: what can be done. 2003 is the European Year of the Disabled.

John Howard OBE, Director of Safety Policy, The Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents

John Howard joined RoSPA in 1985 as Director of RoSPA's Home and Leisure Safety activities, after a career in business. After a few years he assumed overall control of the Safety Policy Division, which is responsible for RoSPA's expert input into all fields of accident prevention. This position gives him an overview of accident prevention in the UK and necessitates a wide range of contacts from politicians and civil servants to professionals in industry, local government, the Health Service and institutions such as the BSI and other partner organisations with an interest in injury prevention.

Earlier in 2002 John was awarded an OBE for services to safety. He will be Chairman, Tuesday afternoon, 4 November 2003

Paul Huijzendveld, Vice President, International Association of Labour Inspection (IALI) and General Director of the Arbeidsinspectie, Netherlands, will be speaking about the future work of inspectorates in Europe from IALI viewpoint. He will be looking at risk assessment what the inspectorates will be focusing on.

Dr John Kingston is the chair of the Noordwijk Risk Initiative Foundation (www.nri.eu.com), a non-profit-making organisation established to encourage partnership and discussion of risk issues and the development of risk management tools in the public domain.

He will be joined by Jane Paul to give a joint presentation on putting the "H" into health in the workplace: using accident prevention techniques and applying it to disease in the workplace.

Hans-Horst Konkolewsky, Director, European Agency for Safety and Health at Work, Bilbao, Spain. He sees the Agency's role as a major provider of information about best practice in safety and health matters, providing practical solutions to workers and companies. This in order to improve safety and health standards at European workplaces to the benefit for the health and well-being of the employees and the competitiveness of industry.

Hans-Horst will be talking about way forward - agenda for European health and safety at work 2003-2006. Making it all work, progress to date and future activities.

Don Litten, Directorate General Joint Research Centre, European Commission Sevilla, Spain.

Don is Head of the European IPPC Bureau for the European Commission and also a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Water and Environmental Management (FCIWEM) and an Associate Member of the Institute of Chemical Engineers (AMIChemE). He will be speaking about the future of integrated pollution and prevention control of the environment in Europe and how it affects the workplace

Marc Sapir was the Founder and has been Director of the European Trade Union Technical Bureau for Health and Safety since 1989.

Expert and European spokesperson of the European Trade Union Confederation (ETUC) in different EU institutions and authorities: Advisory Committee for Health and Safety in Luxemburg, European Agency in Bilbao. Marc is the representative for the ETUC at the Technical Bureau of the European Standardisation Committee and of the CENELEC, member of the Advisory board of EOTC (European Organisation for Testing and Certification). Marc Sapir has written several scientific and trade union publications and will be speaking on the unions in Europe working together to secure a healthier and safer Europe for future generations.

Dr Margaret Samuel is Group Occupational Physician to London Electricity. She is formerly Senior Employment Medical Adviser for north London at the UK Health and Safety Executive (HSE), and also former Assistant Registrar of the Faculty of Occupational Medicine. She is also Performance Assessor in Occupational Medicine with the UK General Medical Council.

Margaret's special interest is in the risk management approach to work related ill health, particularly mental ill health and musculoskeletal disorders. Margaret will be speaking on fitness for work - including the ageing workers, the new risk industries, new ways of working including the 24:7 workforce.

Dr Jukka Takala, Director InFocus Programme SafeWork, International Labour Office, Switzerland will be looking an international occupational safety and health problems and the effects on the European workplace. He will also be speaking on moving work from country to country. And most importantly the worst forms of child labour.

Professor Peter Waterhouse is the Honorary Visiting Professor of Occupational Safety in the Robens Centre of the European Institute of Health and Medical Sciences at the University of Surrey, UK. He is a fellow of the Institution of Occupational Safety and Health and a past President. He has also served as the President the British Health and Safety Society and as Vice-Chairman of the Institute of Risk Management.

Peter will be chairing the morning sessions of the second day of the conference.

Michael G. Welham, Mphil, MSc, DIPOHSM, Dip Law, FIOSH, RSP, FIRSM

is a leading authority on corporate and individual manslaughter and will be speaking on this subject. He is employed by the UK Health and Safety Executive (HSE), and is a member of the HSE Manslaughter at Work Project Team, and has extensive working experience of investigating and prosecuting individual and corporate manslaughter at work cases. He has undertaken academic research and presented papers on the subject of corporate killing representing HSE at conferences and seminars such as EUROSHE2003.

Dr Sylvia Wood will be Chairman for Wednesday afternoon session. She was Deputy Director General of the Irish Health and Safety Authority for the last five years before her retirement in November 2002.

A Fellow of both the UK and Irish Faculty's of Occupational Medicine, she had wide experience as medical officer in both the public sector and private industries before becoming occupational medical adviser to the Department of Labour and then the Director of Development and Information in the newly-formed Health and Safety Authority. She played a key role in the development of education and training, and has served on many health and safety committees for the European Union, the International Labour Organisation and the World Health Organisation.

Training and education in occupational health and safety of tomorrow's workforce is extremely important - Professor Matti Ylikoski, MD, PhD will be speaking on this subject. He has been Director of the Training Centre on Occupational Health, Finnish Institute of Occupational Health (FIOH), Helsinki since 1st June 2002. Also Senior Lecturer in Occupational Health in the Technical University of Lappeenranta, Finland since 1997 todate. Matti was Pre-Accession Adviser in Estonia in EU Phare on Occupational Health 2000- 2002.

EurOhse2003 is the major occupational safety and health conference of 2003! Don't miss it!

For further details contact: Mary Meadows, Office and Logistics Manager, European Occupational Health and Safety Magazine (EurOhs), Angel Business Communications Ltd, 34 Warwick Road, Kenilworth CV8 1HE, Warwickshire, UK | Tel: +44 (0)1926 512424 | Fax: + 44 (0)1926 512948 | Email: mary@angelbc.co.uk | www.eurohse2003.com

News from the USA

NIOSH Prototype GPS Monitor Promises Faster, Surer Way to Identify Exposures

The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) is adapting Global Positioning System or GPS technology—similar to that used by the military to manoeuvre troops through hostile terrain, and by motorists to plan travel routes—as a faster, more certain way to pinpoint locations at outdoor work sites where employees may be exposed to hazardous levels of dusts, gases, fumes, noise, and heat.

A prototype unit, about the size of a videocassette, was developed and successfully pilot-tested this year by NIOSH scientists. NIOSH is beginning procedures through its parent agency, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), to commercialize the technology while simultaneously exploring further ways to apply it and to reduce the size of the device.

"Job-related exposures may vary tremendously from one location to another at large construction sites, commercial produce fields, or surface mines, to name some examples," noted NIOSH Director John Howard, M.D. "To find 'hot spots' where exposures are highest and potential occupational health risks are the greatest, industrial hygienists need to correlate employee locations and exposure measurements with great precision. The technology being developed by NIOSH promises a giant stride forward from traditional methods, which can be time-consuming and labor-intensive."

The NIOSH-developed technology creates a Local Positioning System that links GPS with other instrumentation. The prototype system works this way:

NIOSH plans an additional study to test the operation of the system with a monitor designed to measure sulfur dioxide, hydrogen sulfide, carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, and other gases that may pose an occupational hazard. For further information about the NIOSH prototype, contact Jennifer Hornsby-Myers, NIOSH Health Effects Laboratory Division, Email: ezh7@cdc.gov

For additional information about NIOSH research, call toll-free 1-800-35-NIOSH (1-800-356-4674) or visit www.cdc.gov/niosh

Nearly Half of UK H&S Professionals Want Out

A survey by Croner, the UK's leading provider of business information support and advice, has revealed that nearly half of the UK's Health and Safety professionals do not want to be working in the industry in ten year's time, due to red tape.

The survey, carried out on Croner's free web centre, which has over 10,800 registered users, asked health and safety professionals: "Given the increasing regulatory burden in the UK, do you still want to be working in Health and Safety in 10 year's time?"

The results were revealing. Only 52% of respondents answered yes, with 30% answering 'no' and a further 18% 'unsure'. With 48% of current professionals not prepared to commit to a future in the sector, this is clearly potential bad news for the industry and employers trying to protect themselves and their workers from accidents in the workplace.

However, the survey does reveal that Health and Safety professionals are slightly more positive about the future than their colleagues in HR. In a similar poll, Croner discovered that 55% of HR professionals would not commit to a future in the profession due to the burdens of red tape.

Trevor Davies, consultant and expert in Health and Safety law at Croner Consulting said: "This is clearly bad news. The requirement for adequate records is rising and becoming more of a burden, as are the scale of problems when things go wrong. Given the growing compensation culture and tougher legislation, businesses need better health and safety practices and the very people who should be implementing them are very unsure about their futures."

"Everyone in the industry needs to find a way through regulation that is consistent with their business but also allows professionals to concentrate on the more rewarding aspects of the job. The key is to manage tasks properly and there is a lot of external help available from experts such as Croner that is designed to remove some of the burden of dealing with red tape issues.

"The right resource be it a manual, CD ROM, internet site, helpline or outsourced consultant can give quick and easy answers to problems allowing the manager to get on with more motivating tasks within a business. (CIS Centres please note!!!!)

"Health and Safety is a key function in the workplaces of Britain, and needs to retain its experienced professionals. With their growing responsibility, especially when new legislation such as corporate manslaughter raises its head, Health and Safety professionals can help themselves by sourcing the best support."

News from the European Commission

Producers welcome Commission proposal on F-Gases Regulations but caution against phase out of HFC134a in car air-conditioning

The European Fluorocarbon Technical Committee (EFCTC) welcomes in general the proposal for a EU Regulation on fluorinated gases which was issued yesterday by the European Commission. The industry group supports legislation that seeks to harness the environmental benefits of F-gases, through enhanced energy efficiency and emission reduction but is concerned that the proposed restriction on the use of enhanced R-134a, in car air-conditioning could be counterproductive.

"The draft Regulation presents a clear set of rules for the trade and use of Fluorinated gases, including end of life issues across the EU" says Dr. Nick Campbell, chair of EFCTC". With the exception of the automotive sector, it will assist in reducing the large degree of uncertainty which is discouraging new investment and innovation in energy efficient equipment and technologies, much of which will use F-gases".

The proposal provides a common system for data reporting, and lays down a framework for emission prevention. These aspects have been strongly advocated by industry as part of Responsible Use. Mobile air conditioning "We welcome the recognition that the commission gives to a range of options for mobile air-conditioning, which includes the long term use of HFCs with a low Global Warming Potential. Given the current lack of a proven alternative, that is commercially operating, we believe the setting of a phase out schedule for enhanced HFC134a systems in cars is inappropriate", continued Dr. Campbell. Investment in enhanced R-134a has been shown to have a superior environmental performance when compared to other systems, in regions where there are hot traffic conditions.

A rapid phase out in Europe will stop investment in this technology, which is currently delivering significant improvements in reduced greenhouse gas emissions. This could be counter-productive for the environment, leading to the adoption of less energy efficient and heavier mobile air-conditioning systems that could, ironically lead to greater emissions of carbon dioxide. Also it could undermine the move from CFCs (which have a much higher Global Warming Potential) to HFCs in developing countries. The focus on the phase-out of R-134a in mobile air-conditioning contradicts the conclusions of the final report of the European Climate Change Programme (ECCP), endorsed by the Council of Ministers in December 2001. These conclusions were clearly orientated toward containment of these gases and monitoring of actual emissions, which minimise their environmental impact. Better containment in current systems and enhanced R-134a air-conditioning systems should be a priority.

The benefits of F-gases, vital in many daily life applications. There are strong arguments in support of the use of F-gases, bringing substantial benefits to society. F-gases (fluorinated hydrocarbons and sulphur hexafluoride) are used in many vital applications of our daily life such as refrigerators, air-conditioners, thermal insulation and medical sprays. They are particularly safe (because their low toxicity and low flammability) and consequently can have distinct environmental benefits such as improved energy efficiency when used in refrigeration and air conditioning systems or in foam used for thermal insulation. Their improved energy efficiency can lead to a reduction in greenhouse gas emissions, which is why all avenues should be explored to use these gases responsibly, rather than proposing phase-out of their use. The proposed regulation confirms the long-term sustainability of F-gases in their vast majority of applications and clearly establishes common rules for the EU.

F-gases and climate change into context to put F-gases into context, it is important to note that all together they currently contribute less than 2% of total greenhouse gas emissions in Europe. By 2010 this figure is expected to remain less than 3% but the benefit F-gases bring through improved energy efficiency is thought to outweigh this, as they contribute to reduced CO2 emissions in many of their applications. By contrast, the CFCs progressively replaced by the HFCs represented about 25% of all greenhouse gas in 1990.

F-gases, their past and future contribution to reduced greenhouse gases emissions:

F-gases have permitted an unprecedented rapid phase-out of Ozone Depleting substances such as CFCs. HFCs have also a much lower Global Warming Potential (GWP) than CFCs, and have already contributed to a significant decrease of the greenhouse gas emissions. In applications such as thermal insulation or refrigeration and air conditioning, their energy efficiency contributes to reduce the energy consumption. HFCs contribute therefore indirectly but significantly to reach the objectives of the Kyoto Protocol and such opportunity should not be missed

About certification of personnel: Although the draft regulation requires the Member States to set minimum technical qualifications and certification for personnel working with F-gases, it fails to specify these minimum requirements.

About recovery of F-gases: The Regulation requires Member States to establish proper recovery, recycling and end-of-life destruction procedures. Because of their non-flammability and low toxicity, F-gases are very suitable for recovery and re-use. Unfortunately, the introduction of cost-effective recycling systems is often discouraged by the EU-regulations on transborder shipment of recovered substances.

Contact: Nick Campbell | Tel: 33.6.23.15.35.68 | Email: nick.campbell@atofina.com | www.fluorocarbons.org

Help for those who are information overloaded?

New method will clarify and condense complex documents

A novel method of analysis has been developed that could change the way complicated documents are assessed for bias, accuracy and consistency.

The technique could be used to simplify all sorts of records. For instance long legal documents that use complex and obscure reasoning could be stripped down to their essential arguments.

It could also be used to identify inconsistencies, spotting whether arguments have been changed or contradicted or if evidence has been hidden. The method has already been used in the United States in dealing with a number of maritime cases.

The technique was developed at the University of Glasgow with funding from the Swindon-based Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council.

The researchers have carried out an initial study using the system to analyse media coverage of the Concorde crash in Paris in July 2000.

It is often claimed that the media is too quick to identify the causes of events in their immediate aftermath, and that this can lead to the public being misinformed and to complex issues being oversimplified or distorted. One application of the technique is that it can be used to establish the accuracy of press coverage of a particular event and to show how the portrayal of a story develops and changes day by day.

The Concorde study used the method to compare coverage of the Concorde accident in a broadsheet newspaper (The Times), a tabloid newspaper (The Sun) and an Internet-based news service (BBC Online). It showed that, after the crash, the media carried a lot less speculation about its causes than some critics claimed. It also highlighted that the broadsheet speculated most about the causes of the crash - presumably to meet its readers' requirements for fuller coverage - while the tabloid speculated the least. The internet site was able to keep its audience most up to date with developments surrounding the crash with frequent updates. Overall, most of the speculation in all three sources was presented in the form of direct quotations from experts rather than hypotheses from journalists.

The work has been led by Professor Chris Johnson of the University's Department of Computing Science. He says: "This new analytical tool could have many uses. We are beginning to apply the technique to identify inconsistencies and omissions in the increasingly detailed documents that so many organisations seem to favour these days."

The new system is based on the use of "conclusion, analysis and evidence" (CAE) diagrams to pull scattered information together and present it in a structured, coherent and comprehensible way. This is a much more user-friendly way of presenting the information than many current methods which involve pages of written analysis.

The following basic procedure is used in the generation of CAE diagrams:

  1. List all of the conclusions that are identified in the source material.
  2. List each line of analysis that supports or weakens the conclusions identified in Stage 1.
  3. List the evidence that either weakens or strengthens each line of analysis.
  4. Construct a graph based on the products of Stages 1-3.

The Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) is the UK's main agency for funding research in engineering and the physical sciences. EPSRC invests more than £400 million a year in research and postgraduate training to help the nation handle the next generation of technological change. The areas covered range from information technology to structural engineering and from mathematics to materials science. This research forms the basis for future economic development in the UK and improvements in everyone's health, lifestyle and culture. EPSRC also actively promotes public awareness of science and engineering. EPSRC works alongside other Research Councils with responsibility for other areas of research. The Research Councils work collectively on issues of common concern via Research Councils UK. Website address for more information on EPSRC: www.epsrc.ac.uk

For more information, contact: Professor Chris Johnson, Department of Computing Science, University of Glasgow, Scotland, UK | Tel: +44 (0)141 330 6053 | E-mail: Johnson@dcs.gla.ac.uk | www.dcs.gla.ac.uk

or

Jane Reck, EPSRC Press Officer | Tel: +44 (0)1793 444312 | Email: jane.reck@epsrc.ac.uk

News from around the world

EW2003

Help with Dangerous Substances- Action Pack for European Week now available

According to recent research, an estimated 30 million of Europe's employees regularly come into contact at work with dangerous substances. This year's European Week for Safety and Health at Work, October 13-18, is trying to get everyone to think more about how to ensure these substances do not affect them and their families.

To help them a free Action Pack containing a 12 page newsletter full of information and ideas is now available from the UK Health and Safety Executive (HSE) on 0800 085 0050 or at www.hse.gov.uk/campaigns/euroweek

The Action Pack points organisations towards helpful information sources including HSE's free web site: electronic COSHH Essentials (COSHH = Control Of Substances Hazardous to Health). This is available on www.coshh-essentials.org.uk

It also includes a mini CD ROM, fact sheets, leaflets, stickers and a poster, focusing on this year's theme of Dangerous Substances. The week is designed to help organisations that use potentially harmful chemicals plan sustainable initiatives to protect workers' health.

British Glove Association supports EW2003

As part of its ongoing efforts to promote safety in the work place, with particular reference to hand and finger injuries, the British Glove Association www.gloveassociation.org will be supporting this year's European Week for Safety and Health, which begins on 13 October 2003.

Statistics from the UK Health & Safety Executive (2000/1) indicate that the two largest categories of injury in the workplace are fracture and laceration followed by contusion, superficial injury and strain. These categories amount to some 31,386 reported accidents to the finger, hand or wrist out of a total of some 35,877. With regard to amputation, during this period, there were 1,096 incidents, 1,083 referring to a finger.

In addition to accidents, 16 per cent of employees have to handle dangerous substances as part of their daily work. This can expose workers to a variety of conditions including skin irritation and dermatitis if protective gloves are not worn.

The British Glove Association runs an annual poster design competition in collaboration with Zurich Insurance in support of wearing protective gloves in the workplace. The competition results in 75000 posters being distributed to thousands of industrial premises in the UK every year.

About the European Week for Safety and Health at Work

The European Week for Safety and Health at Work 2003 is an information campaign aimed at making Europe a safe place to work by promoting activities to reduce the risks of working with dangerous substances. With the backing of all Member States and enlargement countries, the European Commission and Parliament, trade unions and employers' federations, this annual initiative has become the largest workplace safety and health event in Europe. It provides a unique opportunity to focus attention on the importance of safety and health at work.

For further information visit the European Week website at:

http://osha.europa.eu/ew2003/

New KAN Study "Accreditation of Testing and Certification Bodies"

The latest edition of KANBRIEF no.2/03 presents the new study "Accreditation of Testing and Certification Bodies" commissioned by the Kommision Arbeitsschutz und Normung (KAN) that looks at the underlying principles of German and other European accreditation, procedures and systems.

It makes specific suggestions, based on its findings, for ways to harmonize the requirements for bodies seeking notification and for designation and notification procedures. The aim of the study was to develop proposals for drawing up a uniform, coherent set of rules.

The study KAN Report 30 is available on the web www.kan.de

KANBRIEF also includes reports on ergonomic guidelines for medical devices, EUROSHNET news, Directive to restrict chromate in cement, and a number of web services and events.

KANBRIEF is published quarterly contact: DR.Ing Joachim Lambert, Alte Heerstr.111. D-53757 Sankt Augustin, Germany | Tel: +49 (0) 2241 231 3463 | Fax: +49 (0) 2241 231 3464 | Email: info@kan.de | www.kan.de

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News from JISHA, Japan

The Japan Industrial Safety and Health Association (JISHA) has issued their latest Newsletter No. 38 August 2003.

It contains details of:

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

Health at Work?

Heart attacks and strokes - diseases of the modern worker, says Unions

Workers exposed to stress for at least half their working lives are 25 per cent more likely to die from a heart attack, and have 50 per cent higher odds of suffering a fatal stroke. Also, blue-collar workers are more prone to such illnesses than executives. These facts are exposed in the 'modern workers health check' featured in the latest issue of TUC backed Hazards magazine just published.

Now the 'modern workers health check' reveals worldwide evidence of employees being worked into the ground:

Brendan Barber, TUC General Secretary, said:

"Stress at work is cutting workers' lives short. This enormous strain on individuals and society will only end when we tackle the causes of stress such as overwork and the long-hours culture The UK needs a workforce that works well and stays well."

US stress researcher Paul Landsbergis tells Hazards that long term stress at work is far more likely on the shopfloor than in the boardroom. Research he has worked on shows that it is manual workers, not executives, that are at greatest risk from stress related illness. Blue-collar workers are particularly at risk to heart disease due to high blood pressure, which is linked with excessive overtime, night shifts, and work with high psychological pressures and low rewards.

Paul Landsbergis said:

"If you are experiencing the effects of job stress the symptoms are not 'all in your head', but are your body's way of telling you're your job is out of kilter. And this stress can, literally, break your heart."

Company clinics

A review in this month's Bulletin of the World Health Organisation, highlights the extent to which clinics generally are responsible for the spread of disease in communities. Company clinics are likely to have higher standards than many local providers but there is much of concern in the article and - most usefully- an evidence based guideline for preventing injection transmitted disease: surprisingly the first of its kind.

There are specific references to proven examples injection-related disease - excellent reminders of the implications of even minor departures from best practice: needles left in multidose vials (Hepatitis C, HIV); single use swabs kept in disinfectant; wiping the stopper of a vial (peritonitis, Hepatitis B)...

20 million cases of Hepatitis B are thought to result from injections every year, + 2 million cases of Hepatitis C and 1/4 million cases of HIV.

The solutions - listed in the article - are simple, evidence based and have virtually no cost implications: There is something here for every clinician. See the full review (free access) at www.who.int/bulletin/volumes/81/7/en/Hutin0703.pdf

(Dr) Andrew Dickson, Medical Services Overseas Ltd., UK | Email: dr@mso-uk.com

Health, Business Travellers & Duty of Care

Terrorism, SARS, DVT, malaria - the list goes on. Real health concerns + a steady drip of litigation have caused companies a lot of angst, but have they changed practice? Reviews of health policy and overseas risk have left many companies feeling more- rather than less vulnerable.

Dr Andrew Dickson of Medical Services Overseas has a simple, pragmatic approach to the issue: "The foundation of any health programme needs to be Assessment, Training and Support" he says. "Of these the poor relation is usually training. GPs don't have the time or resources to give business travellers all the information they need: the subject is too big. What employees need - and companies need to ensure - is a little theory and a lot of practical knowledge."

He gives some examples "What should staff do in a car crash overseas? What medicines should they take with them - many medicines are just not available in the third world, or are fakes. When should they suspect malaria? What are the symptoms of typhoid? Should some staff fly business class to prevent DVT? (Answer "No"). How do medical evacuations work - and what do you do when they don't?"

To meet the demand for practical answers Medical Services Overseas has relaunched its course "Staying Healthy Overseas" - specifically to meet the needs of business travellers.

These half day seminars, held at the Royal Society of Medicine are the only physician led courses in the UK specifically for company staff. Courses gives practical strategies for preventing, recognising and managing ill health overseas, particularly in developing countries. Prescriptions for antimalarials and emergency medications can be issued. Delegates also receive health information packs on the day and free updates by e-mail for the following year.

"Companies are very vulnerable" says Dr Dickson, Course Director. "It is no longer acceptable to send staff to another country without a working knowledge of the health problems they face and formal guidance on how to manage them".

Dr Andrew Dickson, Medical Services Overseas, 42 Bloomsbury Street, London WC1B 3QJ | www.mso-uk.com | Email: dr@mso-uk.com

News from Canada

A new report from Statistics Canada and Human Resources Development

Canada on Part-Time Work and Family-Friendly Practices in Canadian Workplaces

This report provides an overview of the availability of part-time work and family-friendly practices in Canadian workplaces, plus related career development and productivity data. The findings suggest that many organisations still are not doing enough to help employees balance work and family obligations.

Read the executive summary: http://labour-travail.hrdc-drhc.gc.ca/worklife/ptwffp-en.cfm

The complete report is available on Statistics Canada's website: www.statcan.ca/english/freepub/71-584-MIE/free.htm

-------------------------------------------

Nouveau rapport!

Travail à temps partiel et des pratiques favorables à la famille dans les entreprises canadiennes

Ce rapport donne un aperçu de l'importance du travail à temps partiel et des modalités de travail favorables à la famille dans les milieux de travail canadiens, ainsi que des données concernant le perfectionnement professionnel et la productivité associées à ces pratiques. Les résultats qui y sont présentés montrent que beaucoup d'entreprises n'en font pas encore assez afin de favoriser un climat propice à l'intégration des responsabilités professionnelles et familiales.

Lire le sommaire: http://labour-travail.hrdc-drhc.gc.ca/travailvie/ptwffp-fr.cfm

Le rapport complet est accessible sur le site web de Statistiques Canada: www.statcan.ca/francais/freepub/71-584-MIF/free_f.htm

Canada Health and Safety Report

Amongst the news items are the following:

A new standard for workplace violence education

A video clip shows a manager creating an unpleasant scene at the workplace water cooler. The viewer is asked: "Is this an example of workplace violence?"

Another clip shows scenarios with an abusive phone call. Still a third shows an angry retail customer returning with a chainsaw.

Thought provoking videos as well as follow up questions and nuggets of information are all part of a new advanced pilot multimedia website. The topic - one that is receiving increased attention - is Preventing Violence in the Workplace.

The website, a CCOHS collaboration with two partners, is still a prototype but is poised to set a new standard for online, interactive education.

Full Story: www.ccohs.ca/newsletters/hsreport/issues/2003/07/ezine.html#partners

Hazard Alerts

White fingers - the woodworkers' curse

Colloquially, it's called "white fingers", "wax fingers" or "dead fingers". More formally, it's known as Raynaud's phenomenon. If you're a woodworker, you may already know the danger from vibrating hand-held and stationary woodworking tools.

Repeated exposure to the vibrations can cause Raynaud's phenomenon, which, in its severest form, can lead to breakdown of the skin and gangrene in the fingertips. Hand-Arm Vibration Syndrome (HAVS) is even more advanced and can affect the entire hand or arm. Vibration isolators or damping techniques on equipment offer the most effective protection.

Full Story: www.ccohs.ca/newsletters/hsreport/issues/2003/07/ezine.html#hazardalert

To see the latest news in the report click onto www.healthandsafetyreport.com

For direct access to the magazine click onto www.healthandsafetyreport.com/ezine.htm

Canadian Health Network (CHN) team recently upgraded their technology infrastructure to better serve web visitors. You may have noticed that as a result of this change the majority of CHN's web site links no longer work (since July 11th 2003).

If you or your organization links to one or more pages of the Canadian Health Network www.canadian-health-network.ca, the information to which you are pointing is still available on the CHN web site but at a different address (URL).

In an effort to minimize the impact on the service CHN provides to visitors, a document that includes old and new addresses that came into effect July 11th is now available. CHN hopes this information will help minimise and facilitate the work for your web team. CHN is implementing several URL redirects for key areas of the CHN web site and these addresses will remain functional for some time after July 11th 2003.

Contact Sandra Clark sandrac@ccohs.ca at the Workplace Health affiliate directly.

If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to contact CHN at:

www.canadian-health-network.ca Email: chn-writeus@hc-sc.gc.ca

The WH-ST list is hosted by CCOHS www.ccohs.ca, the CHN's Workplace Health Affiliate Partner.

La liste WH-ST est hebergee par le CCHST www.cchst.ca, le partenaire associe du RCS dans le domaine de la sante au travail.

CCOHS New OSH Answers: Improving the lives of shift workers

Sleeping during hot summer days, working under the light of the moon and then readjusting the pattern the next week. Shift work carries a unique set of personal, social and family burdens and it is a fact of life for about 25 percent of the North American working population. Something called the circadian rhythm, a person's internal clock, gets jumbled, upsetting sleep patterns, causing potential gastrointestinal and cardiovascular issues and affecting concentration, motivation, and reaction time, particularly at night.

Heightened attention and research - driven by experts who blame rotating shifts for human error connected with air crashes and other catastrophic accidents - has lead to new strategies to improve shift design and useful tips for shift workers themselves. One study showed that changing the direction of rotation of shifts to a forward direction (for example, days to afternoons to nights) significantly decreased the levels of several coronary risk factors.

Full Story: www.ccohs.ca/newsletters/hsreport/issues/2003/07/ezine.html#oshanswers

OSHE web sites to explore.......

Jan Michiel Meeuwsen writes from the Netherlands........
Please have a look at the interesting websites of the ILO in Moscow.
Check www.ilo.ru and www.safework.ru
Information is both in Russian and English.
Jan Michiel Meeuwsen, TNO Work and Employment, P.O. Box 718, 2130 AS Hoofddorp, THE NETHERLANDS | Tel: + 31 (0)23 55 49 427 | Fax: +31 (0)23 55 49 394 | Email business: j.meeuwsen@arbeid.tno.nl | company website: www.arbeid.tno.nl | Email private: j.meeuwsen@zonnet.nl

SRI LANKA

The Employers' Federation of Ceylon   SRI LANKA
www.employers.lk
The Employers' Federation of Ceylon (EFC) is a collaborating Centre for the International Labour Office Health and Safety Information Centre. EFC is active in occupational safety and health.

SPAIN

The European Agency for Safety and Health at Work: Health and safety campaigning   SPAIN
http://osha.europa.eu/en/campaigns
The European Agency for Safety and Health at Work: Health and safety campaigning information on effective ways to raise awareness about occupational safety and health whether at European, national or workplace level. Ideas to change people's behaviour. Factsheet 17 and Report 102 are the main general advice and guidance.

The European Commission's Senior Labour Inspectorate Committee (SLIC)   SPAIN
http://ec.europa.eu/social/main.jsp?catId=153&langId=en&intPageId=685
The European Commission's Senior Labour Inspectorate Committee (SLIC) Construction Safety campaign 2003 contains checklists, guidance and advice.

UK

All about Asbestos  UK
www.allaboutasbestos.com
All About Asbestos News updates from around the world. The reports are collated from newspapers, magazines and news agencies from around the globe.

Fire and Rescue Service UK   UK
www.communities.gov.uk/fire
Office of the Deputy Prime Minister Fire and Rescue Service UK website containing details, factsheets and related links

Forum of Arson Investigators UK
www.fire.org.uk
The UK Forum of Arson Investigators was established as a practitioners arm of the Arson Prevention Bureau.

Health and Safety Executive: Injuries in the hotel and catering Industry   UK
www.hse.gov.uk/statistics/industry/hotels
UK Health and Safety Executive Key factsheet on injuries with the hotel and catering industry reported to local authorities 1994/5 to 1998/99.

Health and Safety Executive: Manual handling in the catering industry UK
www.hse.gov.uk/cais13.pdf
Health and Safety Executive publication on manual handling. Almost a fifth of reportable accidents to people working in the catering industry are caused by manual handling. However, injury statistics are likely to be a gross underestimates. A list of further reading on manual handling and work-related upper limb disorders is included in this information sheet.

Health and Safety Executive: Pregnant women UK
www.hse.gov.uk/mothers
Health and Safety Executive website covers guidance and advice for new and expectant mothers.

Union web site UK
www.UNIONREPS.org.uk
New web portal for union reps and stewards. News, resources, and networking

USA

Environmental Health Center: Asbestos   USA
www.nsc.org/ehc/indoor/asbestos.htm
National Safety Council Environmental Health Center Asbestos information with links to the US Environmental Protection Agency asbestos information.

DIARY OF EVENTS

1-2 September 2003 - Fault Tree Analysis (FTA): two day training course
Randberg, South Africa
Contact: Bureau for International Risk Assessments (Pty) Ltd | Tel: +27 (0) 11 768 7832 | Fax: +27 (0)11 764 1329 | Email: hester@bira.co.za | www.bira.co.za

19 - 23 October 2003 - Fifth International Symposium, The Future of Rural Peoples, Rural Economy, Healthy People, Environment, Rural Communities
Delta Bessborough Hotel, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada
Contact: Fifth International Symposium, 103 Hospital Drive, P.O. Box 120 R.U.H., Saskatoon, SK S7N 0W8 Canada | Tel: +1 306 966-7888| Fax: + 1 306 966 8378 | Email: symposium2003@usask.ca| http://iareh.usask.ca

19 - 21 September 2003 - How can the human work be developed and improved?
LO-skolen, Elsinore, Denmark
Contact: EWHN/AAA, c/o Dansk El-forbund, Tikoebgade 9, 2200 København N, Denmark | Tel: +45 3586 5005 or mobile +45 3616 6043/44 | Email: ewhn@work-hazards.dk | www.work-hazards.dk

20-25 October 2003 - Advanced Risk Assessment (ARA): training course
Randberg, South Africa
Contact: Bureau for International Risk Assessments (Pty) Ltd, | Tel: +27 (0) 11 768 7832 | Fax: +27 (0)11 764 1329 | Email: hester@bira.co.za | www.bira.co.za

22 - 24 October 2003 - IV Congreso Español de Medicina y Enfermería del Trabajo.
Barcelona, Spain
Contact: Dra. Ruth Ripoll, Dra. Nuria Valles and Dra. Pilar Varela Societat Caltalana de Seguretat i Medicina del Treball | www.semst.org

30 October 2003 - 4th Annual Behavioural Safety User Conference
Manchester Conference Centre, Barcelona, Manchester, UK
Contact: Ryder-Marsh (Safety) Ltd, 62 Beech Road, Chorlton, Manchester M21 9EG, UK | Tel: +44 (0) 161 881 8471 | Fax: +44 (0)161 862 9514 | Email: userconf@rydermarsh.co.uk | www.rydermarsh.co.uk

2004

7 - 9 April 2004 - Ergonoma/ConfoSeat 2004: 2nd European Tradeshow on Workplace and Work situation Ergonomics
Espace Rogier Brussels, Belgium
Contact: A.M.T. Europe Pansy Shell Communication, 105 rue de l'abbé Groult, F-75015 Paris France | Tel: +33 (0) 2 37 44 04 60 | Fax: +33 (0)2 37 44 0450 | Email: info@confoseat.com | www.confoseat.com

5-7 May 2004 - 3rd PREVENTA 2004: Save money with occupational safety and health
Dornbirn, Austria (border Germany, Switzerland, Lichtenstein and Austria.)
Contact: Bundesarbeitsgemeinschaft fur Sicherheit und Gesundheit bei der Arbeit (BASI) e.V. Alte Heerstr. 111, 53757 Sank Augustin, Germany |Tel: +43 (0)5572 305 0 | Fax: +43(0) 5572 305 311 | Email: service@dornbirnermesse.at

16-18 June 2004 - X2004- Exposure Assessment in a Changing Environment
Utrecht, The Netherlands
Contact: Institute of Risk Assessment Sciences of Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands | www.iras.uu.nl

2005

25-27 January 2005 - International Conference on Occupational Health Services 2004
Marina Congress Center, Helsinki, Finland
Contact: Ms. Taina Pääkkönen, OHS2005 Secretariat, Finnish Institute of Occupational Health Topeliuksenkatu 41 a A, FIN 00250 Helsinki, Finland. | Tel: +358 9 4747 2910 | Fax: +358 9 2413 804 | Email: tania.paakkonen@ttl.fi

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