CIS Newsletter

No. 249
June 2010

CIS Newsletter celebrates 22 years & still going strong!
Bringing news from Members to Members in over 154 countries in the CIS Network!

Contents

  1. Editorial
  2. CIS Annual Meeting 2010 in Beijing, China
  3. World No Tobacco Day - 31 May 2010
  4. News, events and ideas from around the World - Armenia, Belgium, China, Europe, Finland, Italy, Japan, Korea, Macedonia, Malaysia, Morocco, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, UK, and USA to name a few!
  5. Recent Books
  6. OSHE websites to explore
  7. Diary of Events

The WHO Network of Collaborating Centre Connection (CCC) e-newsletter: www.cdc.gov/niosh/ccc

ILO CIS Network Newsletters: www.sheilapantry.com/cis

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 from the UK. 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

Greetings

Hope the events in your country to commemorate the 28 April 2010 World Day of Safety and Health day were a huge success.

Don't forget to continuously promote CIS and the Network!

The CIS Newsletter this month contains a range of information received from many parts of the OSH World - for which many thanks. There is a reminder of the CIS Annual Meeting 2010 in China.

If you are planning any publications, conferences, seminars or training courses, then please send your details to me so that we can share your efforts with others. Don't forget to send me your latest news! It is amazing how much the CIS Newsletter content gets re-used around the world.

Any views you have on CIS and its work send into CIS HQ.

There is so much occupational safety and health information around the world - but do remember that any information that you use must be validated and authoritative and up- to-date.

Keep up your Publicity... tell them, tell them and tell them again...

Remember that CIS Newsletters electronic archive going back nearly 7 years is available on www.sheilapantry.com/cis

Thanks for the publications, emails and news - these are always gratefully received.

Will you be Surviving in 2010?... perhaps you will if you make efforts in promotion, publicity and telling the World that CIS and its network exists!

Use the CIS Logo on your web site and publications!

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

News from CIS in Geneva

JUST IN CASE YOU MISSED THIS NEWS
... PRELIMINARY ANNOUNCEMENT

48th annual Meeting of CIS National, Collaborating and Regional Centres to be held in conjunction with the 5th China International Forum on Work Safety in Beijing, China

Dear CIS network members,

Following last year's CIS 50th anniversary meeting, it is a pleasure to invite you to the 48th annual Meeting of CIS National, Collaborating and Regional Centres, to be held in conjunction with the 5th China International Forum on Work Safety in Beijing, China. The CIS Meeting will take place at the Intercontinental Beijing Beichen Hotel on Monday, 30 August 2010, from 9 am till 6 pm.

The 5th China International Forum on Safety at Work will take place after the CIS Meeting, on 31 August - 2 September 2010. More information on this Meeting can be found here: www.sino-safework.org.cn/en/page_index3.php?id=2&m=2&b=1

We encourage all participants of the CIS Meeting to register for and attend the 5th China Forum, an important OSH meeting with strong international participation.

We shall send you an official invitation to the CIS Meeting in the near future together with a Provisional Agenda and detailed information on accommodation and travel arrangements.

If you intend to attend the CIS Meeting, please inform the CIS Secretariat by sending an e-mail to: ciscentres@ilo.org

Alternatively, you can send it by mail to the address indicated below:

International Occupational Safety and Health Information Centre (CIS), Secretariat, International Labour Office (ILO), 4, route des Morillons, CH-1211 Geneva 22, Switzerland.

Hoping to see you all in August,

Yours sincerely,

Gábor Sándi
21 April 2010

News from the WHO

World No Tobacco Day - 31 May 2010

On 31st May each year WHO celebrates World No Tobacco Day, highlighting the health risks associated with tobacco use and advocating for effective policies to reduce consumption. Tobacco use is the second cause of death globally (after hypertension) and is currently responsible for killing one in 10 adults worldwide.

The theme for World No Tobacco Day 2010 is gender and tobacco, with an emphasis on marketing to women. WHO will use the day to draw particular attention to the harmful effects of tobacco marketing and smoke on women and girls.

The World Health Assembly created World No Tobacco Day in 1987 to draw global attention to the tobacco epidemic and its lethal effects. It provides an opportunity to highlight specific tobacco control messages and to promote adherence to the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control. Tobacco use is the number one preventable epidemic that the health community faces.

Related links

News from around the World...

News from Belgium about China

A new report by the ITUC on core labour standards in People's Republic of China

The was published to coincide with the World Trade Organisation's (WTO) review of its trade policies, has found that further measures are needed to comply with the commitments China accepted when it joined the WTO.

China has ratified only four of the eight core ILO labour Conventions. The report notes that Chinese trade unions have to be affiliated to the ACFTU, and any effort to establish independent unions is repressed. Although there are some efforts to promote collective wage consultation systems, the right to collectively bargain is severely restricted and many Chinese workers are not covered by collective agreements. Despite the lack of a right to strike except in cases of "health and safety work stoppages", many workers undertake industrial action to pressure for long standing unresolved issues, claim unpaid wages and demand better working conditions and wages. Industrial actions and protests have increased in recent years.

The ITUC report finds that institutionalised discrimination against migrant workers from rural areas remains a serious problem, despite recent legislation. Immigrant workers who live unregistered in the cities do not have access to public services such as education for their children. Discrimination on the grounds of gender is prohibited by law but, in practice, women are not equally remunerated and tend more often to find employment in unskilled and labour-intensive sectors. Moreover, ethnic minorities and persons who live with HIV/AIDS and Hepatitis B frequently suffer from discrimination in remuneration and in access to employment, education and public services.

While national legislation stipulates that no children younger than 16 years old are allowed to work, the report finds that child labour is a serious problem in China. Children are sometimes employed in the worst forms of child labour. Work-study programmes, run under school auspices, frequently result in forced child labour.

Forced labour is prohibited but occurs in commercial enterprises. China imposes forced prison labour as a form of "re-education through labour", and a similar forced labour system for "rehabilitation" is in force for drug addicts. Trafficking in human beings is prohibited by law but remains a serious problem. There has not been much progress in prosecuting traffickers and in protecting and assisting victims of trafficking, which affects women, men and children.

The ITUC report is available at: www.ituc-csi.org/IMG/pdf/Chinal_Final-2.pdf

News from Japan

Global Forum of Crisis Management and Crisis Communication for Health Care

The following international congress is announced:

The 1st announcement (Call for Presentation Abstract and Paper): www.urmpm.org/CrisisManagement2010/Annuncement.pdf

Date
November 1 (Mon) - November 2 (Thu), 2010
Venue
The University of Tokyo, Hongo Medical Campus, Tokyo, Japan
Organizer
Union of Risk Management for Preventive Medicine (URMPM): www.urmpm.org
Purpose
This academic congress aims to promote global exchange of science and technology concerning crisis management and crisis communication for health care sector toward patient safety, new influenza outbreak and disaster.
Targeted participants
Medical personnel, policy maker, mass media, students, only.
Deadline of registration submission
People who need Japan visa: 20 October, 2010
People without Japan visa: 1 September, 2010
Deadline of abstract submission
1 September, 2010
Procedure and fee of registration and participation
Please find in the following homepage of this academic congress: www.urmpm.org/CrisisManagement2010

Shirley V. Villalobos Chaves, Assistant of Editor in Chief for JMS, International Secretary of Union of Risk Management for Preventive Medicine (URMPM), URMPM Head Office, 4-36-2-103 Hongo, Bunkyoku, Tokyo, 113-0033, Japan | E-mail: secr-office@umin.net | Tel: +81-3-3817-7010 (81 is the country code of Japan) | Fax: +81-3-3817-6770 (81 is the country code of Japan)

News from Macedonia

Presentation of the OSH Management System

On 27.04.2010 in Skopski Saem, MOSHA organized a Round Table on the topic of "Presentation of the OSH Management System". Participants on the Round Table where representatives of the Government of R. M, Norwegian Labor Authority, International Labor Organization, State Labor Inspectorate, Employers and Employee Organizations, Institute for Public Health, Institute for Labor Medicine and guests from Serbia, Kosovo and Bulgaria.

Presenters and themes at this round table were:

The Round Table ended with the presentations of the guests from Bulgaria and Serbia.

www.mzzpr.org.mk/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=581:round-table-presentation-of-the-osh-management-system&catid=46:mosha&Itemid=76&lang=en

Ljupco Kocovski, ILO/CIS center coordinator, Macedonian Occupational Safety and Health Association, 29 Noemvri 50, 1000 Skopje, Republic of Macedonia | Tel/fax: ++ 389 (0)2 2774 868 | Cell: ++389 (0)75 432 051 | www.mzzpr.org.mk

URGENT DEADLINE

News from Morocco

The 8th International Conference on Occupational Health for Health-Care Workers will be held from October 28-31, 2010 in Casablanca, Morocco call for papers and posters

This conference is organized by the International Commission on Occupational Health (ICOH), by the International Social Security Administration (ISSA) Section for Prevention in Health Services, and by the Hassan II University of Casablanca.

The abstract deadline for papers and posters is May 31, 2010.

Website: www.issa.int

Abstracts should be submitted to wifaqkamal@gmail.com or lengert.eileen@baua.bund.de

Please direct other queries to Professor Abdeljalil El Kholti, email: akholti1@menara.ma

Submission of abstracts

You are kindly invited to submit one or more abstracts to the 8th International Conference on Occupational Health for Health Care Workers jointly organized by ICOH and ISSA:

We are looking forward to welcoming you in Morocco

Professor Abdeljalil El Kholti
Medical Faculty of Casablanca, Morocco
Chair of the Organising Committee (akholti1@menara.ma)

Professor Gustav Wickström
Turku, Finland, Chair of the Scientific Committee
Contact person for abstract submission (gustav.wickstrom@gmail.com)

Dr. Sigfried Sandner
ISSA, Section on Prevention of Occupational Risks in Health Services, BGW, Germany

Professor Hans Martin Hasselhorn
Federal Institute of Occupational Safety and Health; Berlin, Germany
(technical support of the Scientific Committee)

Those interested in organising symposia on some specific theme, please contact the Chair of the Scientific Committee, Professor Gustav Wickström (gustav.wickstrom@gmail.com).

News from the Netherlands

New "Roadmap" to Boost Action on Child Labour

The ITUC has welcomed the adoption of a new child labour "Roadmap" at the recent international conference in the Dutch capital The Hague this week, which will give a new push to reach a target set by the International Labour Organisation to eliminate the worst forms of child labour by 2016.

"With 215 million children at work instead of school, and around half of these in the most hazardous and exploitative forms of child labour, the international community needs to push much harder if there is to be any chance of reaching the 2016 deadline. It is an international scandal that, nearly 40 years after the ILO adopted Convention 138 on the Minimum Age for Employment, and more than a decade since the adoption of Convention 182 on the Worst Forms of Child Labour, so many boys and girls are still at work in the fields, streets, and factories or in domestic work instead of getting an education," said ITUC General Secretary Guy Ryder.

30 trade union representatives from the ITUC, national affiliates and Global Union Federations took part in the Conference alongside representatives of employer organisations, governments from 80 countries and non-government organisations including the Global March Against Child Labour. The union delegation was hosted by the ITUC-affiliated FNV-Netherlands and the Dutch Government, which organised the event in cooperation with the ILO.

The Roadmap recognises that tackling the worst forms of child labour works best when it is integrated into action to abolish all child labour and provide free, quality education to all children without exception. It puts the agriculture sector, which accounts for 60% of child labour, and domestic work, in which mainly girls face appalling exploitation, into the international spotlight, and recognises that providing decent jobs to adults is crucial in ensuring that children are able to go to school and complete their education.

The results of the Conference will be submitted to the June ILO Conference, which will debate progress towards ending child labour, based on a key ILO report "Accelerating action against child labour" www.ilo.org/global/What_we_do/Publications/lang--en/docName--WCMS_126752/index.htm

The ITUC represents 176 million workers in 155 countries and territories and has 312 national affiliates.

www.ituc-csi.org | www.youtube.com/user/ITUCCSI | www.ilo.org/global/about-the-ilo/press-and-media-centre/press-releases/WCMS_127015/lang--en/index.htm

News from Poland

60th Anniversary of CIOP-PIB, Poland

In 2010 the Central Institute for Labour Protection - National Research Institute (CIOP-PIB), which plays the role of Polish National CIS Centre, has its 60th Anniversary.

A special publication on the Institute, its history and present, (also in English) has been prepared.

The main celebrations of this jubilee will take place in May and June 2010.

In the next CIS Newsletter we will send information describing the celebrations

www.ciop.pl

15th International Conference on Noise Control

The jubilee XV International Conference on Noise Control "NOISE CONTROL 2010" will take place in the Książ Castle near Wrocław, Poland, June, 6-9 2010.

This Conference is one of a few events commemorating 60 years of the Central Institute for Labour Protection - National Research Institute (CIOP-PIB).

The Conference is addressed to those involved in the problems of noise and vibration control in research and development, occupational safety and health management, technical consultancy, training courses, and legislative and standardisation work related to the working and natural environments. It is also aimed at manufacturers of measurement apparatus and sound/vibration absorbing materials and equipment.

More information: www.ciop.pl/20280.html

SAWO Fair 2010, May 2010, Poznań, Poland

The 20th International Fair of Work Protection, Fire-fighting and Rescue Equipment - SAWO 2010 has just finished. SAWO 2010 jointly with the International Trade Fair of Installations and Equipment INSTALACJE 2010, International Water and Sewage Trade Fair WODOCIĄGI 2010, International Fireplaces Exhibition KOMINKI 2010 and International Security Exhibition SECUREX 2010 was visited by almost 30 000 professionals.

The SAWO International Fair of Work Protection, Fire-Fighting and Rescue Equipment, which is held every two years, is the most important forum in Poland for showcasing cutting-edge work safety equipment and solutions are presented. The subject matter of the fair is supplemented by the assortment for fire fighting and rescue services. This year, the fair's twentieth event hosted exhibitors from Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, China, Czech Republic, Denmark, France, Spain, the Netherlands, South Korea, Lithuania, Malaysia, Germany, Poland, Russia, Sri Lanka, Switzerland, Sweden, Great Britain and Italy. Over 200 companies offered personal protective equipment, collective protective equipment, detectors, fire fighter's personal protective equipment, rescue equipment, fire protection, marking. Polish and international business leaders were present among those companies.

Prestigious awards are presented at the SAWO fair: Grand Prix and Gold Medals of the SAWO. The Minister of Labour and Social Policy, the Chief Labour Inspector, the Director of the Central Institute for Labour Protection - National Research Institute and the Chief Marshall of State Fire Service give Grand Prix and Gold Medals in the following categories: personal protection, rescue equipment and fire services equipment, fire protection, education and prevention, other technical products and solutions related to the subject matter of the SAWO fair. The product that increases the safety of work and the efficiency of Voluntary Fire Brigades is awarded the Medal of the President of the Management Board of the Voluntary Fire Brigades Association in the Republic of Poland.

The SAWO 2010 fair was held under the auspices of the Minister of Economy, the Minister of Labour and Social Policy, the Chief Labour Inspector and the Chief Marshall of State Fire Services.

The next SAWO will be in 2012 in Poznań.

More information: http://sawo.mtp.pl/en

News from Spain

Safe maintenance in focus with the launch of the new Healthy Workplaces Campaign

To mark the World Day for Safety and Health at Work on 28 April, the European Agency for Safety and Health at Work (EU-OSHA) launched its new Healthy Workplaces Campaign for 2010/11, promoting safe maintenance across Europe. In some European countries as much as 20% of all workplace accidents are connected with maintenance and in a number of sectors over half of all accidents are maintenance-related.

Maintenance is essential to prevent workplace risks, but it is itself a high risk activity for the workers that carry it out. It is estimated that in Europe 10-15% of fatal accidents at work can be attributed to maintenance operations. It is vital, therefore, that maintenance is carried out properly, taking into consideration workers' safety and health.

Launching the Campaign at the European Commission's headquarters in Brussels, Dr Jukka Takala, Director of EU-OSHA, alongside the EU Commissioner for Employment, Social Affairs and Inclusion, Mr László Andor, outlined the campaign's objectives and the basic rules for safe maintenance as a key contribution to healthy workplaces.

Mr Andor giving his backing to the Campaign, said: "Maintenance is a daily part of every workplace and sector. The 20% of accidents currently linked to maintenance is too high and shows it's an area where we have to raise awareness and step up our efforts". He added: "Our overall strategy is to cut all work-related accidents in the EU by 25% over the coming years. This campaign will help to raise awareness about maintenance-related risks, saving lives across Europe and bringing us closer to our overall goal for safer and healthier workplaces".

Poorly managed maintenance activities and procedures raise the risks of workplace accidents, including fatal accidents, involving workers at all levels across a wide range of industries. In one of the worst incidents of its kind in Europe, the Piper Alpha disaster of 1988 saw the North Sea oil and gas platform turned into a blazing inferno within seconds, killing 167 workers - a tragic example of the potential consequences of inadequate maintenance procedures.

You can download the official campaign guide and other campaign materials (presentations, publications and promotional material in 22 languages) and find campaign events that will be happening near you, on the Healthy Workplaces Campaign 2010/11 website: http://hw.osha.europa.eu

Maintenance at a glance: http://osha.europa.eu/en/topics/maintenance

The Healthy Workplaces Campaign 2010-2011, which is co-ordinated by the European Agency for Safety and Health at Work and its partners in the 27 EU Member States and beyond, supports a wide range of activities at the national and European level that promote safe maintenance. It is backed by the EU Presidencies of Spain and Belgium in 2010 and of Hungary and Poland in 2011, by the European Parliament and the European Commission, and by the European Social Partners.

Over the two years of the campaign, many events and activities will be organised within the Member States. One of the principal activities to support the campaign is the European Good Practice Awards that is organised specifically to identify examples of good practice related to safe maintenance.

Other campaign highlights include two European Weeks for Safety and Health at Work, in October 2010 and October 2011. The European Weeks, which have been running since 2000, are annual events that promote improved safety and health in the workplace.

Individuals and organisations of all sizes can take part in these events, or organise their own. For instance, they can get involved in safety demonstrations, training events, seminars and workshops. For those pan-European or international organisations that want to be more substantially involved in the campaign and are able to multiply their efforts through their network members, there is also the opportunity to become an official EU Campaign partner. The previous Healthy Workplaces campaign attracted 43 multinationals, EU social partners, NGOs and others and EU-OSHA aims for a considerable increase in this figure for the current Safe Maintenance Campaign.

The Campaign focuses on raising awareness of the risks associated with maintenance activities, promoting good practice and supporting EU and Member State policies, activities and initiatives in this area. The campaign also highlights the importance of maintenance (of plants, equipment, machines and workplaces) to eliminate workplace hazards, and to provide safer and healthier working conditions in workplaces throughout Europe. The ultimate aim, of course, is to help to reduce the number of people who are being hurt or are experiencing ill health as a result of inadequate maintenance or lack of maintenance, now and in the future.

http://hw.osha.europa.eu

News from the UK

Never has access to OSH information been easier - or cheaper!

OSH UPDATE keeps growing with the latest full text and bibliographic records... helping to keep people as up-to-date as possible...

OSH UPDATE - arguably one of the world's best collections of full text and bibliographic health and safety information, is continuously updated as new data is published.

You may have had access to OSH-ROM for many years and will now know that it has ceased publication. OSH-ROM was created by Sheila Pantry OBE who subsequently, in 2004, produced OSH UPDATE.

Don't make health and safety decisions without consulting the world's authoritative and validated guidance and advice that is found within OSH UPDATE. www.oshupdate.com

Why not take a FREE NO OBLIGATION TRIAL FOR 15 DAY OF OSH UPDATE now?

Send your request at www.sheilapantry.com/interest.html

News from the UK

Accreditation can help build trust, says health and safety leader

Leading professional body IOSH has been lobbying hard for health and safety consultants to be subject to a formal programme of accreditation

That is the message John Holden, president of the Institution of Occupational Safety and Health (IOSH) gave to fellow professionals and distinguished guests, including politicians, (and your Editor) at a special IOSH lunch held at the House of Lords, Thursday 20 May 2010.

The IOSH leader claim that accreditation of health and safety professionals will help to make health and safety more trusted and more respected. It will also strike a major blow in the fight to quash the silly myths that have come to surround health and safety.

Challenging IOSH members to "not get mad but get even - even more professional than we've ever been before", John told the invited audience how IOSH (the world's largest health and safety body) has been encouraged by the cross-party political support it has gained on the question of accreditation, including its own work, in partnership with other industry leaders, to progress a pilot accreditation scheme for all health and safety professionals.

John said "The official guidance to the law tells businesses they must get a 'competent assistant... at an appropriate level' to help them with their health and safety. Yet employers and recruiters are left to guess what 'competence' actually means. Shockingly, at the moment, anyone can claim to be a health and safety 'adviser', without any qualifications or experience."

He continued "This possible playground for poor advice is potentially very threatening to workers, whose lives and long term health can be put at risk; to businesses, in terms of wasted time and money; and to people whose image of health and safety is formed by negative media coverage of some poor decisions dressed up as 'health and safety."

John also called for more help to be offered to workers with health problems to help them either stay at or return to work: "This is an area where the modern health and safety professional can, I believe, make a vital contribution - that of linking the expertise of the health professionals with the realities of the workplace.

"Good work is not only good for health, it's also good for productivity and profitability and if we're to pull out of this present economic crisis, workplace health and safety is going to need to play a strong part."

News from the USA

CSB Receives Prestigious European Process Safety Award for Safety Videos First Award of Its Kind to a U.S. Organisation

The U.S. Chemical Safety Board (CSB) has received the prestigious European Process Safety Centre (EPSC) Award 2010 for the CSB Safety Video series, Centre officials announced today. The award is given to acknowledge "progress toward a less-hazardous Europe" and is made to an individual or team which "has considerably advanced the theory or practice of process safety."

It is the first time the Centre has given the award to an American entity, and only the second to an organization or individual outside of Europe.

CSB Chairman John Bresland said, "The CSB is pleased and honored to be the recipient of this coveted award in recognition of our Safety Video program. We are proud of the videos and the fact that they are used to promote chemical process safety around the world. We are doubly honored to know we are the first organization in the United States to receive the EPSC award."

The EPSC was founded by the European Federation of Chemical Engineering and has a membership that includes leading chemical companies, manufacturers, contractors, consultants, and academic institutions, representing a significant part of the process safety community in Europe. As its website notes, the Centre is an industry-funded network which exists to provide an independent forum for the leadership and support of process safety within Europe.

CSB Safety Videos are sophisticated, fast-moving and in-depth examinations of major chemical accidents investigated by the CSB. They feature computer animations that depict the chain of events leading to explosions, fires, leaks, tragic loss of life and serious injury. They typically include commentary by CSB investigators, board members, outside experts, accident victims and eyewitnesses, threaded into dramatic and compelling narratives.

Dr. Daniel Horowitz, CSB Director of Congressional, Public and Board Affairs, who oversees the production of the videos, said, "The EPSC Award is an exciting acknowledgement of our work in producing 17 safety videos since our first effort in 2005. We have distributed over 100,000 DVD sets of our videos around the world, and they have been viewed millions of times online. We have received thousands of messages praising the videos - from labor leaders, workers, safety training managers, company executives, trade associations, and other stakeholders across many industries. It is extremely rewarding to be cited by an organization representing all the major chemical process players in Europe, who state the videos are helping to advance the practice of process safety."

Dr. Horowitz will accept the award during a presentation in Bruges, Belgium, in June of this year.

Last year's winner of the EPSC Award was Francis Stoessel of the Swiss Institute for the Promotion of Safety and Security, for his work on the development of the criticality scale for chemical batch and semi-batch reactions. In 2008, the award was presented to Professor Andrew Hopkins of Australian National University for his writing on "learning from accidents" and particularly his published review of the BP Texas City Refinery accident of 2005, "Failure to Learn, the BP Texas City Refinery Disaster." The CSB investigated that accident. Dr. Hopkins appeared in the CSB safety video, "Anatomy of a Disaster," which detailed the causes of the tragedy.

The CSB is an independent federal agency charged with investigating serious chemical accidents. The agency's board members are appointed by the president and confirmed by the Senate. CSB investigations look into all aspects of chemical accidents, including physical causes such as equipment failure as well as inadequacies in regulations, industry standards, and safety management systems.

The Board does not issue citations or fines but does make safety recommendations to plants, industry organizations, labor groups, and regulatory agencies such as OSHA and EPA. Visit our website, www.csb.gov.

News from the USA

The May issue of LIFELINES ONLINE (Vol. VI, No. 12) is available at the LHSFNA website. These are the headlines:

To view the stories and access our website, click www.lhsfna.org.

Also, please note that back issues of LIFELINES ONLINE -- as well as their print magazine, LIFELINES -- are posted for online viewing. The LIFELINES ONLINE archive and LIFELINES archive are fully searchable, so you can find the articles that relate to your topic of interest.

Steve Clark, Communications Manager, Laborers' Health and Safety Fund of North America, 905 16th Street, NW, Washington, DC 20006

OSH BRIEFS

Finland

The Finnish Work Environment Fund has opened new web pages www.tsr.fi/frontpage

Irja Laamanen
M.Sc., Senior Adviser
Knowledge Transfer in Occupational Health and Safety Finnish Institute of Occupational Health www.cohf.fi | www.ttl.fi

Spain

Two new European Agency for Safety and Health Napo films were launched

'Napo in... Danger: chemicals!' is a revised version of 'Scratch and Sniff - chemical risks at work' produced in 2003. The film introduces changes to harmonise the signs used in the transport of dangerous goods and the signs used in product classification, labelling and packaging (CLP) of chemicals. By 1 December 2010 substances must be reclassified and labelled in line with the new global system (GHS), and from 1 June 2015 the same process will be applied to mixtures (formerly called preparations).

The second film, 'Napo in... Protect your skin!', raises awareness of the dangers of exposing the skin to harmful, and sometimes not so harmful, substances; the situations where exposures occur; and, what can be done to avoid risks, protect the skin and prevent damage. Napo learns about the amazing qualities of the skin, and strips naked to show the audience: 'Everything you always wanted to know about... your skin'.

www.napofilm.net/en

USA

On the NIOSH Science Blog: Strains, Sprains, and Pains in Home Healthcare: Working in an Uncontrolled Environment.

Nearly 900,000 workers provide healthcare in home settings. The blog outlines the hazards involved and focuses on preventing musculoskeletal injuries from lifting and moving patients. Read more and comment on the NIOSH Science Blog.

USA

EPA Launches Website with Safety Information on Spray Polyurethane Foam (SPF)

The Environmental Protection Agency released a new Web site aimed at helping to ensure the safe use of spray polyurethane foam (SPF) by workers and for building occupants where SPF is installed (www.epa.gov/dfe/pubs/projects/spf/spray_polyurethane_foam.html)and provides safety and scientific information to professionals in business, nongovernmental organizations, academic institutions, and regulatory agencies. As a supplemental resource, the page also refers site visitors to the NIOSH Alert: Preventing Asthma and Death From MDI Exposure During Spray-on Truck Bed Liner and Related Application (www.cdc.gov/niosh/docs/2006-149).

Recent books that may be of interest!

Safety culture: theory, method and improvement

by Stian Antonsen,
Ashgate Publishing, December 2009, 184 pages
ISBN 978-0-7546-7695-9

The aim of this book is to show how a cultural approach can contribute to the assessment, description and improvement of safety conditions in organizations. The relationship between organizational culture and safety, epitomized through the concept of 'safety culture', has undoubtedly become one of the hottest topics of both safety research and practical efforts to improve safety. By combining a general framework and five research projects, the author explores and further develops the theoretical, methodological and practical basis of the study of safety culture. What are the theoretical foundations of a cultural approach to safety? How can the relationship between organizational culture and safety be empirically investigated? What are the links between organizational culture and safety in actual organizations? How can a cultural approach contribute to the improvement of safety? These are the key questions the book seeks to answer with a unified and in-depth account of the concept of safety culture.

This title is also available as an eBook, ISBN 978-0-7546-9394-9

www.ashgate.com/default.aspx?page=637&calcTitle=1&title_id=9348&edition_id=12049

Health and safety - a workbook for social care workers

by Suzan Collins
Jessica Kingsley Publishing, 2009, 126 pages
ISBN 9781843109297

Those working in residential or domiciliary settings have a responsibility to maintain a clean, safe and secure work environment. Health and Safety provides guidance on the responsibilities and risk assessments involved, covering subjects such as first aid, safety in the kitchen, infection control, safe handling of adults, issues surrounding medication, how to react in an emergency and how to respond to challenging behaviour. The workbook meets the requirements of care standards and promotes best practice by enabling staff to gain the knowledge needed to meet health and safety standards. Designed to meet the requirements of Health and Social Care (Adults) NVQ Level 3, Unit 32, this workbook is also a valuable source of guidance for any social care worker wanting to improve their knowledge. Covers: Chapter 1 - Introduction; Chapter 2 - Health and Safety Policy and Legislation; Chapter 3 - Responsibilities for Health and Safety; Chapter 4 - Recording and Reporting; Chapter 5 - Monitoring the Workplace; Chapter 6 - Risk Assessments; Chapter 7 - Hazardous Substances (including Medication); Chapter 8 - Infection Control, Diseases and Cleanliness; Chapter 9 - Safe Manual Handling; Chapter 10 - Looking after Yourself; Chapter 11 - Emergencies in the Workplace; Chapter 12 - Safety and Security; Questions to Test your Knowledge; Self-Assessment Tool; Certificate; Further Resources.

www.jkp.com/catalogue/book/9781843109297

Effective Fire & Emergency Services Administration

By Robert S Fleming
Pennwell Books; April 2010, 360 pages
ISBN 9781593702298; ISBN-10 1-59370-229-9

This book draws from an array of business and administrative disciplines and provides solid conceptual foundation for understanding, meeting, and exceeding the expectations of organizational stakeholders and preparing for professional, personal, and organizational success in fire administration. It addresses the various course objectives and learning outcomes for both the Introduction to Fire and Emergency Services Administration course within the US Fire and Emergency Services Higher Education (FESHE) Associate's Model Curriculum and the corresponding bachelor's course, Fire and Emergency Services Administration. Effective Fire & Emergency Services Administration will be an invaluable resource for students (both undergraduate and graduate), and current fire and EMS personnel of all ranks who are preparing for career advancement, including promotional examinations. It also will serve as a very useful reference for current fire and emergency service operational and administrative officers.
www.pennwellbooks.com/effiemsad.html

The Common Sense Approach to Hazardous Materials, Third Edition

By Frank L. Fire
Pennwell Books; October 2009, 3rd edition, 624 pages
ISBN: 978159370194 2

Covers the basic approach to hazardous materials. In the new third edition, each chapter has been revised (where required) to reflect changes since the second edition was published. For example, each chemical mentioned whose volume or usage has changed has been updated, including their usage as a chemical warfare agent. A new chapter covers each class of chemical warfare agents. An excellent resource for emergency responders and those involved in departmental training programs or curriculum development.

www.pennwellbooks.com/coseaptohama.html

Disaster Planning and Control

By William M. Kramer,
Pennwell Books; May 2009, 3rd edition, 447 pages
ISBN: 9781593701895

Examines the complexities of disaster planning and control, covering the concepts of disaster management, development of disaster and emergency operation plans, and much more. Through examples and case studies, the book is designed to allow the fire officer to study how the fire service has been involved with responding to various disasters and, by learning from the past and understanding the concepts presented, make a difference in the overall outcome of future events. This book is written to the US Fire and Emergency Services Higher Education (FESHE) model curriculum for the Disaster Planning and Recovery course.

www.pennwellbooks.com/diplandco.html

OSHE web sites to explore...

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

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 listed please send it to me sp@sheilapantry.com

British Aerosol Manufacturers' Association   UK
www.bama.co.uk
British Aerosol Manufacturers' Association Trade is the association for the aerosol industry. The members include can and valve makers, propellant and ingredient suppliers, fillers and marketers. Gives information on the industry and on aerosols. Contains links to other similar associations worldwide.

British Approvals for Fire Equipment   UK
www.bafe.org.uk
Established to raise and maintain high standards of quality in active fire protection products and services. Firms registered with BAFE are all ISO 9000 certificated and have adopted one or more of BAFE registered schemes. Also contains news, resources and links to associated organisations.

British Asbestos Newsletter   BAN   UK
www.britishasbestosnewsletter.org
British Asbestos Newsletter, issued and printed quarterly, has the full text available on their web site. The latest major developments are included in the newsletter plus a round-up of information from around the world, latest publications and conferences and seminars.

British Association of Dermatologists   UK
www.bad.org.uk
British Association of Dermatologists. This Website is provided by the British Association of Dermatologists as a source for members of the public searching for reliable information about the skin and skin diseases. The British Association of Dermatologists is the central and long-established association of practising UK dermatologists, and our aim is to continually improve the treatment and understanding of skin disease. On this site there are information sheets about skin diseases, written and approved by BAD dermatologists, as well as general information about the skin, dermatology in the UK, and current issues in skin disease.

British Automatic Sprinklers Association   UK
www.basa.org.uk
The British Automatic Sprinkler Association is the oldest UK trade association for the industry, celebrating its 30th birthday in 2004. The association represents a significant majority of third-party certified sprinkler installers as well as manufacturers, suppliers, contractors, insurers, the fire service and others with an interest in fire. BASA's primary objectives include providing authoritative information on the benefits of sprinkler systems and how sprinklers can play a significant role in saving life and property from the devastating effects of fire. BASA works closely with the fire service, building control officers, insurers, architects and town planners. The association is dedicated to making sure that sprinkler systems are installed to the highest professional standards.

British Coatings Federation   BCF   UK
www.coatings.org.uk
British Coatings Federation extensive site which contains information, latest news, training, publications, industry facts, frequently asked questions and links to sites worldwide.

British Compressed Gases Association (BCGA)   UK
www.bcga.co.uk
British Compressed Gases Association (BCGA) is the British trade association representing companies in the industrial gases industry that manufacture and distribute gases, manufacture receptacles to contain them or equipment to use them. The term "industrial gases" refers to gases such as acetylene, argon, ammonia, carbon dioxide, chlorine, hydrogen, oxygen, nitrogen, etc., used in a wide range of applications. Its Members also supply gases and equipment to the electronics, food, scientific and medical sectors. BCGA does not represent the interests of the compressed air or natural gas industries. In November 2006 the Cylinders in Fire National Stakeholder Group was formed to understand and resolve the issues surrounding cylinders in fires and in particular acetylene cylinders. The Stakeholder Group includes representatives from the Fire and Rescue Service, Industry, Department for Transport, Health and Safety Executive, Highways Agency and the Chief Fire and Rescue Adviser. Detailed information regarding the work of this group can be found on CFOA Circular 2008/1014 and at www.bcga.co.uk/preview/news/Cylinders_in_Fire-The_National_Stakeholder_Group.pdf

British Library   BL   UK
www.bl.uk
British Library information sources in the UK and through GABRIEL to Europe. Gateway to scientific, technical and medical information.

British Library Online Public Access Catalogue   UK
www.bl.uk/catalogues/blpc.html
British Library Online Public Access Catalogue allows access to the catalogues of the British Library.

British Library List of Current journals/serials received at the British Library   UK
www.bl.uk/services/document/searchserials.html#current
British Library List of Current journals/serials received at the British Library. Over 64,000 titles listed A-Z under title.

British Lung Foundation   UK
www.lunguk.org
Lung disease, the UK's biggest killer, causes over 25 million working days to be lost each year in the UK. Gives news, events, and explains lung diseases.

British Medical Association   BMA   UK
www.bma.org.uk
British Medical Association site gives details of news, publications and access to databases including MEDLINE.

British Occupational Hygiene Society   BOHS   UK
www.bohs.org
British Occupational Hygiene Society site lists activities, goals and code of ethics.

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

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.

7-10 September 2010 - 5th International Working on Safety Network Conference
Røros, Norway
Contact: Emeritus Prof. dr. A. R. Hale, Safety Science Group, Faculty TPM, Delft University of Technology, Postbus 5015, 2600 GA Delft, Netherlands
Visiting address, Jaffalaan 5, 2628 BX Delft | Tel +31-(0)15-2781706/1477 | Email: a.r.hale@tudelft.nl | www.vk.tbm.tudelft.nl | www.wos2010.no

7-10 September 2010 - NOSHCON 2010 - 49th International Conference & Exhibition on Occupational Risk Management
South Africa
Contact: NOSHCON | Tel: +27 12 683 0200 | Email: noshcon@nosa.co.za | www.noshcon.co.za

21-24 September 2010 - Safety 2010 - The 10th International Conference on Injury Prevention and Safety Promotion
Queen Elizabeth II Conference Centre in London, UK.
Contact: Centre for Public Health, Liverpool John Moores University, 5th Floor, Kingsway House, Hatton Garden Liverpool L3 2AJ, UK | Tel: +44 (0) 151 231 4384 | Email: safety2010@ljmu.ac.uk | www.safety2010.org.uk

22-24 September 2010 - PERÚ SAFE: V Congress and I Andean Exhibition in Industrial Safety, Integral Protection and Health in the Work
Organized by MCE Consultores Asociados and Andean Community of Nations
Place of Congress & Exhibition: Sheraton Hotel Lima & Convention Center, Lima, Perú
Contact: Carmen Espinoza Muñante, Gerente General, General Manager, MCE Consultores Asociados, Gestión Empresarial, Gestión de Personas, Sistemas Integrados de Gestión| Tel: 00511 4832134 | Cell: 00511 98491822 | Cell: 00 54 91132699207 | Email: carmen.espinoza@mceconsultoresasociados.com or mceinformesperu@mceconsultoresasociados.com | www.mceconsultoresasociados.com/safe/ps2010.htm

28 September - 2 October 2010 - 8th International Scientific Conference of the International Occupational Hygiene Association (IOHA)
Definition of occupational hygiene methods and tools; current occupational hazards related to new emerging technologies
Rome, Italy
Organized by the Italian federate member (Associazione Italiana degli Igienisti Industriali (AIDII)) and co-organized by the Italian Workers' Compensation Authority (Istituto Nazionale Assicurazione contro gli Infortuni sul Lavoro (INAIL)) and the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Prevention (Istituto Superiore per la Prevenzione e la Sicurezza del Lavoro (ISPESL))
Contact: Koinè Eventi, Via Fontane 24, 25133 Brescia BS, Italy | Tel: +39 030 20 02 844 | Fax: +39 030 20 96 783 | Email: info@ioha2010.org | www.ioha2010.org

29-30 September 2010 - FIVE (Fires in Vehicles) Conference
Gothenburg, Sweden
Contact: www.firesinvehicles.com/en/Sidor/default.aspx

October 2010 - ISQUEM International Middle East HSE Forum Conference
Doha, Qater
Contact: International Safety Quality Environment Association (ISQUEM) | Email: infor@isquem.com

8-10 October 2010 - 90th anniversary of Yerevan State Medical University Foundation 2010
Yerevan, Armenia
Contact: Artashes Tadevosyan, MD, PhD, DSci in Medicine Professor Department of Public Health, Yerevan State Medical University Yerevan, Armenia 0025 | Tel: + 37 410 560405 | Cell phone: + 37 491-599898 | Email: tatevart@yahoo.com | www.ysmu.am/90

20-22 October 2010 - ICAP2010: 1st International Conference on Accident Prevention ICAP2010
Organized by the Korea Occupational Safety and Health Agency (KOSHA) and Korean Society of Safety (KOSOS)
Westin Chosun Hotel, Busan, Korea
Contact: KOSHA, 34-4 Gusan-dong Bupyeong-gu, Incheon, 403-711, Korea | Tel: +82-32-5100-636 or 742 | Fax: +82-32-502-7199 | Email: overseas@kosha.net | www.icapkorea.org

1-2 November 2010 - 2010 Home Safety Congress
Glasgow Crowne Plaza Hotel, Glasgow, UK
Contact: RoSPA, Edgbaston Park, 353 Bristol Road, Birmingham, B5 7ST, UK | Email: events@rospa.com | www.rospa.com/events

10-12 November 2010 - IAQ 2010: Airborne Infection Control - Ventilation, IAQ & Energy
Kuala Lumpar, Malaysia
Contact: CIBSE and ISAQ | Email: IAQ2010@ashrae.org | www.ashrae.org
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