CIS Newsletter

No. 241
October 2009

CIS Newsletter celebrates 21 years & still going strong!
Bringing news from Members to Members in over 154 countries in the CIS Network!

Contents

  1. Editorial
  2. Information on CIS Annual Meeting 2009 plus 50 years of CIS... Celebrating the event... Meeting with the WHO.
    Social events on Wednesday and Thursday evenings.
    Some ideas to help in promoting the CIS Network... Don't Work Harder, Work Smarter!
  3. News, Events and OSH Briefs from around the World - Bahrain, Canada, Europe, Finland, Germany, Italy, Malawi, Northern Ireland, Norway, Philippines, Singapore, Spain, Switzerland, UK and the USA to name a few!
  4. OSHE websites to explore
  5. Diary of Events

The CIS Newsletter is a monthly newsletter for the International Labour Organisation (ILO) International Occupational Health and Safety Information Centres and is edited by Sheila Pantry OBE. The CIS Newsletter is NOT an official publication of the ILO but a newsletter containing information from Members in CIS Centres and other sources and is intended to be shared by anyone who finds the data contained useful. Users are free to use and reuse the data in these newsletters.

Editorial

Greeting Dear CIS Colleagues

October will bring together colleagues from around the world who will be attending the 2009 CIS annual meeting on 21 - 23 October 2009. Look forward to meeting you in Geneva.

There is also a joint meeting with the WHO centres on Wednesday 21 October 2009 - see details below. And importantly, there is an extra party on Wednesday, 21 October 2009 at the ILO HQ - see details below!

Some people have been asking about what they should be doing in their own country to celebrate this very special year - the 50th anniversary of the CIS network.

As suggested by Gabor Sandi ... reflect and promote what has been achieved in your country to improve the visibility of the CIS Network.

Then state what you and organisation intends to do in the future to:

See also further suggestions in the August 2009 CIS Newsletter.

Don't forget you can you use information in previous CIS Newsletters particularly the June 2009 Special edition that contains many articles on the promoting OSH information. Work smarter not harder - and use the ideas brought together by many experienced people. If you did not get a chance to read it, then take a few moments of your life to reflect what has been achieved over many years see www.sheilapantry.com/cis/cis200906.html

Together the CIS Network can achieve so much.

Thanks for all the publications, emails and news - these are always gratefully received and are used as soon as possible.

Remember any news you send gets an amazing further publicity as much of the CIS Newsletter content gets re-used around the world. Take advantage of free publicity! Remember you can see CIS Newsletters on the web site www.sheilapantry.com/cis where back issues are stored.

Make my day ... please send your news items to your Editor!

Remember... Publicity is the key ... tell them, tell them and tell them again...

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

Very Important announcement - re CIS Annual Meeting - extra party night Wednesday 21 October 2009 at the ILO HQ

Just confirming that Annick Virot has secured the use of the Gobelins Room at the ILO HQ for our "Potluck Party" (i.e. anyone can bring anything from their own country to eat or drink for the buffet table) on the Wednesday evening, 21 October 2009 after we have finished our joint meeting with the WHO collaborating centres during the day.

This party will enable us to spend social time together and hopefully our WHO colleagues will join us.

The party will start about an hour or so after the business meeting is over... So come ready to change into your party outfit! And bring your contribution with you.

It is the same room that we have used previously.

47th Annual CIS Meeting and also joint session with the Global Network of WHO Collaborating Centres in Occupational Health

You should have received the details of the CIS Annual Meeting from CIS HQ.
Contact CIS HQ if not received.

As you already know, the 47th Annual Meeting of CIS National, Collaborating and Regional Centres will be held from 22 to 23 October 2009 at the ILO Headquarters in Geneva. The World Health Organization (WHO) is organizing the 8th Meeting of the Global Network of WHO Collaborating Centres in Occupational Health from 19 to 23 October 2009 at its Geneva offices.

In order to strengthen the collaboration between these two networks, CIS is organizing a joint Session on 21 October from 2:00 pm to 3.30 pm, as a joint WHO Collaborating Centres/ ILO CIS Centres' meeting.

Following this WHO and the ILO are also organizing a joint round-table on 21 October from 3:50 pm to 5:30 pm to discuss workers' health agenda in a climate of change.

You are cordially invited to participate in these two events and contribute to them with your wide knowledge and experience.

PROVISIONAL AGENDA

Joint Meeting of the ILO-CIS National, Collaborating and Regional Centres and of the WHO Collaborating Centres in Occupational Health

WHO Headquarters, 21 October, 2009, 20 Avenue Appia, Geneva

Session Chair: Christine Branche

ILO responsible persons: Gabor Sandi/Annick Virot

WHO responsible person; Evelyn Kortum, Interventions for Healthy Environments

2:00-3:30 Session 1: Joint Meeting of the ILO-CIS Information Centres and of the WHO Collaborating Centres

Session Chair: tbd

ILO responsible person: Igor Fedotov, SafeWork

WHO responsible person: Ivan Ivanov, Interventions for Healthy Environments

Coffee break 20'

03:50-05:30 Session 2: Workers' health in climate of change

Chairs: ILO and WHO senior officials

The following is the Programme Overview of the 8th Meeting: Global WHO Network of CCs in Occupational Health; Geneva; 18-23 Oct 2009

PRE-MEETINGS

Sunday, 18th October - Salle G - WHO main building

13:00 - 18:00

Planning meeting for GPA Objective Managers, Initiative Leaders, WHO Secretariat

Monday, 19th October - WHO main building (Allow 30 minutes to pick up badge at entry to WHO building)

08:00 - 09:00

CC Network Planning Committee meeting (Salle G)

09:15 - 11:00

Meeting of WHO staff with WHO Regional Advisers (Salle G)

11:15 - 13:00

Regional Advisers meet with their respective Regional CC Networks
(C102 : AFRO / Salle G: AMRO / E233 : EURO / X7 : EMRO / EB Room : WPRO/SEARO)

13:00 - 13:45

Lunch on your own in WHO cafeteria
WHO CC NETWORK MEETING starting 2 pm

Monday, 19th October - EB Room - WHO main building

14:00 - 15:10

Opening of the WHO Network of CCs in OSH Meeting

15:10 - 15:45

Marco Maroni keynote speech and discussion

15:45 - 16:00

Coffee break

16:00 - 16:15

Overview of CC Network developments; benefits, highlights & opportunities

16:15 - 16:30

Structure of the Network: Advisory Committee Introduction and Functions

16:30 - 16:45

Collaborating Centres: an institutional overview

16:45 - 18:15

2009-2012 Workplan, 5 Objectives, closing

18:15 - 20:00

Buffet at WHO

Tuesday, 20th October - Kofi Annan Room - UNAIDS Building

08:30 - 10:00

The role of CCs in implementing the GPA in countries/regions; Instructions for Working Groups

10:15 - 13:45

5 Working Groups (including lunch) (room allocation in detailed agenda)

14:00 - 15:00

Report back in plenary session in Kofi Annan Room

15:15 - 17:00

Working Groups (room allocation in detailed agenda)

17:00 - 18:30

Report back in plenary session in Kofi Annan Room, closing

Wednesday, 21st October - WHO Building

08:30 - 11:30

4 Working Groups (room allocation in detailed agenda)

11:45 - 13:00

Report back in plenary session and wrap up in EB Room

14:00 - 17:30

Joint CC/CIS meeting and stakeholder roundtable discussion in EB Room

Thursday, 22nd October - WHO Building - EB Room

09:00 - 09:15

Summary of Meeting Accomplishments

09:15 - 09:45

Plenary discussion

09:45 - 10:30

The Way Forward: Conclusions, recommendations, next steps. Closing.

11:00 - 12:00

Post meeting session for CC Network Planning Committee in E110

Thursday, 22nd October - WHO Building: SPECIAL WORKSHOPS

13:00 - 18:00

Healthy Workplaces (EB Room); Healthcare Workers (E233)

13:00 - 21:00

Capacity Building (E110)

Friday, 23rd October: SPECIAL WORKSHOPS: same room allocation as previous day

09:00 - 13:00

Capacity Building

09:00 - 16:00

Healthy Workplaces; Healthcare Workers

Guidance on Getting Badges and Finding Rooms

BADGES: WHEN YOU ARRIVE at the WHO Building: You will need to pick up your badge at the main entrance (allow 30 minutes).

HOW TO FIND THE MEETING ROOMS ALL ARE IN THE WHO BUILDING, EXCEPT THE KOFI ANNAN ROOM, WHICH IS IN THE UNAIDS ROOM

ROOMS USED EACH DAY:

HOW TO FIND THE ROOMS:

Plenary Sessions:

Working Group Rooms:

News from Canada

LATEST ISSUE - INFO IRSST (Electronic newsletter from the Institut de recherche Robert-Sauvé en santé et en sécurité du travail)

www.irsst.qc.ca/media/documents/en/InfoIrsst/Archives/InfoIRSST_v07n05.htm

Pleasant reading!

Jacques Millette

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

News from Germany

Major Conference in Germany: Implementing Occupational Safety and Health Standards Globally in Time of Crisis
3-6 November 2009, Congress Centre Düsseldorf, Germany

The global financial crisis will have a profound effect on the world of work. The International ILO Safety Conference in Düsseldorf will bring together 300 participants from 60 countries around the world during the A+A Trade Fair to discuss the potential impacts of the global economic crisis on safety and health at workplaces

It is now more important than ever to strengthen tripartite efforts behind promoting safety and health at work and ensuring the proper implementation of occupational safety and health standards.

Programme, Time Schedule, Study Tours and the Conference and Hotel registration forms can be found on the conference homepage... more: www.ilosafetyconference2009.org

Application au niveau mondial des normes de sécurité et de santé au travail en période de crise
du 3 au 6 novembre 2009, Centre des congrès, Düsseldorf (Allemagne)

La crise financière qui touche la planète aura un effet profond sur le monde du travail. La Conférence internationale de l'OIT sur la sécurité, qui se déroulera parallèlement au salon A+A, réunira 300 participants originaires de 60 pays de la planète, qui discuteront des impacts possibles de la crise économique mondiale sur la sécurité et la santé sur le lieu de travail.

Aujourd'hui plus que jamais, il est important de multiplier les efforts tripartites entrepris pour promouvoir la sécurité et la santé au travail, et pour veiller à ce que les normes relatives à ce domaine soient véritablement mises en pratique.

On trouvera sur le site web suivant le programme et l'horaire de la conférence, les excursions d'étude et les formulaires d'enregistrement à la conférence et de réservation d'hôtel... plus: www.ilosafetyconference2009.org

La crisis económica mundial tendrá trascendentes efectos en el mundo del trabajo. La Conferencia Internacional sobre Seguridad Ocupacional de la OIT en Düsseldorf reunirá a 300 participantes de 60 países de todo el mundo durante la Feria Monográfica A + A para debatir sobre los eventuales impactos de la crisis global sobre la seguridad y la salud en el puesto de trabajo.

Ahora más que nunca es importante fortalecer los esfuerzos tripartitos destinados a promocionar la seguridad y la salud en el trabajo y a asegurar la adecuada implementación de estándares de seguridad y salud ocupacional.

En la siguiente página incial de la conferencia encontrará el programa, los horarios, paseos informativos y los formularios de inscripción y registro para la conferencia y el hotel... màs: www.ilosafetyconference2009.org

Make my day ... please send your news items to your Editor!

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Contact: Sheila Pantry Associates Ltd, Sheffield S26 1JG, UK | Tel: +44 (0) 1909 771024 | Fax: +44 (0) 1909 772829 | Email: sp@sheilapantry.com
Websites: www.sheilapantry.com | www.oshworld.com | www.shebuyersguide.com | www.oshupdate.com | www.fireinf.com

News from EUROPE

Reminder - 31 October 2009 is the closing date for nominations for the new EFCE Excellence Award in Process Safety

The European Federation of Chemical Engineering (EFCE) announces the call for nominations for the first Excellence Award in Process Safety.

This triennial award aims at recognising a PhD thesis or papers published in the preceding three-year period, which demonstrates the most outstanding contribution to process safety. The award consists of a certificate, a cash prize of € 1500, a travel grant and an invitation to attend the 13th Loss Prevention Symposium in Brugge, Belgium, from 6 to 9 June 2010, where the first award will be presented.

Nominations may be submitted by any PhD supervisor at a PhD-awarding institution in an EFCE member country. The nominated PhD thesis and papers must address a topic relevant to the field of process safety. PhD thesis or papers published between 2006 and 2009 may be nominated for evaluation.

The closing date for nominations is 31 October 2009.

Further information: www.efce.info/ExcellenceAwardProcessSafety.html

News from IALI

IALI's Role in influencing the Decent Work Agenda

IALI - the International Association of Labour Inspection is participating in the implementation of the Decent Work Country Programme (DCWP) with the focus on Labour Inspection and National OSH Strategies at the A+A Congress to held on 3-6 November 2009 in Düsseldorf, Germany.

Programme: www.iali-aiit.org/iali/event_docs/aua09_Kongressuebersicht_finalversion.pdf

News from Italy

14-17 March 2010 - Fourth International Conference on Safety and Environment in the Process Industry (CISAP-4), Florence, Italy

The fourth International Conference on Safety and Environment in the Process Industry, CISAP-4, aims at giving continuation in creating opportunities of meeting and promoting international knowledge sharing in the fields of HSE experiences, research and innovation. An additional aim is to create a permanent biennial forum on HSE topics as well as industrial sustainability and, therefore, to help the process industries to find out the best balance between the expected growth of the enterprise value and the safeguard of the health of employees and population, the safety of operations, the environmental protection.

CISAP-4 will bring together experts from all over the world to exchange key information and hold helpful discussions and will focus on the present leading HSE legislation, forecast evolution, technical experiences and management approaches.

The Conference topics will mainly deal with the following aspects:

The Conference technical program is structured in two parallel sessions, which will be held over three days. The Conference topics will be treated in invited plenary lectures, selected oral presentations and poster sessions. Posters will stay on for the whole Conference promoting author presentation and spontaneous discussion.

PROCEEDINGS

The full set of accepted papers of CISAP-4 Conference (in the form of short papers of 6 pages) will be published into "Chemical Engineering Transactions". The Volume is identified by proper ISBN and ISSN and by a DOI number for each paper. Each Volume is printed both in hard copy and in a CD rom. Each Paper in the volume is covered by a copyright assigned to AIDIC Servizi S.r.l. Each Paper is evaluated for acceptance by at least two Peer Reviewers. Usually the name list of the Reviewers is published before the book publication.

VENUE

"CISAP-4" will be held at Palazzo degli Affari, Piazza Adua 1, 50123 Firenze, Italy.
The exhibition and congress facilities of Firenze Fiera spa are among the most important and best equipped in Italy and it is located in the historical center of Florence.

For more details www.aidic.it/CISAP4

News from Malawi

Child tobacco pickers poisoned, reveals Plan International report

Children as young as 5 are working 12 hour days on Malawi's tobacco farms without protective clothing. A new Plan International report has revealed how child tobacco pickers in Malawi are being exposed to high levels of nicotine poisoning - the equivalent of 50 cigarettes per day.

'Hard work, little pay and long hours' documents how children as young as 5 are working up to 12 hours a day for as little as 1 pence an hour.

It is estimated that over 78,000 children work on tobacco estates across Malawi but Plan's research is thought to be the first with child pickers recording their own experiences.

Sick and abused

The children who took part in Plan's participatory research spoke about the need to work to support themselves, their families and pay school fees.

As well as physical and sexual abuse by their employers many were unknowingly showing classic signs of Green Tobacco Sickness (GTS).

This is a common and recognised hazard of workers absorbing nicotine through their skin by contact with moist tobacco leaves. There is a lack of research into long term effects of GTS in children, but experts believe it could seriously impair their development.

Chest pains

The children reported symptoms including severe headaches, abdominal pain, muscle weakness, coughing and breathlessness.

"Sometimes it feels like you don't have enough breath, you don't have enough oxygen. You reach a point where you cannot breathe because of the pain in your chest. Then the blood comes when you vomit. At the end, most of this dies and then you remain with a headache," one child said.

Malawi is the world's fifth biggest tobacco producer and the crop accounts for 70% of export income but despite the profits of multinational companies, local tobacco farmers continually struggle to break even.

This leads them to look for ways to cut costs with more children being exposed to hazardous and exploitative working conditions.

Corporate responsibility

Plan is now calling upon tobacco companies and plantations to vastly improve working conditions and live up to their own promised corporate responsibility guidelines by scrutinising their suppliers far more closely.

They should provide safe environments and non-exploitative wages and access to education for those children who have to work.

Plan also wants the government of Malawi to rigorously enforce existing child labour and protection laws and review land inheritance laws which restrict families' ownership of land.

Read the 'Hard work, little pay and long hours' report.

Visit Plan Sweden's 'Tobacco's children' campaign website (trailer in English).

Find out more about Plan's work in Malawi.

News from Singapore

Singapore: Workplace Safety & Health Guidelines - Cleaning and Custodial Services

This guideline serves as a workplace safety and health resource for workers, supervisors and key stakeholders who provide or manage cleaning and custodial services in housing estates. It provides safety and health information, guidance on the identification of work hazards and the preventive measures that can be taken. For the handling of hazards specific to other work environment/industries, readers should refer to other relevant technical advisories, guidelines or materials where available.

For further details go to: https://www.wshc.sg/wps/themes/html/upload/cms/file/WSH_Guidelines-Cleaning_&_Custodial_Services.pdf

Singapore Workplace Safety & Health Council, July 2009

News from Spain

A lively and very innovative interview to the director of EU-OSHA, Dr Jukka Takala, can be now downloaded from the Agency's website.

Dr Takala is in his office in Bilbao, giving his views on the most important topics related to occupational health and safety in Europe and EU-OSHA contribution to the improvement of European workers' working conditions.

Through 28 questions, Dr Takala speaks about OSH policies and strategies in the EU, the Agency's European Information Campaigns, the evolution of occupational health and safety in the last years, statistics and figures, and the current economic crisis and its repercussion on health and safety at workplaces.

http://osha.europa.eu/en/teaser/Interview_Takala

News from the UK

RR729 - Establishing the requirements for internal examination of high hazard process plan

Low pressure cryogenic storage vessels are routinely left in service for long periods of time without examination of the internal surfaces. This approach to examination is being considered and applied for pressure vessels storing other products at warmer temperatures, but where the 'service' may also be declared 'clean and non-corrosive'. However, there is a need to establish the circumstances where intervals between internal examinations could be justifiably extended on the basis of a risk-based inspection (RBI) assessment, especially when the consequences of failure would be high.

This report and the work it describes were funded by the UK Health and Safety Executive (HSE). Its contents, including any opinions and/or conclusions expressed, are those of the authors alone and do not necessarily reflect HSE policy.

View the full report: www.hse.gov.uk/research/rrpdf/rr729.pdf

News from the USA

Dr John Howard re-appointed Director of NIOSH: really good news

US HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius announced the selection of John Howard, M.D., as the new director for NIOSH and the coordinator for HHS World Trade Center Health Programs.

Dr. Howard previously served as NIOSH director from 2002 through 2008.

She also thanked Dr. Christine M. Branche for her excellent service as Acting Director and welcomed Dr. Howard's return as do many people, not only in the USA, but around the World.

www.hhs.gov/news/press/2009pres/09/20090903d.html

News from the USA

Essential Elements for Risk Management Suggested

Six essential features for proactive management of occupational safety and health risks in emerging industries such as nanotechnology are suggested in an article in the August 2009 issue of Nature Nanotechnology. The authors are Vladimir Murashov, Ph.D., Special Assistant to the NIOSH Director, and John Howard, M.D., newly reappointed as NIOSH Director.

www.nature.com/nnano/journal/v4/n8/full/nnano.2009.205.html

News from the USA

Nanotechnology safety and health

US National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) global leadership and international teamwork in research on nanotechnology safety and health are reflected in three new reports from the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD).

For links to these reports, see "Nanotechnology Spotlights" on the NIOSH Topic Page: Nanotechnology at www.cdc.gov/niosh/topics/nanotech.

News from the USA

Statement from US Chemical Safety Board Chairman John Bresland on Bayer CropScience re Announcement Concerning Methyl Isocyanate

John Bresland says: "The US Chemical Safety Board (CSB) is continuing to investigate the serious explosion that occurred one year ago at the Bayer CropScience (Bayer) pesticide manufacturing site in Institute, West Virginia. We have completed the collection of most of the evidence on the causes of the explosion itself. Consistent with a May 2009 request from Congress, our investigation is currently examining options for Bayer to reduce or eliminate the use and storage of highly toxic methyl isocyanate (MIC) at the Institute site. Several Bayer officials briefed me and other CSB personnel on a plan which they said would reduce the average inventory of MIC at the Institute site by 80%. This would be accomplished in part by eliminating the on-site production of two MIC-derived carbamate pesticides, and in part by restricting the inventory of MIC needed for producing two remaining pesticides. They also stated the company would end the bulk storage of MIC in aboveground tanks, including the 40,000-pound capacity MIC; that was located approximately 80 feet away from the point of origin of the August 28 explosion. That tank, as I noted in Congressional testimony in April, was exposed to potential projectiles and other hazards from the explosion. Bayer indicated that all the changes should be completed within about 12 months.

Any measures by Bayer to reduce the inventory of MIC at the facility are a positive development, provided that the safety and environmental risk is truly mitigated. If implemented in a careful and conscientious manner, the steps Bayer has outlined will lessen the risk to the public and the workforce from an uncontrolled release of MIC. Bayer stated that the current round of changes would be implemented at a cost of $25 million and without any loss of jobs at the Institute plant.

The CSB team will continue to examine the feasibility of switching to alternative chemicals or processes, as requested by Congress. Our final report should be ready for consideration in the first half of 2010, at which time I anticipate we will hold another public meeting in West Virginia. In the meantime, I urge Bayer to continue to pursue measures to improve the safety of the site. These include ensuring that operating procedures are up-to-date and are followed, that air monitoring systems are adequate and are functional, and that there is adequate staffing and training for all hazardous processes".

For more information, contact Director of Public Affairs Dr. Daniel Horowitz, 202-261-7613, cell 202-441-6074.

News from the USA

USFA Announces the Release of a Report on Emergency Vehicle Visibility and Conspicuity

The United States Fire Administration (USFA), in partnership with the International Fire Service Training Association (IFSTA), announces the release of the Emergency Vehicle Visibility and Conspicuity Study (PDF, 2.2 Mb). The study report highlights the results of a U.S. Department of Justice - National Institute of Justice (NIJ) supported project intended to enhance emergency vehicle and roadway operations safety for firefighters, law enforcement officers, and other emergency responders.

"With vehicle crashes and emergency responders being struck on the roadway being a major cause of on-duty fatalities, it is important to examine all technologies to reduce this tragic cause of death," said USFA Deputy Fire Administrator Glenn A. Gaines. "We are grateful for the U.S. Department of Justice's NIJ support of this study that will benefit the fire and emergency services and law enforcement alike."

The study report discusses best practices in emergency vehicle visibility and conspicuity, including cutting edge international efforts. It covers retroreflective striping and chevrons, high-visibility paint, built-in passive light, and other reflectors for law enforcement patrol vehicles, fire apparatus, ambulances and other EMS vehicles, and motorcycles.

The Emergency Vehicle Visibility and Conspicuity Study and further information on USFA's emergency vehicle safety projects may be found on the USFA Web site at www.usfa.dhs.gov/fireservice/research/safety/vehicle.shtm

Call for papers for ECCE-7/CHISA 2010

The 19th International Congress of Chemical and Process Engineering CHISA 2010 and the 7th European Congress of Chemical Engineering ECCE-7, Prague/CZ, 29 August - 2 September 2010 will cover a wide range of important topics and will offer many interdisciplinary links.

The Congress program will include the satellite PRES 2010 Conference as well as the standard sessions and specialized symposia, including the Symposium on environmental engineering, Symposium on electrochemical engineering, Symposium on safety in chemical industry, Symposium on supercritical fluid applications, Symposium on food processing and technology, Symposium on micro- and mesoporous materials, Symposium on process intensification and miniaturisation, Symposium on progress in chemical technology and biotechnology.

Meetings of EFCE Working Parties and special workshops will also be organized.

Congress website: www.chisa.cz/2010

The call for papers is open. Deadline for submission of abstracts: 30 November 2009

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7 October - World Day for Decent Work - Get the World to Work

Coming up fast - the World Day for Decent Work on 7 October, ITUC General Secretary Guy Ryder has issued a call to action headed "Get the World to Work" to encourage participation in the worldwide mobilisation to tackle the global economic and employment crisis and ensure fundamental reform of the world economy.

Trade unions in every region are gearing up for their October 7 activities, with organisations from more than 30 countries having already posted information on their events onto the special website www.wddw.org.

OSHE web sites to explore...

We look at websites in different parts of the world that are offering quality information. This month we look at a variety of websites from Luxembourg to The Netherlands.

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

If we do not have your web site please send it to me sp@sheilapantry.com

NEW ZEALAND

Accident Compensation Corporation   ACC
www.acc.co.nz/preventing-injuries
Accident Compensation Corporation (ACC) Back Injury Prevention web site contains managing acute low back pain in the workplace. ACC administers New Zealand's accident compensation scheme, which provides accident insurance for all New Zealand citizens, residents and temporary visitors to New Zealand. In return people do not have the right to sue for personal injury, other than for exemplary damages. Covers a number of topics and guidance.

Occupational Safety and Health Service of the Department of Labour
www.osh.do.govt.nz
Occupational Safety and Health Service of the Department of Labour details publications, training and education resources, health and safety law and hazards.

University of Canterbury
www.civil.canterbury.ac.nz
Information on the University's fire engineering degree course and also research.

NORTHERN IRELAND

Health and Safety Executive
www.hseni.gov.uk
Health and Safety Executive, Northern Ireland gives information about news, guidance notes, press releases, publications, contact details and addresses, related sites, and other information and other information.

NORWAY

National Occupational Health and Safety
http://no.osha.europa.eu
National Occupational Health and Safety site contains a wealth of information including an overview of the occupational health and safety regulatory system in Norway, provides access to up-to-date national OSH information on legislation and regulations, good practice solutions to workplace safety problems, research, statistics, training and other fields.

Nordstat
www.nordstat.net
The purpose of Nordstat.net is to collect and communicate information and data related to mainly fire incidents taking place in the Nordic countries. Can be used by national institutions dealing with fire statistics as well as members of the public. Nordstat.net contains statistics related to fires, environmental and traffic accidents combined with information on blind and false alarms. On Nordstat.net you can also find statistics on fire deaths categorised according to gender, age, month (date), cause of fire and scene of fire.

SINTEF Group
www.sintef.no
SINTEF Group comprise of a number of Institutes and Laboratories such as the Norwegian Fire Research Laboratory working in research in civil and environmental engineering, applied chemistry, materials technology, petroleum, fire etc. Offers publications, seminars and conferences.

University of Oslo: Translated Norwegian legislation
www.juridisk.net
University of Oslo, Faculty of Law Library has produced a collection on the present site consists mostly of translations initiated by Governmental Agencies, Royal Ministries and private institutions. The translations are unofficial and only updated at the time of the translation. The aim of the Faculty of Law Library is to make any translation of Norwegian legislation (acts and regulations) available to the public. In addition these texts may well provide our users with accurate and workable equivalents of legal Norwegian in English. The library itself does not undertake any translation work. Most entries have links to the acts and regulations in full-text, either as html, word-files or in PDF format.

PHILIPPINES

Philippines Occupational Safety and Health Center-DOLE
www.oshc.dole.gov.ph
Philippines Occupational Safety and Health Center-DOLE is the national authority in the prevention of work-related accidents and diseases. Website features the centre's activities in research, training, legislation, information activities and technical services, including the Information Services that is also the International Labour Office Health and Safety Information (CIS) Centre. There is an extensive list of events.

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Diary of Events

These events may inspire you and your organisation to offer similar type 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 that is constantly being updated.

2009

24-27 November 2009 - Fire Systems Integrity Assurance (FSIA) in the Oil, Gas and Petrochemical Sectors: Training Workshop
Shangri-La Hotel, 22 Orange Grove Road, Singapore 258350
Contact: Resource Protection International, Walker House, George Street, Aylesbury, Bucks HP20 2JH, United Kingdom | Email: ramsden@resprotint.co.uk | www.resprotint.co.uk

27 November 2009 - British Safety Council: Sword of Honour Banquet
Goldsmith's Hall, London EC2V 6BN
Contact: British Safety Council, 70 Chancellors Road, London W6 9RS | Tel: (0208) 741 1231 | www.britsafe.org/soh.aspx

10 December 2009 - 5th Annual Health and Safety Conference: Health and Safety Agenda for 2010
London, UK
Programme organised and chaired by Sheila Pantry OBE
Contact: Customer Services, Croner Training, 7th Floor, Elizabeth House, York Road, London SE1 7NQ, UK | Tel: 0845 082 1170 | Fax: 0845 120 9612 | Email: services@cronertraining.co.uk

2010

27-28 January 2010 - Be Safe, Be Profitable: Protecting Workers in Agriculture: 2010 ASHCA-NIOSH Conference
Dallas/Fort Worth, Texas, USA
Agricultural Safety and Health Council of America and US National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
Contact: CALL FOR ABSTRACTS: POSTER PRESENTATIONS invites researchers and others involved in agricultural safety and health to submit an abstract for a poster presentation. Deadline for poster abstract submission is September 9, 2009.
Contact: www.ashca.com | Questions regarding abstracts can be directed to ashca@mcrf.mfldclin.edu

10-12 February 2010 - International Conference Towards Better Work and Well-being
Helsinki, Finland
Contact: Conference Secretariat, Finnish Institute of Occupational Health, Topeliuksenkatu 41 a A, FIN-00250 Helsinki, FINLAND | Tel: +358 30 474 2498 | Email: betterwork@ttl.fi | www.ttl.fi/en/international/conferences/towards_better_work

25-28 February 2010 - IXth ASSE-MEC Professional Development Conference & Exhibition: Global look into Safety, Health and Environment
Bahrain
Contact: American Society of Safety Engineers (ASSE) | Email: info@asse-mec.org | www.asse-mec.org

March 2010 - NIVA Course: The evidence-based approach for OSH professionals
Kuopio, Finland.
Contact: www.niva.org

2-5 March 2010 - The First International Health, Safety & Environment Exhibition
Kish Island, Kish Free Zone, Persian Gulf
Contact: Tel: +98 21 88658216-8 | www.hseinternationalexpo.com

8-9 March 2010 - Forum III: Leading the Change
Hilton Lac-Leamy, Gatineau, Canada
Contact: CCOHS | Tel: + 1 800 668 4284 | www.ccohs.ca/events/forumIII