CIS Newsletter

No. 224
May 2008

CIS Newsletter celebrates 20 years & still going strong!
Bringing news to over 145 countries in the CIS Network!

Contents

  1. Editorial - Meeting and training session of CIS Members in London, 10-11 September 2008 - all are welcome...
  2. News from the CIS HQ
  3. News from around the World - Australia, Belgium, Canada, Europe, Germany, Ireland, Korea, Switzerland, UK and the USA
  4. OSHE websites to explore
  5. Diary of Events

Editorial

Dear CIS Colleagues

The year is moving merrily along!

As you can see there is a wealth of news in this edition of the CIS newsletter. One of the ways to spread your news is to send some information to me for the CIS Newsletter that is shared with many others across the world. It goes to people in over 145 countries. The newsletter items can be put into your own newsletters or websites.

The London meeting is gathering momentum ... a group of CIS members do wish to meet up on 10-11 September 2008, in Central London, UK and are organising a Meeting of the CIS Members' Network. Everyone is very welcome.

A number of members have already indicated that they will be attending - please let me know as soon as possible if you intend to come this meeting.

The aim of this 2-day meeting that will include a training session on organizing campaigns, events and publicity for CIS Centres so that ideas can be shared and either used collectively or individually in each country. The main message for this 50th anniversary is raise the profile of Occupational safety and health information worldwide and especially the role of the CIS Centres. The programme will include an exchange of information from members.

See below for full details.

Everyone is invited - we each are paying our own travel, accommodation and meals as we always do. CIS network should benefit from this meeting enormously.

As we welcome new members into our CIS family of members, the year ahead is already looking very busy for CIS network - the ILO Congress and CIS Annual meeting in Korea... see below for details.

I keep mentioning a very important date that is ahead of us - the celebration of the 50th Anniversary in 2009 of the formation of CIS!

We need to plan for this important - please start to think about this major event and how news of CIS and its activities can be broadcasted around the World. We will not get such a chance for another 50 years!!!

Ideas, news items are always welcomed for inclusion in the future editions of this Newsletter. It is amazing how much the CIS Newsletter content gets re-used around the world. Take advantage of free publicity! Remember you can see CIS Newsletter on the web site www.sheilapantry.com/cis where back issues are stored now for over 6 years.

Some of you may have changed your email number and addresses in recent months, please let CIS Headquarters know your new email/address and also let me know as well - otherwise you will not get the CIS Newsletter or other news.

Remember >>>>

Use the CIS Logo on your web site and publications!

Remember the motto of all publicity people ... tell them, tell them and tell them again...
so take every opportunity to give publicity to "Health and Safety at work"...

Thriving in 2008... Keep promoting and telling the World at large that CIS and its network exists!

Hope you promoted the 28 April 2008 - World Day for Safety and Health at Work!
The theme for the 2008 World Day for Safety and Health at Work organized by the International Labour Office (ILO) on 28 April 2008 is "Managing Risk in the Work Environment"
Slogan: My life, my work, my safe work.
For details and emblem go to www.ilo.org/safework/safeday

Will you be Surviving in 2008?... perhaps you will if you make efforts in promotion, publicity and telling the World that CIS and its network exists!

All good wishes to you, your families 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
www.oshupdate.com
www.fireinf.com

Please consider the environment before printing this Newsletter

Feel free to use this Newsletter on your own web site/pages/e-news

Important Latest News from CIS Members

Meeting and training course for CIS Members will be held on Wednesday and Thursday, 10 and 11 September 2008 at the Imperial Hotel, Russell Square, Central London

The aim of the meeting is to enable CIS members to:

The Draft Agenda

The following draft agenda is a first stab of what we can/want do - but please do send in other topics...

  1. What we should be doing to celebrate the CIS 50th anniversary in 2009 collectively and in our own countries
  2. Share best promotion and publicity practices in each of our countries - examples of successes
  3. Build on ideas that we have discussed over the years and which are captured in the report I wrote that can be accessed on www.sheilapantry.com/cis/other/wp01.html
  4. Use of the 50th anniversary of CIS to make people worldwide aware of the available validated and authoritative health and safety information centres, services, guidance and advice that CIS network members hold or have access to.
  5. Have an updating exchange of news from those attending
  6. Any other business topics

Everyone is invited - we each are paying our own travel, accommodation and meals as we always do when attending CIS Meetings. CIS network MEMBERS should benefit from this meeting enormously.

Please note that you will NOT receive any official invitation from CIS HQ because this meeting is an informal meeting, organised by CIS members for CIS Members.

A number of members have already indicated that they wish to attend this meeting.

If you are attending this September 2008 meeting please send your name, organisation, address and all up-to-date contact details including email number to:

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

Hotel accommodation prices are being sorted and will be sent to all delegates and published in the next editions of the CIS Newsletter.

The location of the meeting is central London and easy access from all airports - Heathrow, Gatwick, London City, Stanstead and the new St. Pancras International Train Station. See www.imperialhotels.co.uk.
Details of travel to the Imperial Hotel will be forward to delegates.

News from the ILO

28 April 2008

Please be advised that the ILO Director-General has issued a message for the World Day for Safety and Health at Work (28 April 2008). This message will be posted on the following Web site by Saturday morning, 26 April 2008: www.ilo.org/public/english/bureau/dgo/speeches

Best regards,

The SafeDay Team | safeday@ilo.org | www.ilo.org/safework/safeday

Chers collègues,

Nous vous informons que la communication du Directeur général du Bureau international du Travail (BIT) à l'occasion de la Journée mondiale de la sécurité et de la santé au travail (28 avril 2008) sera disponible sur le site Web indiqué ci-dessous dès samedi matin 26 avril 2008: www.ilo.org/public/french/bureau/dgo/speeches

Cordiales salutations.

L'Equipe SafeDay | safeday@ilo.org | www.ilo.org/safework/safeday

Estimados colegas:

El Director General de la OIT ha preparado un mensaje en relación con el Día Mundial de la Seguridad y la Salud en el Trabajo (28 de abril de 2008) y le invitamos a consultarlo en la página Web a partir del sábado por la mañana, 26 de abril de 2008: www.ilo.org/public/spanish/bureau/dgo/speeches

Cordiales saludos.

El Equipo SafeDay | safeday@ilo.org | www.ilo.org/safework/safeday

News from the ILO CIS HQ

2008 Seoul World Congress

The Preliminary Programme is ready in English and will be printed and distributed by 5 May 2008 in French, Spanish and German.

This Congress is very different from previous ones, because it will include an OSH Summit (also called Forum on Prevention), where 50 high-level decision-makers will discuss OSH as a basic human right and as a means for economic and social development and growth. The Congress will also comprise a Plenary session with the release of the OSH status in the world as well as Technical sessions, in particular on OSH strategies and programmes for the future and OSH Management systems.

Regional meetings (Europe, Africa, Americas, Arab States and Asia-Pacific) will further explore OSH issues at a regional level through cafe-style meetings. Due to the large number of attendees expected from the Asia-Pacific region, two meetings will be organized for that region in a more traditional way.

The World Congress also offers interesting features during the 48 planned symposia split over three days: Informal economy and OSH, Gender mainstreaming and OSH, ILO-WHO action towards the elimination of asbestos-related diseases, Migrant Workers and OSH, Vulnerable Workers and OSH, The prevention of major accidents, OSH management in the construction industry, Chemical control banding in risk communication systems, Tackling HIV/AIDS through workplace actions, nanotechnology, the research gap in OSH, Adapting work to demographic change, Training for workers with low language and literacy skills, Transportability of OSH credentials, Supply chains and S&H management, a holistic approach to safer and healthier workplaces. communication et coopération internationale et sous-régionale en SST en Afrique francophone.

Other features include Poster sessions and Speakers' Corner, as well as the International Film and Multimedia Festival.

The Closing ceremony will feature a keynote speech from Jeff A. McNeely, Chief Scientist at the IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature) rue Mauverney, 28, 1196 Gland, Switzerland Tel.: +41 22 999 0284, Fax: +41 22 999 0025.

Mr. McNeely will make the link between OSH and environmental concerns in the world.

________________________________________

Saudi Arabia - new collaborating centre

We would like to welcome into the CIS network a new Collaborating Centre which has been set up in Saudi Arabia in Jeddah.

Contact information is: Dr Saeed M. Al-Tayar, SALAMATEC, PO Box 53 399, Jeddah 21583, Saudia Arabia | Email: salamatec@gmail.com

2008 World Day for Safety and Health at Work

Managing risk in the work environment. My life, my work, my safe work.

The Director-General of the ILO issued a message on the occasion. It will be available on the ILO website from 26 April 2008

Press releases have been issued to mark the event:

Strengthening of OSH in francophone Africa and of the CIS Centres Network

A campaign has been launched in the francophone countries of Africa to reinforce OSH and the CIS Centres Network. Several initiatives have taken place, including the launching of an NGO called Préventeur sans frontière (PSF), an association dedicated to the prevention of occupational risks in the world.

PSF is apolitical and was founded under Law 60-315 of 21/09/1960 in the Ivory Coast relating to the organization and functions of associations. Its main objectives are to denouce uncompromisingly poor working conditions, dangerous methods, substances and equipment which may endanger the life of workers and of the public; promoting sustainable development and prevention; promoting a safe and health work environment; creating and reinforcing solidarity links between safety and health professionals.

Its main means of action are:

Envisaged collaboration:

ILO, WHO, UNIDO and IAPRP; social security funds; OSH safety and health associations and institutes; foundations; trade unions; human rights associations.

Activities will be both technical and scientific and will take place through various committees such as agriculture, chemical industry, construction, electricity, radiation protection, mining, road safety, education on accident prevention, etc.

The slogan of PSF is: "Say No to work that kills".

News from the ILO and USA

ILO and US National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health agree to cooperate on expanding safety and health at work

The Programme on Safety and Health at Work and the Environment (SafeWork) of the International Labour Office (ILO) and the U.S. National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) has just signed an agreement aimed at expanding safety and health in the workplace.

The agreement foresees closer cooperation between the ILO SafeWork programme and NIOSH, of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), in the area of occupational safety and health (OSH).

The agreement was signed by Dr. Sameera Al-Tuwaijri, Director of the ILO SafeWork programme and Dr. John Howard, Director of NIOSH. "Faced with the intolerable human burden of fatalities and global economic costs of work-related accidents and diseases, agreements like this one are significant steps towards improving OSH worldwide", says Dr. Sameera Al-Tuwaijri, Director of the ILO's SafeWork department.

"NIOSH is pleased to reaffirm our close working relationship with the International Labour Office by signing today's agreement," said NIOSH Director John Howard, M.D. "In today's global marketplace, partnerships such as this are key for safer and healthier workplaces here in the U.S. and around the world."

The agreement said that ILO SafeWork and the NIOSH "agree on the critical importance of the world of work in defining sound occupational safety and health (OSH) prevention policies and interventions in the workplace, and implementing strategies which expand protection to workers and their communities".

"In this regard, it is noted that closer cooperation between SafeWork and NIOSH is desirable, subject to the strategic priorities and budgetary resources of each. SafeWork and NIOSH hereby agree to pursue finalizing a partnership agreement through their parent organizations, which will facilitate working toward common goals," it said.

Under the agreement, NIOSH will support the ILO Encyclopedia of Occupational Safety and Health, including the identification of experts, writing, editing, reviewing and updating articles, and suggesting new topics and approaches to information and dissemination.

The ILO has adopted many international OSH standards, which cover a wide range of sectors and generic hazards. Prevention is at the heart of these standards and is embedded in the Promotional Framework for Occupational Safety and Health Convention, 2006 (No. 187) and its accompanying Recommendation (No. 197), which seek to promote a preventative safety and health culture and a management systems approach to occupational safety and health through national policies, systems and programmes developed in a tripartite context.

For more information, contact: Email: communication@ilo.org

News from Australia

Enhancing Occupational Safety and Health joins the Spanish and English editions

You may be interested in the Chinese edition of Enhancing Occupational Safety and Health by Geoff Taylor, Kellie Easter and Roy Hegney.

It is published by Chemical Industry Press, Beijing as Zhiye Anquan Jiankang. The translator is Prof Fan. Y Xiao of the Safety Engineering Department of the China University of Geosciences, Beijing, China.

It joins its Spanish stablemate Mejora de la Salud y la Seguridad en el Trabajo published by Elsevier Espana, Madrid

This has previously been published in English in the UK, 2004, and Spanish, 2006.

Chemical Industry Press in Beijing has opted to reproduce the book as it appears in English (with some updates and a short extra section on coal mine gas drainage.

Contact: Geoff Taylor, Perth | http://shop.cip.com.cn/product/20080101/111319787122011176.html

News from Belgium

European Chemical Industry: three keys to protect health from climate change

On the occasion of World Health Day, the European Chemical Industry Council (Cefic) reaffirms its commitment to speeding up action on climate change and health. As an active and recognised contributor to the WHO Children Environment & Health Action Plan for Europe, industry is fully engaged to better understand how climate change will affect public health and the best ways to prepare for these changes.

Bringing healthy innovations and lifestyles within the reach of more people, the chemical industry is advancing a threefold action plan that includes a strong collaboration with policy makers and researchers at EU and WHO level:

Cefic is working with WHO and the EU Commission on these key challenges. The chemical industry is already bringing constructive solutions to climate change through active networks such as its voluntary Long-range Research Initiative (LRI), the European Technology Platform for Sustainable Chemistry (SusChem) or the Third Industrial Revolution on Renewable Energy.

"When it comes to saving energy and dealing with climate change effects, modern technologies in transport, IT or construction would not exist without chemistry" says Gernot Klotz, Cefic Executive Director for Research & Innovation. "Housing is another area where chemistry offers crucial contributions. With the Smart Energy Home project - a 'zero heating cost house' - energy efficiency is combined with healthy living and enhanced public health."

Industry will report on implementation of its commitments at the Fifth Ministerial Conference on Environment & Health in Rome in 2009.

www.cefic.org

News from Canada

Web-Based Management Service To Help Improve Health and Safety of Workers

The Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety (CCOHS) has developed a web-based Occupational Health and Safety Management Service called "OSH Works", designed to help organizations in establishing, maintaining and/or improving health and safety programs that can help them meet their legislative responsibilities.

The vast majority of companies in Canada are not in compliance with occupational health and safety legislation. OSH Works can help them achieve compliance by providing a framework that promotes a systematic approach to meeting defined objectives and integrating the health and safety of workers into the everyday management of the business. It provides guidance information and is enriched with audits, tools, checklists, training and expertise from the comprehensive CCOHS knowledge base. A fully customizable service, OSH Works assists organizations of every size, in establishing a health and safety program and then adopting a continuous improvement process to meet their health and safety responsibilities and regulatory requirements.

OSH Works follows the methodology known as "Plan, Do, Check, and Act" (PDCA cycle) used in national and international Occupational Health and Safety Management System standards, such as CSA Z1000-06 or OHSAS 18001-2007. The service can enable organizations to achieve certification by the occupational health and safety management system standard of their choice.

"With OSH Works we set out to provide a powerful tool that would make it easy and affordable for companies to first establish programs that could help them succeed in a compliance audit and then go beyond to help them improve their health and safety performance to gain numerous benefits," commented Dr. P.K. Abeytunga, CCOHS Vice President and Director General. "We want to equip people with the tools and resources they need to reduce and, ultimately, eliminate workplace illness and injury - so that all may be healthy and safe!"

More information on the OSH Works service, and a guided tour of the service, is available on the CCOHS Web site at: www.ccohs.ca/products/oshworks.

Contact: Eleanor Westwood, Manager of Communications, Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety | Tel: +1 905 572-2981, Ext. 4408 | eleanorw@ccohs.ca | www.ccohs.ca

LATEST ISSUE - INFO IRSST

Electronic newsletter from the Institut de recherché Robert-Sauvé en santé et en sécurité du travail)

www.irsst.qc.ca/media/documents/en/InfoIrsst/Archives/InfoIRSST_v06n02.htm

Pleasant reading!

Jacques Millette, Communications Director, IRSST, 505, De Maisonneuve blvd. West, Montréal (Québec), Canada H3A 3C2 | Email: communications@irsst.qc.ca | www.irsst.qc.ca

CCOHS E-Courses Cover Small Business and Big Noise

Two e-courses just launched by the Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety (CCOHS) deliver practical guidance on important but often complex topics. One addresses the unique health and safety issues affecting small businesses. The other helps people in noisy work settings to prevent hearing loss.

Health & Safety for Small Business was created with the small business operator in mind. Besides the everyday task of running a business, making sure workers are safe presents a host of other responsibilities. This can be more of a challenge for owners of small businesses, who might lack the specialized knowledge to identify workplace hazards and have limited resources. This e-course from CCOHS makes it easier by showing small business operators how to develop and implement a successful health and safety program.

Participants will learn practical ways to identify hazards and manage risks and receive step-by-step guidelines for creating a health and safety program, including emergency planning and hazard management. The experts at CCOHS have made sure essential health and safety information is covered: the business case for health and safety, legal responsibilities for workplace health and safety, WHMIS, occupational hygiene, fire protection, ergonomics, workplace inspections, accident investigations, and more.

To make sure they retain this important information, participants can reinforce what they've learned by reading the examples and case studies, and taking the quizzes provided.

The Preventing Hearing Loss from Workplace Noise e-course is an introduction to noise control, but focuses on how to prevent hearing loss by reducing or eliminating noise exposure. It is geared to anyone working in a potentially noisy setting - managers, supervisors, workers, health & safety staff and committee members, as well as human resources and disability management personnel.

In about an hour, course participants will learn how noise can damage hearing, what constitutes hazardous noise, how to develop a hearing loss prevention program, which hearing protectors are appropriate for which settings and how to use them, as well as specific ways to control workplace noise exposure. The course also features case studies, quizzes, an "ask a question" option and a final exam.

All e-courses by CCOHS are available in English and French. They are developed by subject specialists and reviewed by labour, employer and government representatives. For more information on these courses or to register, please visit the CCOHS website:

Preventing Hearing Loss From Workplace Noise: www.ccohs.ca/products/courses/prevent_hearing_loss

Health & Safety For Small Business: www.ccohs.ca/products/courses/smallBusiness

IRSST - A prevention guide for material handlers and sales clerks

Everyone goes to superstores, but did you know that the employees working in them have a good chance of suffering from back pain? For this growing sector, a prevention guide Handling work and customer service in warehouse superstores has just been published by the Quebec Occupational Health and Safety Research Institute (IRSST) (IRSST) and Groupe-conseil AON. In addition to offering different practical advice, this document proposes solution scenarios that are easy to implement for better prevention of handling-related accidents and the associated back pain.

Target public and risk factors

Aimed at people who want to do prevention, the guide proposes a 5-part action process ranging from the identification of problems to the implementation of solutions. Several aspects have an impact on handling activities: the volume, weight and packaging of containers, the physical layouts in the sales area (height and accessibility of shelves), the equipment (mobile ladder, aerial platform, stepladder, etc.) and inventory control. The characteristics of each of these aspects can lead to injury or accident risks. This guide is designed to improve the work performance conditions of all employees that handle merchandise, from stockers to sales clerks.

Presentation

The result of five years of research and based on two scientific studies, this guide contains a checklist to identify problems, six solution fact sheets, as well as a grid to evaluate the solutions. It includes illustrations, relevant examples, a glossary, and a summary table of the references. Written in simple language, this prevention guide emphasizes the important things to know and the steps to be taken to make our warehouse superstores safer workplaces.

The guide and the fact sheets can be downloaded free from: www.irsst.qc.ca/files/documents/PubIRSST/RG-546.pdf

Source: Communications Division, IRSST | mautom@irsst.qc.ca

News from Germany

Leaflet on crisis situations at the workplace

Fire-fighting in mines, counselling after bank raids, and the rescue of injured persons from confined vessels or from great heights or depths: emergency situations such as these arise unexpectedly at the workplace.

It is important for the right response to be taken, and quickly. The DGUV's new leaflet with the title "Emergency management for crisis situations at the workplace" describes the support given by the German institutions for statutory accident insurance and prevention and the public-sector accident insurers to their member companies and the employees of these companies in handling crisis situations.

Order the leaflet in German or English at: www.dguv.de/inhalt/presse/newsletter

Contact: Hilde Tschersich, Deutsche Gesetzliche Unfallversicherung (DGUV), Spitzenverband der gewerblichen Berufsgenossenschaften und der Unfallversicherungsträger der öffentlichen Hand (German Social Accident Insurance) | Email: newsletter@dguv.de | www.dguv.de

New KAN Study "Practical assistance in OSH and standardization"

The latest edition of KANBRIEF no.1/08 presents articles on "Practical assistance in OSH and standardization." Other articles included are:

KANBRIEF also includes 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

News from Ireland

Eurofound launches major communication campaign on active ageing: Reassessing the role of older people

As Europe experiences dramatic demographic change, companies and policymakers are increasingly taking a different approach towards older people, be it as potential customers with considerable spending power or as a valuable resource in the workplace. Promoting employment opportunities for an ageing workforce, for example, is a complex challenge that requires rethinking at company, national and EU level. In this context, Eurofound launches a communication campaign aimed at bringing policymakers, companies and society up to par with the latest research data, recommendations and case examples to tackle the challenges and explore the opportunities associated with active ageing.

From a work perspective, creating conditions for working longer means introducing policies that maintain and promote the health of all employees, develop and update the skills of older workers through training, and provide suitable working conditions, including measures to reconcile work with family and care responsibilities - of growing importance in an increasingly female older workforce.

With the ageing of the population, policy attention is also turning to the issue of care. While the role of the family is acknowledged as being central to fulfilling care needs, the need for paid workers to support informal care arrangements has become more important with changes in family formation and the higher proportion of women - seen as the traditional family carers - entering the labour market. Older people still have many needs for care, health and security. Others have concerns related to loneliness, poverty or illness many of which should be met by good public services.

'In our research over the past decade, the good news is that we have found that European companies have changed their attitudes towards older people,' says Robert Anderson, Eurofound's expert on ageing. 'Increasingly, older people are viewed as potential customers with considerable spending power and as a valuable resource in the workplace in terms of skills and knowledge.'

The European Foundation for the Improvement of Living and Working Conditions (Eurofound) is launching a campaign on Working Longer, Living Better - Europe's coming of age in Brussels, Belgium, on 17 March 2008. The campaign, which explores the impact of an ageing society and workforce, providing insights into developments at EU, national and company level, brings together Eurofound's research findings, recommendations and examples of good practice and strategies for change in the workplace that it has compiled over the last decade.

Eurofound's resource pack on active ageing is available at www.eurofound.europa.eu/resourcepacks/activeageing.htm

For further information, contact Måns Mårtensson, Press Officer, on telephone +353-1-204 3124, mobile +353-876-593 507, or email mma@eurofound.europa.eu

News from Korea

XVIII World Congress on Safety and Health at Work in COEX, Seoul, Korea - 29 June to 2 July, 2008

Korea Occupational Safety and Health Organization (KOSHA) in cooperation with the International Labor Organization (ILO) and the International Social Security Association (ISSA) will host XVIII World Congress on Safety and Health at Work in COEX, Seoul, Korea from June 29 to July 2, 2008. The World Congress is the biggest event in the area of safety and health where experts share information and knowledge on occupational safety and health.

On this meaningful occasion, for the first time in its history, Safety and Health Summit will be held as a part of the World Congress. Representative of the ILO, ministers responsible for safety and health, global business leaders, high-level representatives from employers' and employees' organizations as well as from leading occupational safety and health organizations will participate in the Summit at which they will adopt the "Seoul Declaration", recognizing safety and health as a means to a basic human right and to economic growth and development.

At the same time, the World Congress will offer opportunities to access the latest information and best practices in the realm of safety and health through a wide range of programs such as Technical Sessions, Regional Meetings, Symposia, Speakers' Corner, Poster Sessions and International Safety and Health Exhibition.

Meanwhile, with regard to registration, Early Bird Registration will remain open until February 28, 2008. This advance registration provides registrants with a better opportunity to join the World Congress and delight in specialists' seasoned experiences and state-of-the-art technologies at a discounted rate.

Lastly, I would like to appreciate you for your passionate efforts to prioritize safety at work, and I am looking forward to seeing you in this auspicious World Congress.

Sincerely yours,
Dr. Lee, Joon-Won
Secretary General / Ph.D., PSE, CPLA

Secretariat for XVIII World Congress on Safety and Health at Work, Korea Occupational Safety and Health Agency, 34-4 Gusan-dong, Bupyeong-gu, Incheon, Korea | Tel : +82-32-5100-636 | Fax : +82-32-502-7199 | Email: safety2008@kosha.net | www.safety2008korea.org

OSH BRIEFS

Nanotechology news

See SPIE Nanotechnology: www.spie.org/x2400.xml?ss=rss and International Journal of Nanoparticles: www.inderscience.com/ijnp

The first issue of International Journal of Nanoparticles has just been published.
ISSN (Online): 1753-2515 - ISSN (Print): 1753-2507
Published 4 issues per year

News from the ITUC

ITUC Supports Re-election of Juan Somavia to Lead ILO

The International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC) on the 24 April 2008 expressed its support for the candidacy of Juan Somavia to serve a further mandate as Director General of the International Labour Organisation.

"In his time at the head of the ILO, Director General Somavia has led it with energy and purpose and has made its decent work agenda a common objective of the international system as a whole. The current international financial and economic crisis threatens the well-being and interests of workers everywhere. It requires a determined and cohesive response from the multilateral system, with the ILO in the lead. Juan Somavia can contribute uniquely to making that happen, and to delivering on the goal of decent work", said ITUC General Secretary Guy Ryder.

First elected in 1998 and re-elected in 2004, Mr Somavia will complete his second mandate in March 2009. The election of the Director General, by the ILO Governing Body, will take place at its November 2008 session with votes being cast by its titular members - 28 governments, 14 trade unions and 14 employers. All the trade union representatives are affiliates of the ITUC.

The ITUC represents 168 million workers in 155 countries and territories and has 311 national affiliates.

Website: www.ituc-csi.org

FOCUS

European good practices to help cut workplace illness for millions: European Agency for Safety and Health at Work

Nine organisations have been honoured with a European Good Practice Award for helping to prevent musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) - the most common form of work-related illness in Europe. Across the EU, 25% of workers complain of backache and 23% report muscular pains. The winners were announced at the closing event of the 'Lighten the Load' campaign, organised by the European Agency for Safety and Health at Work (EU-OSHA). The Agency also presented a new report setting out the latest scientific evidence on the issue.

"Musculoskeletal disorders are the number one workplace illness in Europe, affecting millions of workers and costing the economy up to 1.6% of GDP. We can no longer afford to waste Europe's potential and have to "lighten the load" on all workers suffering from MSD," said Vladimír Špidla, EU Commissioner for Employment, Social Affairs and Equal Opportunities. "This campaign has helped to raise awareness of this huge issue and the good practices will help us prevent future suffering."

The 'Lighten the Load' campaign aimed to promote an integrated approach to tackling MSDs while also helping workers affected by them continue in work. It complements the EU's new strategy for health and safety at work (2007-2012) which targets occupational ill health and aims to cut by a quarter work-related accidents across the EU.

Marjeta Cotman, Minister of Labour, Family and Social Affairs representing the Slovenian EU Presidency, added: "The recent campaign has focused on the promotion of a comprehensive approach to addressing the issue of musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs), covering both prevention and efforts to enable workers affected by these diseases to stay in companies and to take care of the rehabilitation of these workers and their reintegration into the work environment. We firmly believe that this year's European campaign has contributed to improving the work environment of the European worker, making it better, less stressful and healthier, and that the joint European campaign will contribute to reducing the levels of work-related injury and professional disease."

Jukka Takala, Director of EU-OSHA, pointed out that the Agency's 'Prevention Report' gives many clues about how to tackle MSDs at the workplace. "It suggests, for example, that the introduction of additional breaks into repetitive work will significantly decrease MSDs and may be achievable without loss of productivity. It also emphasizes that only a multidisciplinary approach - including organisational, technical and personal measures - will succeed in effectively preventing MSDs. Workers, employers and occupational safety and health professionals must work hand in hand."

More than 500 delegates, including European Union policy-makers, social partners and leading safety and health experts, gathered at the Euskalduna Conference Centre in Bilbao, Spain on 26 February. The summit was the culmination of the 'Lighten the Load' campaign, which promoted an integrated management approach to tackling MSDs, embracing prevention and the retention, rehabilitation and reintegration of workers. In 2007, several hundred events were organised by EU-OSHA, its focal point network and other organisations across Europe.

At the summit, the delegates attended three parallel workshops on statistics, MSD prevention in the workplace and reintegration of workers with MSDs. Afterwards, nine organisations from six EU Member States received the European Good Practice Awards; an additional 11 entries were commended.

Among the winners were projects that

More details on the winners.

Further reading:

Musculoskeletal diseases (MSDs) are the most common work-related health problem in Europe, affecting millions of workers. Across the 27 EU Member States, 25% of workers complain of backache and 23% report muscular pains.

MSDs are not restricted to older male workers in manual jobs. Physically demanding tasks such as working in awkward positions, handling heavy loads, prolonged standing and sitting, and repetitive work appear to be common among young workers which mean that they are at considerable risk of developing MSDs. It is estimated that nearly 4 million young workers in the EU under the age of 25 have backpain.

If MSDs do not respect age, they do not respect gender either. According to recent surveys, in the health care sector for example, an estimated 6 to 7 million women lift or move people and 3-4 million report backpain. In the retail sector, about 4-6 million women have to carry or move heavy loads, and about 10-11 Mio women are exposed to prolonged standing or walking.

MSDs are impairments of the bodily structures such as muscles, joints, tendons, ligaments and nerves, or localised blood circulation systems that are caused or aggravated primarily by the performance of work and by the effects of the immediate environment where the work is carried out.

While they may be traditionally associated with manual workers, MSDs affect millions of Europeans in all employment sectors, with the highest rates found in agriculture and construction.

They take a high toll on individual companies, workers and their families, and on society at large. The cost of MSDs to business is reflected in medical and social security expenses, compensation payments and lost productivity. But MSDs also cause personal suffering to many workers and their families.

The Good Practice Awards are part of the European Week for Safety and Health at Work, an annual campaign run by the European Agency to promote a specific issue related to occupational safety and health. The European Week 2007 was dedicated to tackling MSDs under the slogan 'Lighten the Load'.

European Agency for Safety and Health at Work, Gran Via 33, E-48009 Bilbao, Spain | Fax: +34 94 479 4383

News from IALI

The International Association of Labour Inspection (IALI) is the global professional association for labour inspection. Its activities often focus on working conditions and occupational safety and health topics and other concerns to labour inspectors, such as illegal employment and child labour.

Membership of IALI is open to any group of Labour Inspectors and Labour Departments of any State or Region of a Federal State that is responsible for the planning or direction of labour inspectors or for inspecting compliance with labour legislation (Article 4a of the Statutes).

There are currently just over 100 members of IALI from countries all over the world.

www.iali-aiit.org

News from the USA

Seeking Top Companies for Campbell Award: Deadline Approaching: message from the National Safety Council

Dear CIS Centre Colleagues,

As CIS Centres, we all recognize that improved workplace and environmental conditions benefit not only the worker, but the company and the community as well. With an academic approach and educational focus, the National Safety Council (USA) has developed the Robert W. Campbell Award to showcase organizations that achieve business excellence and sustainability by integrating environmental, health, and safety (EHS) management into their overall business operating system. The principle function of the Award is to validate and document evidence-based, real-life success stories and provide them as examples for others, thereby improving lives around the world.

Supported by a network of Global Partners and an international panel of expert reviewers, the Campbell Award will influence current and future decision-makers to uphold EHS as a key business value which is integral to business success. Please join us in a shared commitment to injury prevention and the improvement of lives worldwide by increasing awareness of the Award among the organizations you serve.

Your outreach assistance is greatly appreciated. Please distribute this information to groups who can contribute to or participate in the Award. I am pleased to send a news item (below) on the Award and the 2008 Information Packet with evaluation criteria and application requirements. We would be most grateful if you would include information on the Award in your e-newsletters, websites, and other outreach venues.

Please direct any inquiries or requests to CampbellAward@nsc.org. In addition, you can link directly to our website at www.CampbellAward.org. We would appreciate it if you would please let us know how you have helped publicize the Award in your region.

In addition, if you would like to contribute further to the shared mission of improving lives through EHS, we would like to invite you to become a Global Partner. This network provides worldwide outreach and support for EHS initiatives and fosters collaborations that support the ideals of the Robert W. Campbell Award.

Your involvement is greatly appreciated and reinforces the importance of evidence-based case studies. Help us show the world that EHS and business excellence can be achieved around the globe. If you have any questions, need more information, or are interested in becoming a Global Partner, please contact me at CampbellAward@nsc.org.

Together, we can help improve lives around the world.

The international Robert W. Campbell Award honors leading companies that achieve business excellence and sustainability through the integration of environmental, health, and safety (EHS) management in business operations. The Award seeks successful business models from organizations of all sizes that uphold EHS as a key business value, and excel in both EHS and business performance. Applications must be postmarked by May 31, 2008.

Campbell Award Winners and Honorable Mention companies bring their message of EHS management and economic success to the world for others to emulate. In addition, Award-winning submittals are developed into university case studies so the next generation of decision-makers will value and integrate EHS in business operations.

Previous Campbell Award winners include Noble Corporation, Johnson & Johnson, Alcan Inc, DynMcDermott, and the Bahrain Petroleum Company. These companies have become active advocates of EHS, influencing current and future business leaders.

Companies compete in categories based on their number of employees. Award applications are reviewed by an international panel of experts in EHS, business, labor, academia, and government. One of the key benefits for applicant companies is that these highly-regarded experts provide written feedback to each qualifying applicant as a tool for their continuous improvement. More information, including evaluation criteria, application requirements, and examples of winning submittals are found at www.CampbellAward.org.

About the Campbell Award

Named for Robert W. Campbell, an early safety advocate and the first president of the National Safety Council, the Award (www.CampbellAward.org) is underwritten by the Exxon Mobil Corporation through its philanthropic Foundation.

About the National Safety Council

The National Safety Council (www.nsc.org) is a non-profit, nongovernmental, international public service organization dedicated to educating and influencing people to prevent accidental injuries and deaths. Members of the NSC include more than 50,000 businesses, labor organizations, schools, public agencies, private groups and individuals. Founded in 1913 and chartered by the U.S. Congress in 1953, the primary focus of the NSC is promoting safety and health in the workplace, in transportation, and in homes and communities.

News from the UK

OSH-ROM ceases publication... don't despair let OSH UPDATE help you

Colleagues will wish to know that OVID is ceasing to publish OSH-ROM. I would like to inform you of the following that should help your health and safety information seekers.

I created OSH - ROM the collection of 8 databases published by OVID and formerly SilverPlatter some years ago when I was Head of Information Services at the UK Government Health and Safety Executive.

You may be interested in OSH UPDATE www.oshupdate.com created some three years ago and now contains 18 databases e.g. includes HSELINE, NIOSHTICS and NIOSHTICS2, RILOSH, CISDOC, European Agency for Safety and Health at work, and many others. These databases are bibliographic, full text and also link to URLs where possible.

OSH UPDATE does not include Medline or MHIDAS in it.

As you know Medline Online is of course, free of charge - Go direct to U.S. National Library of Medicine www.nlm.nih.gov databases includes e.g. over 17 million citations from MEDLINE and other life science journals for biomedical articles back to the 1950s and PubMed includes links to full text articles and other related resources.

OSH UPDATE includes over 800,000 records, many thousands of these are also full text documents or links to full text.

During 2007 24,152 new bibliographic records containing 3,387 links to full text and 1,811 full text documents containing 42,724 pages were added. It is hoped to progress in the same way in 2008. We continuously update OSH UPDATE as new data is published.

In these days of tight budgets you might find the price of OSH UPDATE attractive.

You can also supply your IP logon range should you wish.

If you would like to have a 15 day free trial please let me know or click onto www.sheilapantry.com/interest.html

Sheila Pantry OBE BA FCLIP, Sheila Pantry Associates Ltd, 85 The Meadows, Todwick, Sheffield S26 1JG, UK | Tel: +44 (0) 1909 771024 | Fax: +44 (0) 1909 772829 | Email: sp@sheilapantry.com

Guide to the workplace killing law

The Centre for Corporate Accountability (CCA) has published an 80-page guide to the new Corporate Manslaughter and Corporate Homicide Act which came into force on 6 April 2008. CCA says the guide is intended to help a range of interested groups and individuals - lawyers, advisers, bereaved families, trade unions, managers, employers or others - to understand the nature of the new offence, the type of organisations to which it applies, the circumstances that will lead to prosecution and areas in which the Act remains open to legal interpretation.

CCA says its guide also helps explain how the new 'statutory' offence differs from the old 'common law' offence, and sets out the main arguments on each of the key issues in the 12 years since the Law Commission in England and Wales published its proposals for reform in 1996. A summary of the Act's key provisions is available on CCA's website.

News from the USA

Nanotechnology News

NIOSH has recently issued the following publications

The following NIOSH publications are now electronically available in Spanish.

More News from the USA

Hearing loss

Hearing loss Hearing loss is a major health and quality-of-life problem in the United States; hearing loss is the second most self reported ailment after back problems. One way to tackle this problem is to reward companies that have excellent programs for preventing hearing loss, that recognize that mere compliance with regulations won't prevent hearing loss, but will only document its progression, and that have redirected their programs to promote best practices and strive to eliminate hearing loss from work-related noise exposures.

Toward this end, the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), in partnership with the National Hearing Conservation Association (NHCA), has established a new award to be given each year to the companies or organizations that exemplify Excellence in Hearing Loss Prevention. This prestigious award is called "Safe in Sound" and will be first presented at the NHCA annual conference during February 2009 in Atlanta, Georgia. One award will be given in each of the following economic sectors: manufacturing, services, and construction. An additional award will be given for an innovation in hearing loss prevention, which could be anything from a new product, training program, software program or other new and effective idea. This award will recognize an organization from any economic sector for their dedication to fostering and implementing new and unique advances in the prevention of hearing loss that other companies or organizations may adopt.

The objectives of these awards are to nationally recognize organizations that document measurable achievements in hearing loss prevention programs, obtain information on their real-world successes, and widely disseminate information on how others can use these successful strategies or benchmark their own programs.

A website, www.safeinsound.us, has been established to provide more information on the award and to provide specifics on how to submit nominations/applications. If you know of any organizations with outstanding hearing loss prevention programs or innovative approaches, please encourage them to apply as nominations are now being accepted until September 1, 2008. We look forward to hearing from you.

OSHE web sites to explore...

Also look in www.oshworld.com/links.html for hundreds of links to authoritative and validated web sites... constantly updated.

Germany

European Committee of the Manufacturers of Fire Protection Equipment and Fire Fighting vehicles Eurofeu   GERMANY
www.eurofeu.org
European Committee of the Manufacturers of Fire Protection Equipment and Fire Fighting Vehicles Eurofeu aims to creates a growing market for members' high quality products and services through co-operation with other interest groups who can positively influence the market place; through the CEN Committees works towards minimising duplication of members' costs in obtaining European wide approvals for products and services and to adjust EUROFEU statutes to the expansion of the EC in order to enable the trade organisations of new EC membership countries to be naturally accepted into EUROFEU.

Spain

European Agency for Safety and Health at Work   SPAIN
http://osha.europa.eu
European Agency for Safety and Health at Work site gives information and links to other European Member States web sites, gives details of legislation, including European Union Directives, research, good practices. Also links to the US Occupational Safety and Health Administration, the Canadian Centre for Occupational Safety and Health, International Labour Office in Switzerland, Norway, Australia, Iceland national centres. Sources of statistical information, surveys and other related information from European Member States and other countries. Also information from Eurostat - the European Statistical Office.

UK

Federation of British Fire Organisations   FOBFO   UK
www.fobfo.org
Federation of British Fire Organisations (FOBFO) provides a forum for discussion and co-operation between United Kingdom fire interests, promoting activities aimed at the prevention and mitigation of loss of life and property by fire. It is therefore an "umbrella" organisation under which members can form alliances and make representations under a common banner. It is also the National Committee supporting the Comite International Technique de Prevention et D'extinction du Feu (CTIF), thus helping to promote "UK Fire" abroad in pan-European issues. In partnership with the FIC Export Focal Point and UK Trade & Investment, it continues to support UK industry at exhibitions and seminars abroad.

Fire Industry Association FIA   UK
www.fia.uk.com
Fire Industry Association (FIA) is a trade association formed by the merger of two leading association within the fire protection industry - Fire Extinguishing Trades Association FETA established in 1916 and British Fire Protection Systems Association BFPSA established in 1966. FIA is a new trade association formed by the merger of two leading associations within the fire protection industry. The two associations have long shared the common interest of upholding and enhancing the professional status of the UK fire industry. FETA, was the trade association of companies responsible for the manufacture and maintenance of portable fire-fighting equipment and BFPSA, the coordinating body for the UK fire systems industry. Gives information on events, training, publications and links to other organisations.

Health and Safety Executive: Corporate Manslaughter and Corporate Homicide   UK
www.hse.gov.uk/corpmanslaughter
The UK Health and Safety Executive on Corporate Manslaughter and Corporate Homicide Act 2007 is a landmark in law. For the first time, companies and organisations can be found guilty of corporate manslaughter as a result of serious management failures resulting in a gross breach of a duty of care. The Act, which came into force on 6 April 2008, clarifies the criminal liabilities of companies including large organisations where serious failures in the management of health and safety result in a fatality. The Ministry of Justice leads on the Act and more information is available on its Corporate Manslaughter and Corporate Homicide Act 2007 webpage. HSE welcomes and supports the Act. Although the new offence is not part of health and safety law, it will introduce an important new element in the corporate management of health and safety. Prosecutions will be of the corporate body and not individuals, but the liability of directors, board members or other individuals under health and safety law or general criminal law, will be unaffected. And the corporate body itself and individuals can still be prosecuted for separate health and safety offences. The Act also largely removes the Crown immunity that applies to the existing common law corporate manslaughter offence. This is welcome, and consistent with Government and HSC policy to secure the eventual removal of Crown immunity for health and safety offences. The Act provides a number of specific exemptions that cover public policy decisions and the exercise of core public functions.

International Aviation Fire Protection Association   UK
www.iafpa.org.uk
International Aviation Fire Protection Association aims to facilitate and promote the sharing of information and learning to enhance fire, safety and security for the international aviation community. Gives information on events and conferences, training, news, publications and links to other organisations.

Industry Committee for Emergency Lighting ICEL   UK
www.icel.co.uk
Industry Committee for Emergency Lighting (ICEL) is a Trade Association whose Members are manufacturers of components and products for emergency lighting fittings. ICEL was originally formed in the UK in 1978 by the emergency lighting sections of the British Electrical and Allied Manufacturers Association (BEAMA) and the Lighting Industry Federation (LIF). ICEL has become the foremost UK authority on emergency lighting. Its representatives serve on BSI and International Standards committees developing harmonised product and application standards. Compliance with these standards helps to ensure employees escape safely from premises in the event of a mains supply failure. ICEL representatives also work with UK Government to provide the legislation requiring compliance with these standards. Members of ICEL are bound by a code of conduct which ensures the highest quality of product and scheme design together with bench mark customer support.

Diary of Events

If you have a seminar, conference or exhibition that you would like to promote - please send details to your Editor. Also look in www.oshworld.com/diary.html

You may also be inspired to organise something similar in your country

8-9 July 2008 - S2 Anti-Terrorism Officer workshop
Jumeirah Beach Resort Dubai, UAE
Contact: Lariza Sanchez, Precept Management Consultancy | Tel: +968 24497123 | Fax: +968 24497222 | Mobile: +968 99312451 | Email: precept@omantel.net.om or precept@preceptmanagement.com | www.preceptmanagement.com/consultants/precept/Dubai_AntiTerrorism_Officer_2008.pdf

14-17 July 2008 - 2nd International Conference on Applied Human Factors and Ergonomics
Jointly organized with the 12th International Conference on Human Aspects of Advanced Manufacturing (HAAMAHA).
Las Vegas, NV, USA
Contact: Mr. Waldemar Karwowski, University of Central Florida, United States | Email: wkarwowski@gmail.com | www.aei2008.org

18-20 July 2008 - Hazards 2008: 19th National Hazards Conference
Keele University, Staffordshire, UK
Contact: Hazards 2008, GMHC, Windrush, Millennium Centre, 70 Alexandria Road, Manchester M16 7WD, UK | Tel: +44 (0)161 636 7558 | Email: hazconf@gmhazards.org.uk | www.hazardscampaign.org.uk
Readers may also wish to take a free trial of OSH UPDATE: www.sheilapantry.com/interest.html

4-8 August 2008 - ASTM Boulder Conference on Surface and Dermal Sampling 2008
Boulder, Colorado, USA
Contact: Kevin Ashley, NIOSH Division of Applied Research and Technology (Symposium Chair) | www.astm.org/cgi-bin/SoftCart.exe/filtrexx40.cgi?U+mystore+swqs8906+-P+EVENT_ID+1080+/usr6/htdocs/astm.org/SYMPOSIA/callforpapers.frm

14-16 August 2008 - International Association of Fire Chiefs Fire Rescue International 2008
Denver, Colorado, USA
Contact: www.iafc.org

17-22 August 2008 - 11th International Conference on Indoor Air Quality and Climate
Organized by the Technical University of Denmark, in collaboration with several international and national institutions
Copenhagen, Denmark
Contact: Snejezana Skocajic, Conference secretary, International Centre for Indoor Environment and Energy, Technical University of Denmark, Department of Civil Engineering, Nils Koppels Allé, Building 402, DK-2800 Kongens Lyngby, Denmark | Tel: (+45) 45 25 40 07 | Fax: (+45) 45 93 21 66 | Email: info@indoorair2008.org | www.indoorair2008.org

26-28 August 2008 - NOSHCON 2008: 47th International Conference & Exhibition on Occupational Risk Management
KwaZulu-Natal, Drakensberg, South Africa
Contact: Beatrix Oberholzer | Tel: +27 (0)12 683 0200 | Email: beatrix@nosa.co.za | www.noshcon.co.za

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