CIS Newsletter

No. 171
December 2003

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

Contents

  1. Editorial
  2. News from Geneva, EU & Dangerous substances
  3. Future Perfect? Aiming for a Healthier and Safety European Workscene
  4. CEFIC launches new chemistry website
  5. News from Kenya, UK, ISO, OAS and elsewhere
  6. OSHE web sites to explore
  7. Diary of Events

Seasons Greetings to CIS Colleagues everywhere

Editorial

Dear CIS Colleagues

Festive Greetings to everyone, wherever you are. In many parts of this World of ours there will be celebrations of Christmas. To everyone, may I extend the warmest of good wishes to you, your colleagues and your families at this very special and happy time of the year. I hope you enjoy the festivities.

Whilst this is usually a joyful season for families and friends we must also remember those families around the world where there will be that missing family member, who, because of recent very sad incidents, accidents and workplace ill health problems will not be present.

As always, it has been an exciting and very fast year, and now we look forward to 2004 with all its challenges and opportunities ahead for us to help improve the knowledge of all workers through disseminating validated and authoritative information, which at all times, should be timely and presented in usable formats.

There is news from CIS HQ Geneva, Emmert Clevenstine who sends greetings and some good news. Emmert hopes to have news soon regarding the location and date of the 2004 annual meeting.

I hope that it has been good year for you and your Centre and that you have achieved all the objectives you set for the year! You will interested to read in this edition the various pieces of news from around the world. I am very aware that when compiling this newsletter there are still Centres who do not have computer equipment, email facilities and FULL Internet accessibility.

So I try to achieve a balance of information which will suit all parties. Those who have not access may wish to contact their main universities information and library services who will have access to the Internet and will surely be willing to help you.

We should all make greater efforts in our own country to promote CIS activities and products and try to get some of the income streams back for CIS.

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! It is amazing how much the CIS Newsletter content gets re-used around the world.

You know I welcome ideas for inclusion in the future editions of this Newsletter. Let me know if there are any areas you would wish to see covered in future.

A number of individuals and organisations have let me know that wish to receive the Newsletter by email.... just let me know and I will send it. And remember the back issues on available at the click of the mouse on www.sheilapantry.com/cis. You are also reminded that the many interesting presentations given at this

year's CIS Meeting in London are also available in full in the June 2003 edition. Please note that my new email.

Best wishes to you and your colleagues.

Sheila Pantry, OBE
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 Geneva

Emmert Clevenstine writes:

Dear CIS Colleagues

(1) CIS mandated for another two years

On Friday 21 November, the Governing Body of the ILO accepted the recommendation of the Programme, Finance and Administrative Committee that the CIS be authorized for the 2004-05 biennium. The Centres network is considered one of the best things the CIS has to offer the world, so the GB was willing to see us reduce our commitment to earning money in order to leave us more time for real networking, listening to what people want in OSH information and improving our product line. The 2004-06 programme and budget text is on the Web at http://www.ilo.org/public/english/standards/relm/gb/docs/gb288/pdf/pfa-5-1.pdf, and the record of the discussion is at www.ilo.org/public/english/standards/relm/gb/docs/gb288/pdf/gb-9-1.pdf.

(2) Status of Regional Centre recognized

The participation of the ILO's Regional Expert for the Arab States, Dr. Nabil Watfa, in this May's Centres meeting has been followed by a request from the Arab Labour Office to recognize the Arab Occupational Health and Safety Institute in Damascus as a CIS Centre. The AOHSI has all the qualities of a National Centre, but its being associated with an intergovernmental organization makes the term inaccurate, so CIS has redrafted its statement of relations with Centres to include the concept of a Regional Centre. This also responds to the wish expressed in June by Dr. Zulmiar Yanri to have ASEAN OSHNET www.aseanoshnet.org recognized as a CIS Centre. We look forward to finalizing the exchange of correspondence that will bring these institutions into the network.

European Union committed to promoting the safe use of dangerous substances

Euskalduna Conference Centre, Bilbao, Spain, 24 November 2003 news:

Representatives of the European Commission, EU Presidency, social partners and industry agree to intensify their efforts to promote the safe use of dangerous substances at work and stress the importance of clear communication especially to users in small and medium-sized enterprises.

Dangerous substances are found in nearly all workplaces. Across the EU 28 million workers inhale fumes and vapours for at least a quarter of their working time, while between 6 and 9 million people are exposed to biological agents at work. Skin complaints, lung disorders and cancers are just some of the risks.

As part of a Europe-wide campaign to tackle this problem, the Italian Presidency of the EU and the European Agency for Safety and Health at Work organised a major European conference, Working with dangerous substances: the European policy challenge. Key conclusions emerging from the conference included:

Key speakers at the colloquium included Roberto Maroni, Italian Minister for Labour and Social Affairs, Odile Quintin, Director General of the European Commission's DG Employment and Social Affairs and senior representatives of the Economic and Social Committee and European social partners.

Commenting on the outcome of the Closing Event, the Agency's director Hans-Horst Konkolewsky commented: "Thanks to the strong commitment and active involvement of national authorities, social partners and companies, the Agency's campaign on dangerous substances at work has succeeded in focusing attention on one of the most important potential health risks across the European Union. I am very pleased with the outcome of the Closing Event, as both the political decision makers and industry agreed a number of important steps to further promote the safe handling of dangerous substances at work."

Further information on the closing event and the European Week 2003 can be found at http://osha.europa.eu/ew2003/

A comprehensive press pack on the Agency's campaign on dangerous substances at work is available at http://osha.europa.eu/ew2003/presspack/

European Week reports and fact sheets are available in the 'information resources' section of the European Week website at http://osha.europa.eu/ew2003/

European Agency for Safety and Health at Work, Gran Via 33, E-48009 Bilbao, Spain | Email: information@osha.eu.int | Fax: +34 94 479 4383

Future Perfect? Aiming for a Healthier and Safer European Workscene

The European Commission's Adapting to change in work and society: a new Community Strategy on health and safety at work 2002-2006 was the driver behind the EurOhse2003 Conference held at the beginning of November 2003 at the Royal National Hotel, Russell Square, London, UK.

Over the two days, sixteen eminent speakers with backgrounds in government, industry, research and education discussed all aspects of occupational health, safety, fire safety, road safety environment, researching for tomorrow's workplace, training, enabling the disabled in the workplace, corporate killing, and the roles of the social partners in securing a healthier and safer workplace.

The conference provided key points for future activities for all those responsible for securing good standards of occupational safety and health (OSH). A number of CIS Members were present at the conference from countries such as Japan, Hong Kong, USA and Europe.

Dr Jaume Costa from the European Commission DG Employment and Social Affairs was the keynote speaker looked at the various reasons for the Community Strategy on Health and Safety at Work and gave some grim figures from the European workscene. Annually, there are over 5,500 fatal accidents, 150 million working days lost per year resulting from accidents, 350,000 people have been forced to change jobs due to workplace accidents, nearly 300,000 people have various degrees of permanent disability, 15,000 are entirely excluded from the world of work, 32 million workers exposed to occupational carcinogens, 33% of workers suffer from backache and 28% from stress.

The main aim of the strategy is to reduce the current unacceptable toll of occupational accidents and diseases, promote well-being at work by using a combination of traditional and innovative instruments at EU and national level.

A global approach would include: better application of existing law using prevention services, inspection activities, protection of young worker and administrative and penal sanctions. Main streaming the gender dimension into risk evaluation; prevention of psychosocial risks, stress, harassment and violence. Also enhancing prevention of occupational illnesses: priority to asbestos, hearing and musculoskeletal problems.

Hans-Horst Konkolewsky, Director, European Agency for Safety and Health at Work, Bilbao, Spain 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. The asbestos theme was included in the European Week 2003 and will continue into 2004 when the European Week theme is on Construction. Hearing loss will be covered in the 2005 European Week and Young workers in 2006 with ageing workers in 2006/7. Strengthening the prevention culture will include training and education, bringing good safety and health to the classroom.

The sectoral activities will prioritise on fishing, agriculture, construction, health and social services, education, metal industry and transport. The mainstreaming OSH into other Community policies includes the disabled policy, gender, chemical, small and medium enterprises. Another important area is the integration of candidate countries into the EU - setting up national information points in each country, developing arrangements for exchange of experience and access to knowledge and results of Community research.

The European Agency has an active collaboration with the International Labour Office, the World Health Organisation, EFTA countries and other third countries such as the USA, Canada and Australia.

Paul Huijzendveld, Vice President, International Association of Labour Inspection (IALI) and General Director of the Arbeidsinspectie, Netherlands, spoke about the future work of inspectorates in Europe from IALI viewpoint. With risk assessment as the basis, inspectors will be focusing their attention on the "new" risks: repetitive strain injuries, low back pains/heavy lifting, work stress, sexual harassment, aggression and violence, mobbing and bullying, discrimination, and excessive working times. The "old" risks remain and inspectors will still be paying attention to major hazards, construction: falling from heights, railways, toxic substances including asbestos, dangerous machinery, aggression/criminality. There will be new approaches: checking that the OSH management systems are in place and looking for evidence of workplace policies and their effectiveness - internal control systems, education and training of workers, internal guidance and information, purchasing of equipment and its maintenance. New instruments will include guidance and information, advisory structures, network interventions, covenants, promoting compliance, cost and benefits of good health and safety in the workplace, and of course enforcement.

In future inspectorates should seek to achieve a balance between advice and prevention but have the independency, integrity and reliability that will give confidence to employers and employees alike.

Dr Jukka Takala, Director InFocus Programme SafeWork, International Labour Office (ILO), Switzerland looked a whole range of international occupational safety and health problems and the effects on the European workplace. The ILO estimates that worldwide there are over 2 million work-related deaths per year. He spoke about the need to move from control to prevention and then onto development, interacting and specialising as necessary. As Europe consists largely of small and medium enterprises, sound predictive methods and safety work tools for practitioners and others to use should be developed. There should be the application of enhanced and modern inspection methods. The ILO has over the years developed a whole range of Conventions, systems, publications, indicators and promotion programmes such as the elimination of the worst form of child labour. We should look for more research-based evidence and find solutions as we respond to new hazards and threats as the Europe enlarges it should be a Safe Europe.

Marc Sapir was the Founder and has been Director of the European Trade Union Technical Bureau (TUTB) 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 Luxembourg, European Agency in Bilbao. Marc spoke about the role of the unions in Europe working together to secure a healthier and safer Europe for future generations. The TUTB has had many successes in the past but has re-launched itself based on experience to-date. From the Trade unions point of view the strategy has a lack of concrete proposals for prevention services and labour inspection. There are loopholes for the self-employed and domestics who have precarious labour contracts and health and safety environments. Also the compensation procedure and declaration of occupational diseases with the environment are not in the strategy and need to be addressed. The unions note that there is a lack of human and financial resources and question the future role of the advisory committee including the reduction in membership. Marc Sapir emphasised the capacity of trade unions to formulate joint demands and bring experiences that will be crucial and central. They would also like to see more equal application of directives and their improvement and would also like to see addressed the unsustainable work pattern.

Dr. Janet L. Asherson Confederation of British Industries, Head of Environmental Affairs where her policy areas cover health, safety, environment, energy and biotechnology. She is currently Employers' Chairperson and Member of the European Commission Advisory Committee on Safety, Hygiene and Health Protection at Work. In this capacity Janet spoke about European Business working together to secure a healthier and safer workplace. She looked at the global picture for health and safety under three areas: sustainable development; corporate social responsibility and beyond health and safety. Followed up by the current big picture in Europe with enlargement, completing the internal market - achieving a level playing field. She looked at what businesses are all about, especially in the changing world of business and the current lead issues. Other areas discussed: how business influences Europe, partners in policy making, trends in European health and safety including Directive Fatigue, the objectives of the EU Strategy paper, targets, actions and the opportunities, threats and challenges.

Dennis Davis OBE, HM Chief Inspector of Fire Services for Scotland, HM Fire Service Inspectorate. 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. Ensuring that fire safety is high on the European agenda and the implications for tomorrow's workforce. was Dennis's theme; he examined at a number of key questions: What safety improvements do the trends and approach show about Europe? How effective is the current structure, actions and direction within the European Commission at enhancing fire safety? In an expanding Europe will the existing methods be sufficient? If change is requires what might it look like? Dennis presented figures that looked at the economic cost of fire, number of known fire deaths and major disasters over the past few years in Europe. He then went on to examine fire issues that included: risk/data/assessment/management, research, fire prevention and life safety, fire service management, fire legislation, citizen and business well-being, economic prosperity, standards/people/products and premises and the environment - both built and natural, European Community major threats that include arson, vandalism, disorder and terrorism. The current situation where fire responsibility is spread across widely across the European Commission organisation including Civil Protection and weaknesses in this approach. He concluded with 4 steps to meet our collective responsibility of making Europe safer from fire: Recognise National perspectives; Agree Common Aims; Accept a collective responsibility; and Define the subject of fire in an European Union context.

Dr Margaret Samuel, Group Occupational Physician to EDF Energy. She is formerly Senior Employment Medical Adviser for north London at the UK Health and Safety Executive (HSE), and spoke on fitness for work - including the ageing workers, the new risk industries, new ways of working including the 24:7 workforce.

Margaret looked at the range of options from prevention, ensuring the installation and maintenance of occupational health risk management systems, the cost of managing occupational health (OH), pre-employment, pre-placement and post sickness OH advice, the most common disability in the workplace - back pain, active rehabilitation and treatment programmes including education for stress, mental illness, bullying and harassment, employee support programmes and regular occupational health reviews.

'Researching for a better future' was the theme for the morning of Day 2 of the conference and a number of speakers looked at a range of research from a number of angles.

Willy Buschak, Acting Director, European Foundation for the Improvement of Living and Working Conditions, Dublin, Ireland talked about the trends and problems for tomorrow's workforce in Europe. He examined the results of the Foundation's research and surveys and presented figures on status and working conditions, jobs that involved learning new things, working at high speed or to tight deadlines and the health problems related to working at very high speed. He listed many reasons for work intensification such as less tolerance to more complex work, leaner work organisations, staff reductions, application of new technologies and reduction in working hours (for some countries). Work-related health problems include backache, overall fatigue, stress, headaches and musculoskeletal disorders, plus noise and manual handling. Willy stressed that gender segregation and discrimination remains, but in the candidate countries less differences. Other results show that half of all employees want to reduce the working week by an average of about 10%; with over 20% wanting a three months sabbatical without pay.

Willy Buschak concluded that there are many challenges ahead for Europe: for occupational health policies in that the traditional systems based on the rule/control/penalty mechanism have reached the limits of their effectiveness; that internal control systems are increasingly important; that there should be a multidisciplinary approach to OH i.e. medical-ergonomic-technical and organisational and a major challenge for the future organisation of working time. If these are addressed then there will be a better future for tomorrow's workforce.

Dr Vern Putz Anderson, Chief Information Resources Branch, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), Cincinnati, USA spoke about the research and prevention programmes that NIOSH has carried out and also future programmes. NIOSH's mission is to provide leadership in research to prevent work-related illness, injury, disability and death. Vern presented the US workplace statistics where every day 9,000 US workers sustain disabling injuries, 16 die from a work injury and 137 die from work-related illnesses with the resulting economic burden to all - families, business and the country. He then examined the strategic goals of the National Occupational Research agenda where the focus is on the high-risk sectors of mining, agriculture, construction and health care. He looked at the various prevention and recommendations, information and capacity building, training of occupational safety and health professionals and gave a case study on the health effects of occupational exposure to asphalt and how the partnership approach of reducing problems can really work.

Vern Anderson emphasised that NIOSH is a research institute that acts when possible through collaborative partnership effort. NIOSH produce many products, including a range of electronically held publications which are available to everyone in the world and that their recommendations based on science are intended to improve worker safety and health everywhere.

Don Litten, Head of the European Integrated Pollution and Prevention Control (IPPC) Bureau, European Commission, Joint Research Centre, Institute for Prospective Technological Studies, Sevilla, Spain spoke about the future of integrated pollution and prevention control of the environment in Europe and how it affects the workplace. Don examined the European Council Directive 96/61/EC and its implications, how the exchange of information is undertaken from evidence collected worldwide. He explained how operating permits for industry with conditions that are based on "best available techniques" - BAT and that provides for an exchange of information. Every three years the Commission publishes the results of the exchanges of information in a series of BAT reference documents (BREFs) that are available electronically. Don looked at the obligations of the operator and noted a range of areas that are not compromised by BAT including risk of industrial accidents; food safety and workplace atmosphere quality. He noted that there is a global interest in the results (BREFs) and that the EU seemingly unique in setting up mechanisms to identify best available techniques with stakeholders and disseminate the results.

The last presentation of the morning on the theme of "Researching for a Better Future" was a joint presentation given by Jane Paul, TUC consultant on health and safety partnerships and Dr John Kingston, Chair of the Noordwijk Risk Initiative Foundation. Their talk was on "Putting the 'H' into Health in the workplace" in which by using accident investigation techniques and applying them to disease in the workplace can be successful. They clarified the relevance of investigation to OH; looked at accidents and occupational ill-health problems as messages from the shop floor; the need for interpretation and response to messages and the importance of a participative, inclusive, team approach. They looked at how learning can be achieved in the single and double loop, showed how accident investigation tasks and tools apply in occupational health settings. The speakers warned about the danger of defensive reactions and other obstacles to learning. They noted that investigation is a response to messages from the shop-floor with explicit and implicit expectations and discussed what the role of investigation is all about and they stated that much good practice and useful tools in accident investigation can be applied without modification to occupational health settings. They went through a simple model of investigation: the What? How? When? and explained the analytical tasks including developing hypotheses, controls and barriers, context and choice of tools that can be applied to OH investigations.

Their concluding remarks on Investigation of occupational health problems can...

Investigative tools are useful, but necessary to...

The afternoon of day looked at a range of topics currently occupying many people in the European workplace. Training and education in occupational health and safety of tomorrow's workforce is extremely important and Professor Matti Ylikoski spoke on this subject. He is the Director of the Training Centre on Occupational Health, Finnish Institute of Occupational Health (FIOH) and looked at the challenges to training and competencies in occupational safety and health (OSH) against a background of turbulent global economy, new technology and new production, ageing workforce and challenges to work ability. Matti noted that there is increased vulnerability - increase in small and medium enterprises; work and family life in competition, females and workers in the reproductive age, young and elderly people, handicapped and people with chronic diseases, unemployed and insufficiently trained. He looked at the employment patterns in the old and new economies and the effects on people, including: causes of sickness absence (>3 days) musculoskeletal sickness absence and sickness absence due to trauma. He looked forward to the next 10-20 years and the changes in age structure, the need for transfer of knowledge and training and the impact of work on the health of workers. He concluded that there must be investments made on OSH training to promote both the individual worker's health and the success of the enterprise. Future OSH Training strategies must cover the change from control-orientation towards the development and promotion approach; from risk assessment to predictive assessment, involving all competencies and professionals; multidisciplinary collaboration with pupils, students, workers, foremen, human resources managers, chief executives and all other decision makers, thus to mainstream and to integrate OSH into everyday in "real time". OSH into the

Roger Bibbings, Occupational Safety Advisor, The Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents spoke on the management of road risk and the implications for both management and the drivers. Those at risk include: Commercial vehicle drivers, Sales staff, Service engineers, Delivery workers, Social workers, Emergency services, local authority staff, Bus and coach drivers and passengers, Voluntary workers, Motorcycle couriers, Pizza delivery riders, Police, Paramedics, Government officials, Teachers, Vehicle recovery staff, Health workers, At-work pedestrians in fact anyone on the road as part of their job! Roger looked at the levels of occupational risk comparing a number of high rate sectors e.g. the annual average probability of occupational fatality in the construction industry was 1 in 12,600, whereas car driving 25,000 miles per year would be 1 in 8,000. He explained the Management of Road Risk (MORR) initiatives and key recommendations of the UK Government's independent Work Related Road Safety Task Group is that employers should manage risk on the rod as part of health and safety; that there should be a major campaign to raise awareness, that there should be revisions to the statistics collected and that further research into prevalence, causation, costs and preventability should be undertaken. Above all organisations should preferably look at risk control through a multipronged attack - eliminate- reduce-isolate-control and adapt and that everybody in this changing world of work must Think Road Safety at Work.

Terry Fahy Human Resource Manager, Gandon Enterprises, Dublin, Project Director, Access Ability spoke about enabling the disabled: what can be done. especially in 2003 which is the European Year of the Disabled. She gave an overview of Gandon Enterprises and presented their unique integrated employment model for people with disabilities. At Gandon people with disabilities work as equals alongside their non-disabled colleagues. They receive equal pay for equal work and the same rights as anybody in open employment. Terry discussed what is a disability and various models of disability and she also gave three main reasons and answers for employers concerns: insurance costs, adaptation costs and health and safety. Profiles of three employees were presented and the solutions and accommodations that have been made were discussed to help them become successful, safe and healthy workers. These solutions included: vary the job and the task, flexi-time accommodation, the Buddy system, specific awareness training and also for fellow workers. She also gave examples of internationally known successful people with known disabilities. Terry concluded that all companies should develop a safety culture where is safe for all employees to work. By accommodating some, all benefit. Where there are practical barriers there are usually practical solutions that need not be difficult or expensive, and above all consultation, common sense and a little imagination helps. Her final message was "Remember, because of their disability, some people with a disability can be more safety conscious than their fellow employees".

The last, but no means least speaker of the conference who held the audience to the end was Mike Welham, who is a leading authority on corporate and individual manslaughter. 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. Mike spoke on the corporate manslaughter /corporate killing. He cited a number of cases and showed that enquiries into numerous disasters and fatal accidents have identified Management Failure as a root cause and caused public opinion to seek senior management accountability. He presented four successful corporate manslaughter cases over the past few years and the reasons why successful. He also gave examples where individuals whose acts of negligence caused death are receiving custodial sentences.

Corporate killing is where management failure in the way activities are managed or organised fail to ensure health and safety of persons employed or affected by those activities and that the failure is the cause of the person's death. Mike explained that in addition to the new corporate offence, individuals who can be 'identified' will still be charges of Gross Negligence Manslaughter. There is a new UK Government Protocol for liaison involving the Health and Safety Executive, Police, Crown Prosecution Service, Rail Police and Local Authorities who can carry out a joint investigation of workplace fatal accidents where there could be potential manslaughter offences.

Mike Welham warned that organisations must be Proactive should be aware of the implications of new corporate killing legislation. They must be forward thinking and concentrating on formulating and implementing measures and procedures to effectively manage health and safety. If they do nothing this cold mean financial loss, significant fines, loss of key personnel, damage to corporate identity and loss of the entire organisation and potential custodial sentences. He saw a potential problem in that directors may not be willing to hold office if there is a personal threat of manslaughter charges. The UK Health and Safety Commission guidance is that Directors have responsibilities for health and safety and that every board to appoint one of their number as a health and safety director, but the proposed Company Directors' (Health and Safety) Bill is to make it law that undertakings must appoint one of its directors as the health and safety director. The UK Government has stated that details of the new offence to be announced in the Autumn 2003.

The conference sessions were very ably chaired by
Dr Brian Kellard, Executive Director, Croners CCH Group Ltd sponsors of the EurOhse2003 conference
John Howard OBE, Director of Safety Policy, The Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents
Dr Sylvia Wood who was Deputy Director General of the Irish Health and Safety Authority for the last five years before her retirement in November 2002.
Professor Peter Waterhouse, 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.

EurOhse2003 Conference was jointly 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 magazine and weekly EurOhs electronic newsletter.

Already EurOhse2004 Conference is being planned.... www.eurohse2004.com contains the PowerPoint presentations of EurOhse2003 conference

Don't miss EurOhse2004!

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.eurohse2004.com

Cefic launches new website on wonders of chemistry

A new educational resource (www.chemistryandyou.org) has been launched by the European Chemical Industry Council (Cefic) to raise interest in chemistry among young people. This website shows the overwhelming benefits chemistry brings to our daily lives. Whoever we are, wherever we live chemistry is present in everything we do, improving our lifestyle and the world about us.

The website has been specially tailored to be attractive to young people, while meeting secondary school needs. It is being promoted among some 30,000 schools across Europe.

Alain Perroy, Cefic Director General, says, "Chemistry is all around us - in our mobile phones, in our homes, in our cars - and yet people are often not even aware of it. To young people chemistry may seem like a world of abstract symbols and equations, yet it is in reality a world of very concrete objects that make our lives safer, more comfortable, and more pleasurable".

For more information on the European Chemical Industry Council, visit www.cefic.org.

NEWS FROM KENYA

Frank Murchuri writes to say that the CIS Centre in Kenya has been very active and revitalised. We have been receiving the CIS Newsletters. At present I am working on a short-term contract with the ILO in Addis Abada.

UK HSE PUBLISHES UPDATED GUIDANCE ON DUST EXPLOSIONS

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has published fully revised and updated guidance aimed at industries dealing with combustible dusts, informing them of the safest way of handling them.

Safe Handling of Combustible Dusts seeks to lower the risk of a dust explosion, present in industries such as food production (sugar, flour, custard powder), animal feed production and places handling sawdust, many organic chemicals, plastics, metal powders and coal.

The booklet is targeted at those who operate plants handling dusts which can explode. It describes in simple language the tests used on dusts to assess their explosive properties, the precautions used to control the risks and an outline of the health and safety law that applies.

Dust explosions occur when fine materials are disbursed to a certain concentration and an effective ignition source is present. If dust deposits around premises form a cloud an initial small explosion is often followed by a much larger one. Much can be done at the design stage to prevent such explosions, but some risks usually remain. There are many ongoing precautions that need to be followed by those who work in the plant. These are outlined in the booklet.

The booklet takes account of European Directive 99/92/EC on the Protection of Workers Potentially at Risk from Explosive Atmospheres (The ATEX Directive) which is implemented in the UK by the Dangerous Substances and Explosive Atmospheres Regulations. In particular, the guidance describes how the requirement for hazardous area classification, brought in by the Regulations, applies to dust handling plants, and explains which types of new equipment need to be 'ATEX compliant' i.e. be properly marked after undergoing specified tests and checks for their use in hazardous areas.

The Dangerous Substances and Explosive Atmospheres Regulations (DSEAR) (SI No. 2776/2002) introduce for the first time a requirement for hazardous area classification, and certification of some types of equipment used where there is an explosion risk.

Four technical approved codes of practice and guidance for the Regulations have recently been published. These are: L134 'Design of plant, equipment and workplaces'; L135 'Storage of dangerous substances'; L136 'Control and mitigation measures'; and L137 'Safe maintenance repair and cleaning procedures'. A fifth general ACOP is due to be published in December.

The ATEX Directive was implemented by DSEAR, which came into force on 8 December 2002. ATEX based requirements did not come into force into effect until 1 July 2003. The Directive establishes minimum requirements for the protection of workers potentially at risk from explosive atmospheres.

Copies of 'Safe handling of combustible dusts: precautions against explosions' HSG103, ISBN 0 7176 2726 8, price £10.95 are available from HSE Books, PO Box 1999, Sudbury, Suffolk, CO10 2WA | Tel: +44 (0)1787-881165 | Fax: +44 (0)1787-313995

Employers Warned over Aptitude Test Discrimination

Over half of employers could be unconsciously risking claims of discrimination through their careless use of aptitude tests during the recruitment process, reveals a new survey by Croner, one of the UK's leading supplier of business information, advice and support.

Fifty-three per cent of HR professionals surveyed on Croner's www.humanresources-centre.net use aptitude tests as part of their recruitment process.

Before setting the test, employers should consider factors that may affect its outcome, such as whether the applicant has any physical disabilities, hearing problems, or dyslexia, and whether English is their first language. Otherwise, the results may unfairly reflect the ability of the candidate and their suitability for the job.

If companies do not adapt their tests to potential employees' particular needs, they could be liable for compensation claims for lost wages and injury to feelings.

Richard Smith, consultant and expert on employment law at Croner, says: "Employers are using an increasingly diverse range of methods to select the right people for their companies, and aptitude tests are becoming progressively more common, which is reflected in our survey.

"However, employers using these tests can't adopt a 'one size fits all' approach - and could be heading for trouble if they do.

"If someone was proven to be unfairly denied a job, compensation awarded would be based on the net salary figure, plus up to £20,000 for injury to feelings, depending on the particular case.

"Simply asking right at the start of the recruitment process, whether in the initial advertisement, on application forms or at the start of an interview, is the easiest and most obvious way of identifying any special requirements that applicants have, but it's a step that can often be forgotten.

"A crucial part of any recruitment process has to be finding out as much about an applicant as early as possible, so firms can get a good idea straight away if the person might be suitable. If this process is being carried out properly, applicants' individual needs should be easily identified and addressed.

"Using properly accredited aptitude tests excludes any unwitting cultural bias and ensures that candidates of different races are treated equally. Dyslexic applicants can be given extra time to read and complete tests, whilst the necessary facilities need to be provided on request for applicants with physical disabilities.

"Aptitude tests can be very useful, but aren't the be-all-and-end-all of the recruitment process. Personally assessing potential employees is the only way for managers to see whether an applicant is suitable for both the position and the company, to evaluate their individual qualities and to ensure that the recruitment process is carried out fairly."

Croner's Recruitment Manager (incorporating Recruitment, Selection and Induction) manages and controls recruitment administration and provides support with comprehensive and up-to-date recruitment information, including legal considerations and recruitment policies and procedures. It is available in loose-leaf, CD-ROM and online format with a dedicated Business Support helpline, priced at £432.21 + VAT.

www.humanresources-centre.net

EXPERTS ADVISE UK COMPANIES TO UPDATE POLICY IN ADVANCE OF NEW MOBILE PHONE LEGISLATION

RiskSmart unveils FREE online solution that enables businesses to quickly put a mobile phone policy in place. RiskSmart, a leading provider of online risk assessment solutions, has launched free mobile phone policy templates within its online Health and Safety compliance solution Health&SafetySmart, (www.healthandsafetysmart.co.uk). The new templates are designed to enable a business to quickly and easily complete a policy document to ensure that it complies with new legislation governing employee use of mobile phones, for the purpose of undertaking company business, whilst driving.

From 1st December 2003 businesses that permit drivers to use hand-held mobile phones whilst driving on their behalf, will be committing a punishable offence under the Road Traffic Act. Present laws governing mobile phone use mean that motorists can only be prosecuted for using hand-held mobiles while driving, if it means that they fail to keep control of their vehicle. Under the new legislation any employee found guilty of using a hand-held mobile phone while driving will face an initial fine of UKP30, rising to a maximum of UKP1000 if the case is brought to court, and three penalty points on their driving licence for each offence.

"There are currently no records available of the number of road accidents caused by the use of mobile phones whilst driving," comments Peter Wilson, MD, RiskSmart. "But, with 70% more cars on the road now than there was in 1976, the health and safety of people driving for the purpose of work must be high priority for businesses."

With this new law employers will have to ensure that they have a policy in place (and communicated to the employees) on the use of mobile phones in vehicles used by their employees in pursuit of their work. Failure to do this could possibly result in the employer being prosecuted (vicarious liability), for the actions of their employees whilst driving company vehicles or on company business. If an accident were to result, causing a fatality or injury the employer could face prosecution as well as possible compensation claims for any resulting loss or injury. It is worth noting that insurance can be proved void if it is established that the accident was the result of using a mobile phone. RiskSmart advises all employers to ensure they carry out a sufficient assessment of the new regulation in respect of the use of mobile phones whilst driving, and inform their staff of the policy or guidelines upon it.

"Every employer has a duty to provide a safe working environment for their employees and this includes driving a company vehicle or driving on behalf of the business. Employers must take all practical measures to ensure the safety of their staff and anyone they come into contact with during the course of their work. It is recommended restricting or prohibiting hands-free phone kits in cars," continues Wilson. "If a policy is in place and an employee subsequently chooses to ignore Company policy and guidelines and uses their phone whilst driving, the employer will not be liable."

The ban will not apply to the use the of hands free mobile phones as yet. But it is hoped a total ban on the use of all mobile phones whilst driving will be implemented in the future. Research has shown that it is not so much the holding of the phone that is a problem, but the actual conversation that is taking place. Variations in speed, driving close to other vehicles, wandering on the roadway and slower reactions, have all been attributed to the use of mobile phones, as the driver's concentration is distracted.

Pricing and Availability

The RiskSmart mobile phone policy templates can be accessed for FREE at www.healthandsafetysmart.co.uk

Health&SafetySmart costs GBP 249 for a twelve-month licence. For the duration of the licence period, companies have access to all assessment results (which can be reviewed and updated as necessary), use of the online accident reporting system, and access to RiskSmart's online health & safety consultants.

RiskSmart regularly sends out briefing notes detailing up-to-the-minute changes in legislation, which are filtered through the profile that the user has completed. This gives the user the opportunity to immediately take action to stay compliant, without needing to constantly monitor Health and Safety legislation changes. Anything important is relayed to the user in 3 quick paragraphs: What happened? What does it mean to the user? What the user needs to do?

For more information please contact RiskSmart on Tel: +44 (0)1438 791300 or www.risksmart.co.uk

Or Contact: Peter Wilson, Risksmart | Tel: +44 (0)1438 791318 | Email: peter.wilson@risksmart.co.uk

About ISO (International Organization for Standardization)

ISO is the world's largest developer of standards. It comprises a network of the national standards institutes of 147 countries, on the basis of one member per country, with a Central Secretariat in Geneva, Switzerland, that coordinates the system. www.iso.ch

About ISO-14000

As a continuation of this standardization process, the ISO-14000 series of international standards have been developed for incorporating environmental aspects into operations and product standards. Similar to the Quality Management System (QMS) implemented for ISO 9001, the ISO14001 requires implementation of an Environmental Management System (EMS) in accordance with defined internationally recognized standards (as set forth in the ISO14001 specification).

European Agency and Organization of American States (OAS) agree to join forces to improve safety and health at work - Online network to cover 34 countries in the Americas

Efforts to improve the safety and health conditions of over 200 million workers in Latin America and the Caribbean have taken a major step forward with the agreement of the OAS' Inter-American Agency for Cooperation and Development (IACD) to join the Agency's online information network.

The joint website will serve as the portal for occupational safety and health (OSH) information and activities in the region and provide direct access to the Agency's extensive European and international information network. At the same time the two organizations have agreed to look at how horizontal cooperation projects could be developed and implemented in the future.

Commenting on the arrangement, the Director of the European Agency, Hans-Horst Konkolewsky, said: "Workplace safety and health is a matter of global concern and geographical barriers should not stand in the way of the flow of information that can raise safety and health standards in workplaces across the world. Through this cooperation arrangement, businesses, workers and experts in Europe and the Americas will be better informed in the future about regulatory demands, new research findings and best practices on both sides of the Atlantic. And therefore be in a better position to meet the safety and health challenges of globalization."

IACD Director General Ronald Scheman, commented: "An exploding labor force, high levels of unemployment and the growing number of workers in the informal sector in many OAS's member countries has seriously affected occupational safety and health conditions. The IACD in coordination with the OAS's Unit for Social Development and Education is committed to assisting member countries to develop good workplace safety and health practices and legislation by identifying successful consolidated programs and transferring experiences and know-how. Our link up with the European Agency provides access to one of the world's largest repositories of OSH information."

Further information: : European Agency for Safety and Health at Work, Gran Via 33, E-48009 Bilbao, Spain | Email: information@osha.eu.int | Tel: + 34 94 479 4360 | Fax: + 34 94 479 4383

e-Office Safety

e-Office Safety is an internet/intranet solution to the Display Screen Equipment Regulations, which affects all users of computer equipment with the European Union (EU). The programme trains the user to work safely in the office environment, alleviating long-term stressors which can in turn cause work-related disorders. Advice is given on all aspects of work as diverse as cleaning the mouse to sitting correctly. This is an ergonomic assessment and training package for computer workstation users. The system interacts directly with the user, adhering to the EU regulations by tackling genuine safety issues with workable solutions.

e-Office Safety also carries out a risk assessment of the workstation, allowing users to highlights problems themselves on which safety personnel can then concentrate. The information is fed into a data management package which is supplied with the system, from this standard reports can be produced.

The system comprises 3 main sections:

e-Office Safety can be run over the Internet or network and can interface will almost any enterprise data management system (SAP, Oracle, PeopleSoft etc). The system can be run online by visiting www.e-officesafety.com

Contact: Emil Reisser-Weston, e-Learning wmb Ltd, The Green, 106 Graham Road, London SW19 3SS, UK | Tel: +44 (0) 20 8715 3470 | Email: emilrw@e-learningwmb.co.uk | www.e-officesafety.com

Asbestos Death Risk Not Yet Under Control - One in Five Firms Unaware of New Regulations Tackling UK's Biggest Occupational Killer

With new asbestos regulations looming, a survey by Croner, one of the UK's leading providers of business information, advice and support, reveals over a quarter of companies have not taken any action to comply.

Approximately half a million non-domestic premises in the UK still contain asbestos, the UK's biggest occupational killer. This means around 130,000 buildings could be representing a serious occupational health risk.

The new Duty to Manage Asbestos Regulations state that anyone with a responsibility for the repair and maintenance of non-domestic premises must take action to reduce the risk from the material, and be able to prove they are doing so.

With only six months left for companies to become fully compliant, Croner polled health and safety mangers registered to its website, asking if they had taken any action to comply.

While over half (63%) said they are acting to reduce the risks from asbestos-related illnesses, 5% have not passed the planning stage, and an alarming 21% are not fully aware of the new duty. Only 11% believe they are completely compliant.

Asbestos is now illegal to use as a building material, but was used extensively from the 1950s to 1980s and was not completely banned until 1999. Anyone who disturbs an asbestos containing material (ACM) can release and inhale its fibres, which can cause fatal and incurable lung cancers and pleural diseases. Asbestos related diseases and deaths are still rising year on year, as the onset of illness ranges from 15 to 60 years since exposure.

In light of the survey results, Trevor Davies, senior health & safety consultant at Croner believes that the UK are long way from eliminating the risk of asbestos related diseases.

Trevor says: "Even though asbestos is no longer used, many premises built before 1999 still contain asbestos, which was commonly used in pipe cladding, insulation, roofing materials and floor tiles.

"If intact and undisturbed, it is not a risk to people working in the building, but it does become a danger when its fibres are released and inhaled. This can occur during maintenance work or repairs when the deteriorated asbestos is disturbed, thus creating dust.

"The Government aims to eliminate asbestos related illness completely and making it illegal was a giant step forward, but the material still represents a serious risk to anyone carrying out repair or maintenance work.

"Under current Control of Asbestos at Work Regulations 2002, employers are required to assess where asbestos may be present and minimise the risk to health, and the danger is that they may think their responsibility ends after a single audit, especially since nearly a quarter of those surveyed admit they are not aware of the new duty.

"The crucial addition under the new regulations is that employers must now keep records to prove they are carrying out regular asbestos risk assessments and are periodically reviewing and monitoring their plan to manage any risks.

"The new regulations are put in place to save lives, and every person with responsibility for a non-domestic structure must comply, or face fines of up to £20,000. In some cases fines can be unlimited, with the possibility of a prison sentence."

HSC PUBLISHES HEALTH AND SAFETY STATISTICS FOR 2002/03

The Health and Safety Commission (HSC) has published the latest statistics on workplace safety, work-related ill-health and enforcement action in Great Britain. Health and Safety Statistics Highlights 2002/03 presents the top-level statistics - including reports on progress against the targets set in the Revitalising Health and Safety strategy - while more detailed data and commentary are available on the HSE website at www.hse.gov.uk/statistics. The Highlights document itself is at www.hse.gov.uk/statistics/overall/hssh0203.pdf

Some sets of statistics have already been released this year: statistics of fatalities for 2002/03 were published in July 2003 in the Statistics of Fatal Injuries 2002/03, available at www.hse.gov.uk/statistics/overall/fatl0203.pdf; and statistics on work-related ill health were published in September 2003 in the Occupational Health Statistics Bulletin 2002/03, available at www.hse.gov.uk/statistics/overall/ohsb0203.pdf

Full details of HSE's enforcement action were released on 5 November 2003 in the Offences and Penalties Report www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/off02-03.pdf

Copies of Health and Safety Statistics Highlights 2002/03 are free and can be ordered from the Safety and Enforcement Statistics Unit, Health and Safety Executive, Room 403, Daniel House, Bootle, Merseyside L20 3TW | Tel: +44 (0)151 951 3864/4600 | Fax: +44 (0)152 951 3827.

The book is also available online at www.hse.gov.uk/statistics/overall/hssh0203.pdf

A paper version of COSHH essentials: easy steps to control chemicals

The paper based version of COSHH essentials: easy steps to control chemicals has been issued to help employers, particularly smaller businesses, control exposure arising from the use of hazardous substances at work.

This relaunch of the earlier risk assessment tool published in May 1999, now includes 70 new control guidance sheets launched on the Internet version of COSHH essentials www.coshh-essentials.org.uk in October 2003, to coincide with European Week on Safety and Health's raising awareness on handling "Dangerous Substances."

The new sheets offer practical solutions for a range of tasks or services in craft bakeries, small flour mills, foundries, motor vehicle repair, rubber making, woodworking and the service and retail sector, for example hairdressers, beauty salons, dry cleaners, embalmers and restaurants.

John Thompson, Head of HSE's Chemicals and Flammables Policy Division said: "While COSHH essentials is already available on the Internet, we recognise the need to give people a choice of format. Some prefer to have a reference copy and others will not have access to the Internet but would like help in controlling chemicals. Putting the advice into practice will help to prevent ill-health including respiratory disease, skin disease and cancer.

"There is a checklist for doing your own assessments and new sheets where this has been done for you. In line with HSC's strategy, the new advice covers three key causes of occupational asthma - isocyanates (vehicle spray painting), flour dust and wood dust."

COSHH essentials: easy steps to control chemicals, ISBN 0 7176 2737 3, Price £30, is now available from HSE Books, PO Box 1999, Sudbury, Suffolk CO10 2WA, UK | Tel: +44 (0)1787 881165 | Fax: +44 (0)1787 313995.

Principles of health and safety at work: back to basics

Sometimes the basics of health and safety are forgotten and it is good to remind everyone at work that they have a responsibility to others to work in a safe and healthy way. New workers are starting out on their working life and need to be instructed, new supervisors and managers also need reminding of their duties to help secure a safe and healthy working environment.

As an introduction to health and safety, Principles of Health and Safety at Work: international edition is widely recognised as the authoritative one-stop summary of basic material. Written by acknowledged safety expert Allan St John Holt, Principles has established itself as the standard introductory text for the trainee health and safety practitioner. The publication also provides an excellent reference source for line managers and supervisors who have day-to-day responsibilities for health and safety at work.

For this third international edition, the author provides coverage of key topics and recognises that good health and safety practice is not merely about achieving legal minimum standards, but seeking improvements on a continuous basis.

The book is in four main parts:

The topics covered range from risk assessment, safe systems of work, training, accident investigations, recording and analysis, techniques of inspection, mechanical and manual handling, working at heights, fire, construction safety to occupational health and hygiene - monitoring, noise and vibration, to radiation and ergonomics. Written and presented in an easy-to-use format, the text has been substantially revised and enlarged to 172 pages since the last edition.

It has useful checklists to remind people of what should be checked etc and there are examples to amplify the text. It should be useful to anyone seeking to improve conditions at work, giving a solid foundation for learning, and an introductory guide to understanding complex topics with ease. There is not much on information sources, but readers linking into portals such as OSHWORLD www.oshworld.com will be swiftly led to a wealth of worldwide validated and authoritative sources.

The new edition will be a useful text for the Institution of Occupational Health and Safety( IOSH) 'Managing Safely' course and a recommended primer for the latest National Examination Board for Occupational Safety and Health ( NEBOSH) International and other Certificate syllabus.*

Principles of Health and Safety at Work: International edition by Allan St John Holt, IOSH, 2003 ISBN 09013 5733 2 is available from Institution of Occupational Health (IOSH), The Grange, Highfield Drive, Wigston, Leicestershire LE18 1NN | Tel: +44 (0)116 257 3100 | Fax: +44 (0)116 257 3101 | www.iosh.co.uk

International Certificate

Those wishing to find out more about the International Certificate can see further details in a presentation given by Dr Sara Lumley at the ILO Health and Safety Centres' Annual Meeting 2003 see www.sheilapantry.com/cis/cis200306.html

or should contact Dr Stephen Vickers, Chief Executive, National Examination Board for Occupational Safety and Health ( NEBOSH), Chief Executive, Dominus Way, Meridian Business Park, Leicester LE19 1QW, UK | Tel: +44 (0) 116 263 4717 | Fax: +44 (0) 116 282 3300 | sv@nebosh.org.uk | www.nebosh.org.uk

OSH-ROM News

For those who have OSH-ROM - arguably the world's best collection of validated and authoritative references to the world's OSH information, the following will be of interest. OSH-ROM includes CISDOC, HSELINE, NIOSHTICS and other databases. If you do not take OSH-ROM - contact the suppliers - Croners to take out a 30-day free trial.

1) OSH-ROM's NIOSHTIC-2 has had a major revamp that firstly involved importing original NIOSHTIC data directly from NIOSH, followed by a clean-up process removing any deleted records and moving any citations, which involved NIOSH funding, into the NIOSHTIC-2 database in line with NIOSH's own NIOSHTIC-2 system.

These records, the majority of which carry extra data in new NIOSHTIC-2 fields, can be found separately with the search ud=200309, along with existing NIOSHTIC-2 records which have been modified since the last update. This modification in the update date helps us differentiate against the search ud=200310 which finds all new records added at the latest update.

The NIOSHTIC-2 database additionally now includes around 12,000 new citations dating from the 1930's to the present from the NIOSH Mining Safety & Health Research Laboratories (formerly the U.S. Bureau of Mines).

The work carried out on OSH-ROM's NIOSHTIC-2 now brings us completely in line with NIOSH's NIOSHTIC-2 system.

2) The migration of the CIS bibliographic database to a new ORACLE database management system has been successfully completed. As a result a reload of CISDOC has been necessary. We have therefore given each record a UD value of 200307 distinguishing it from new records added with this latest update. These new records can be found with the search ud=200310.

On the whole there have been no major changes with the move to a new system, mainly a re-grouping of some of the bibliographic fields. We have however taken the opportunity to improve on the design of our CISDOC database. For full details of what's new, please see the CISDOC guide.

For questions on content or data, please contact the editorial team: SilverPlatter@Croner.CCH.co.uk | Tel: +44 (0)20 8247 1605

For technical support regarding software, please contact: eusupport@ovid.com

European Work Equipment legislation

The complex tangled web of directives, regulations and standards that form the body of European and Irish work equipment legislation are drawn together in one volume by the author John Munro.

Munro, drawing on his skills as an engineer and on years of experience as an expert witness in court cases, answers the many questions that perplex safety practitioners, as they try to untangle the regulatory web that is work equipment law. Any book that deals with CE certification, the Machinery Regulations, the Pressure Equipment Regulations, the Low Voltage Regulations, electromagnetic capability and control systems - and sets these in the context of health and safety legislation and risk assessment - must itself of necessity be complex.

European Work Equipment Legislation 2003 is long (over 600 pages), but for anyone who has to deal with the design, manufacture or purchase of work equipment, it is an essential reference book. Introducing the book, the author sets himself the task of bringing "this large amount of legislation together under one cover", dissecting it and then reproducing it "in a format that the reader can easily digest and put into place within the workplace". How he deals with that self-imposed task can be assessed by considering some of the issues he covers.

Many 'end users' bring machinery into the country specifically for their own use. Munro notes that some end users are of the opinion that if they engage a manufacturer to construct a piece of equipment for their own use, that it is not placed on the market and is therefore exempt from CE certification. They are wrong - it should be CE certified. And for good measure Munro explains that if the equipment is not CE compliant, then in such circumstances the person who first put the equipment into use is responsible for ensuring CE compliance.

Standards

Throughout the text, Munro draws the reader's attention to the relevant standards. Dealing with the compliance requirements of the General Application 1993 Regulations Fifth Schedule, when commenting on paragraph nine (dealing with areas for working on or maintenance of work equipment) he links in standards such as: EN 1837:1999 on lighting for equipment- ISO 292 on the principles of visual ergonomics- EN 292 on the safety of machinery.

Equally usefully, in relation to work equipment parts at high or very low temperatures, which employees must not come into contact with, he says "this speaks for itself in that any surface temperature over 55 degrees is suspect as would any temperature under 2 degrees" be for "fractional contact". In the light of recent reports regarding pending claims, in which it is alleged that workers have suffered injury because of either whole body or hand-arm vibration, the pages on vibration measurement will be of interest to many safety practitioners. This is just one of the health issues covered in the book. Others include noise and radiation. It is now accepted that risk assessment is at the heart of any good safety management system.

Risk Assessment

Munro's chapter on risk assessment again links this statutory requirement to standards, such as EN 954-1:1996 relating to safety parts of control systems. He also deals in detail with eight different types of risk assessment referred to in EN 1050. The chapter on risk assessment contains an invaluable set of sample risk assessments. Indeed one of the valuable features of the book are the many checklists, such as that in Table 10, which lists a wide range of occupations and notes the agent that can cause occupational asthma to those in such occupations.

European Work Equipment Legislation is not a book to sit down and read for a quick overview. Rather, the book is one that any safety practitioner who has to advise on the purchase/acquisition of work equipment should have to hand for reference purposes.

The great value of the book lies in the fact that the author breaks new ground, as he deals comprehensively with a subject that presents difficult and complex issues.

Although written for Work Equipment users in Ireland the book will be useful for anyone who uses, imports or manufactures workplace equipment.

The book is clearly laid out, with tables, flow charts, illustrations and 15 page index. It has 12 chapters under the following headings:

There is a chapter entitled The Technical File that cover Press 60 Tonne, Packaging Machinery, Bending/Forming Machine, Separator Machine and Crimping Machine.

European Work Equipment Legislation 2003, by John Munro
Published by Munro-Scotway & Associates Ltd.
Available from: Munro-Scotway & Associates Ltd, Blackhall, Clane, County Kildare, Ireland | Tel: +353 45 861 282 | Fax: +353 45 861 911 | Email: jgmfirst@eircom.net | www.cecertification.com

OSHE web sites to explore

Department of Transport: Road Safety: Medical aspects of fitness to drive   UK
www.dft.gov.uk/stellent/groups/dft_rdsafety/documents/page/dft_rdsafety_022753.hcsp
Department of Transport Medical aspects of fitness to drive
Part 2: Medical aspects of fitness to drive. Spring 2003 which has some recently completed project summaries.

Driving and Licensing Authority DVLA : Road Safety: Medical aspects of fitness to drive   UK
www.dvla.gov.uk/at_a_glance/content.htm
Driving and Licensing Authority DVLA At a Glance - Contents -advises members of the medical profession on the medical standards which need to be met by individuals to hold licences to drive various categories of

Health and Safety Executive (HSE) and the Department for Transport (DfT): Road Safety   UK
www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/indg382.pdf
Health and Safety Executive (HSE) and the Department for Transport (DfT) have published guidance for employers entitled, ' Driving at Work'.

Health and Safety Executive (HSE): Road Safety   UK
www.hse.gov.uk/roadsafety
Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has published guidance on work-related road safety. Each year about 3,500 people are killed on UK roads and 40,000 are seriously injured. Each one results in terrible pain and suffering. A significant proportion of these deaths and injuries can be connected with work. Accidents involving heavy goods vehicles, buses, company car and van drivers, despatch riders are all examples

Health & Safety Executive: Latex   UK
www.hse.gov.uk/latex
Health & Safety Executive (HSE) specific web page on latex, was prompted by a group of asthma sufferers and will help health care professionals avoid getting occupational asthma from their use of natural rubber latex products. Gives details of latex allergies, the law, publications and links.

Health and Safety Executive: Skin cancer   UK
www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/indg147.pdf
Health and Safety Executive (HSE) INDG147 - Keep your top on: Health risks from working in the sun. A sunny day makes most of us feel good, but too much sunlight can be hard on the SKIN. It is not simply sudden exposure while on holiday that is harmful.

Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents RoSPA : Managing Occupational Road Risk   UK
www.rospa.com
Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents RoSPA has a website devoted to Managing Occupational Road Risk that includes advice and guidance, care on the road, education, training and publications.

Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents RoSPA : Occupational Road Safety Alliance   UK
www.orsa.org.uk
Together with other key players, The UK Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents RoSPA has established the Occupational Road Safety Alliance (ORSA) which now includes some 66 members. The web site links to all the various members websites

National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health NIOSH Filtration and air-cleaning systems to protect building environments from airborne CBRN Attacks   USA
www.cdc.gov/niosh/docs/2003-136/2003-136.html
National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health NIOSH document identifies actions that a building owner or manager can implement without undue delay to enhance occupant protection from an airborne chemical, biological, or radiological attack. This document includes information about: what you can do, specific recommendations, things not to do, physical security, ventilation and filtration, maintenance, administration, and training

National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health NIOSH Protecting Building Ventilation Systems from CBRN Attacks   USA
www.cdc.gov/niosh/bldvent/2002-139.html
National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health NIOSH document provides preventive measures that building owners and managers can implement to protect building air environments from a terrorist release of chemical, biological, or radiological contaminants. This document includes information about: Filtration and Air-Cleaning Principles, specific recommendations economic considerations,

National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health NIOSH Respirators   USA
www.cdc.gov/niosh/npptl/topics/respirators
National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health NIOSH provides an authoritative resource from its key role in testing and certifying respirators for occupational use. In 2003, NIOSH issued a fact sheet in easy-to-read Q&A format for the lay public: What are gas masks, escape hoods, and other types of respirators? How do they work? What are the features, purposes, and limitations of respirators that the user needs to know? NIOSH posted the fact sheet on the web and widely distributed printed copies.

Diary of Events

19-21 January 2004 - Workplace Health Promotion - Practice and Evaluation Part II
The Nordic School of Public Health, Gothenburg, Sweden
Contact: Gunilla Rasi, NIVA, Topeliuksenkatu 41 a A, FIN-00250 Helsinki, FINLAND | Tel: +358 9 4747 2498 | Fax: +358 9 4747 2497 | Email: gunilla.rasi@ttl.fi | www.niva.org

21-26 March 2004 - Age management in the Information Society
Spa Hotel Holiday Club Saariselkä, Lapland, Finland
Contact: Pirjo Turtiainen, NIVA, Topeliuksenkatu 41 a A, FIN-00250 Helsinki, FINLAND | Tel: +358 9 4747 2349 | Fax: +358 9 4747 2497 | Email: pirjo.turtiainen@ttl.fi | www.niva.org

22-26 March 2004 - Ergonomic Intervention Research for Musculoskeletal Health
Hotel Smygehus, Malmö, Sweden
Contact: Gunilla Rasi, NIVA, Topeliuksenkatu 41 a A, FIN-00250 Helsinki, FINLAND | Tel: +358 9 4747 2498 | Fax: +358 9 4747 2497 | Email: gunilla.rasi@ttl.fi | www.niva.org

29-30 March 2004 - National Water Safety Congress 2004: Preventing tragedies. Lessons learned
Hilton West Pier Hotel, Brighton, UK
Contact: RoSPA, Edgbaston Park, 353 Bristol Road, Birmingham B5 7ST, UK | Tel: +44 (0)121 248 2000 | Fax: +44 (0) 870 777 2199 | www.rospa.com

28 April 2004 - World Day of OSH - Occupational Safety and Health
Contact: International Labour Office, Geneva | www.ilo.org

19-23 April 2004 - Modern Statistical Methods in Exposure Assessment and their implications for Research and Practice
Köja Fell Hotel, Edsåsdalen, Sweden
Contact: Gunilla Rasi, NIVA, Topeliuksenkatu 41 a A, FIN-00250 Helsinki, FINLAND | Tel: +358 9 4747 2498 | Fax: +358 9 4747 2497 | Email:gunilla.rasi@ttl.fi | www.niva.org

8-12 May 2004 - Occupational Health Nursing
Søsterhjemmet Hostel, Copenhagen, Denmark
Contact: Annika Barlund, NIVA, Topeliuksenkatu 41 a A, FIN-00250 Helsinki, FINLAND | Tel: +358 9 4747 2333 | Fax: +358 9 4747 2497 | Email: annika.barlund@ttl.fi | www.niva.org

6-10 June 2004 - Occupational Hazards and Reproductive Health
Sunborn Princess Yacht Hotel, Naantali, Finland
Contact: Pirjo Turtiainen, NIVA, Topeliuksenkatu 41 a A, FIN-00250 Helsinki, FINLAND | Tel: +358 9 4747 2349 | Fax: +358 9 4747 2497 | Email: pirjo.turtiainen@ttl.fi | www.niva.org

13-15 June 2004 - Safety Research First week - Accidents and Risks
Toila Sanatorium, Toila and 16-18 June 2004, Park Hotel Palmse, Palmse, Estonia
Second week - Safety Promotion: 6-11 February 2005, Hotel Kasnäs, Kasnäs, Finland
Contact: Pirjo Turtiainen, NIVA, Topeliuksenkatu 41 a A, FIN-00250 Helsinki, FINLAND | Tel: +358 9 4747 2349 | Fax: +358 9 4747 2497 | Email: pirjo.turtiainen@ttl.fi | www.niva.org

16-18 June 2004 - Safety Research week. First week - Accidents and Risks
Park Hotel Palmse, Palmse, Estonia
Contact: Pirjo Turtiainen, NIVA, Topeliuksenkatu 41 a A, FIN-00250 Helsinki, FINLAND | Tel: +358 9 4747 2349 | Fax: +358 9 4747 2497 | Email: pirjo.turtiainen@ttl.fi | www.niva.org

22-27 August 2004 - Somatic effects of physical and mental work
Sunborn Princess Yacht Hotel, Naantali, Finland
Contact: Gunilla Rasi, NIVA, Topeliuksenkatu 41 a A, FIN-00250 Helsinki, FINLAND | Tel: +358 9 4747 2498 | Fax: +358 9 4747 2497 | Email: gunilla.rasi@ttl.fi | www.niva.org

29 August - 2 September 2004 - Methods to Improve the Work Environment in Small-scale Enterprises
Sundvolden Hotel, Krokkleiva, Norway
Contact: Annika Barlund, NIVA, Topeliuksenkatu 41 a A, FIN-00250 Helsinki, FINLAND | Tel: +358 9 4747 2333 | Fax: +358 9 4747 2497 | Email: annika.barlund@ttl.fi | www.niva.org

12-16 September 2004 - Intervention Research: First International Course
Hotel Frederiksdal, Lyngby, Denmark
Contact: Gunilla Rasi, NIVA, Topeliuksenkatu 41 a A, FIN-00250 Helsinki, FINLAND | Tel: +358 9 4747 2498 | Fax: +358 9 4747 2497 | Email: gunilla.rasi@ttl.fi | www.niva.org

21-25 September 2004 - Occupational Indoor Air Problems cause by mouldy buildings
Valamo Monastery, Heinävesi, FinlandContact: Annika Barlund, NIVA, Topeliuksenkatu 41 a A, FIN-00250 Helsinki, FINLAND | Tel: +358 9 4747 2333 | Fax: +358 9 4747 2497 | Email: annika.barlund@ttl.fi | www.niva.org

4-8 October 2004 - The Use of Transgenic Rodent Mutation Assay in testing for genotoxicity : First International Course
National Institute of Occupational Health, Copenhagen, Denmark and also Hotel Gentofte, Copenhagen, Denmark
Contact: Gunilla Rasi, NIVA, Topeliuksenkatu 41 a A, FIN-00250 Helsinki, FINLAND | Tel: +358 9 4747 2498 | Fax: +358 9 4747 2497 | Email: gunilla.rasi@ttl.fi | www.niva.org

7-11 November 2004 - Occupational Skin and Airway Allergies - Exposure, Risk Assessment and Prevention: 4th International course
Hotel Frederiksdal, Lyngby, Denmark
Contact: Gunilla Rasi, NIVA, Topeliuksenkatu 41 a A, FIN-00250 Helsinki, FINLAND | Tel: +358 9 4747 2498 | Fax: +358 9 4747 2497 | Email: gunilla.rasi@ttl.fi | www.niva.org

2005

6-11 February 2005 - Safety Research Second Week - Safety Promotion
Hotel Kasnäs, Kasnäs, Finland
Contact: Pirjo Turtiainen, NIVA, Topeliuksenkatu 41 a A, FIN-00250 Helsinki, FINLAND | Tel: +358 9 4747 2349 | Fax: +358 9 4747 2497 | Email: pirjo.turtiainen@ttl.fi | www.niva.org

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