CIS Newsletter

No. 251
August 2010

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

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.

Contents

  1. Editorial
  2. CIS News Annual Meeting 2010 in Beijing, China
  3. CIS Questionnaire for you
  4. News, Events and ideas from around the World - Armenia, Australia, Canada, China, Denmark, Finland, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Korea, Malaysia, Mexico, Russia, Spain, Tunisia, UAE, UK, and USA to name a few!
  5. OSHE websites to explore
  6. 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

Editorial

Greetings

At the end of August 2010 the CIS Annual Meeting will be held in China. I would welcome any notes of the meeting so that any news of the day can be shared with the CIS Centres members that are not fortunate enough to attend.

FOCUS

At this time of the year statistics of fatalities, injuries and work-related ill health from various countries start to emerge. As we closely examine these results we can plainly see that there is no room whatsoever for complacency.

We must ensure that governments, international organisations, unions, employers associations, directors, managers, supervisors and individual worker keep occupational health and safety AT THE TOP OF AGENDA. There is always pressure on budgets to look for cuts, but we must not allow other lesser important items to take precedent.

The CIS Newsletter this month contains a round up of information received from many parts of the OSH World - for which many thanks.

There is a reminder and update regarding the CIS Annual Meeting 2010 in China and do please let CIS HQ know urgently if you intend attending.

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.

Please fill in the CIS questionnaire survey form that you will have received. For convenience it is also put here in this edition of Your Newsletter. (See below).

Any views you have on CIS and its work please send to 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.

USE IT OR LOSE IT!

Don't forget to continuously promote CIS and the Network! Even adding the CIS logo on the front page of your website would be a good first start. And do add the logo on all your publications.

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 again 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!

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 regarding the Forum after the 2010 Annual Meeting

Gábor Sándi, CIS Co-ordinator writes

Dear Colleagues,

As a follow-up to our invitation to the 48th National, Collaborating and Regional Meeting of CIS Centres, we are pleased to announce that, after consultations with the Chinese partners, an agreement has been reached with the organizers of the 5th China International Forum on Work Safety to cover the registration fees of CIS Meeting participants with a view to encourage their participation in the Forum. As you know, the Forum will be held on 31 August - 2 September. We strongly encourage all participants of the CIS Meeting to extend their stay in Beijing so that they can attend the Forum. We look forward to receiving your confirmation of participating in both Meetings.

Yours sincerely,

Gábor Sándi
CIS Coordinator
International Occupational Safety and Health Information Centre (CIS)

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

News from Geneva

Gabor Sandi writes...

On the National Centres' front, we have designed a questionnaire survey of all centres, asking for feedback about the use of CIS products.

Click here for the survey proforma (Word Document). Please fill it in and send it back to CISCENTRES@ilo.org - your opinion is highly valued.

Editor's Note: This request is very important - CIS needs to know the opinions of Centres so do take time to send feedback. You may find some reports (in the boxes) on www.sheilapantry.com/cis useful in your replies. These reports contain many ideas and suggestions for the development of the CIS Network.

Other Welcome News...

Gabor Sandi has been offered a prolongation of his contract at ILO CIS until 28 February 2011 (i.e. 6 months). This means he can supervise at least the creation of a new input system for CISDOC and a new output format for the database.

News from the ILO

Building Safety: A free, comprehensive, international digital training package in occupational safety and health for the construction industry from the ILO

Construction is an industry with very high rates of accidents and ill-health. Construction deaths worldwide run at over 100,000 per year - that is one person every five minutes. Decent safety training for all those working in the construction industry is desperately needed.

In 2007 ILO identified a shortage of comprehensive construction safety training materials in the public domain. This digital training package - ILO Construction Occupational Safety and Health (OS&H) - aims to fill that gap.

ILO Construction OS&H will provide tutors with the materials required to plan, create and deliver a construction safety and health course built to the needs of the participants. The information is structured in a highly flexible, modular format which will enable its use in varied training scenarios: eg for one-day seminars, night classes or week long courses.

The package is relevant to a global audience and is designed to be applicable in differing political, cultural, and legal environments. It is targeted at four main construction sector actors: workers, clients, contractors and design and project management teams.

Four model courses are provided - one for each of these groups - comprising thematised modules, PowerPoint resources, visual materials, toolbox briefings and an extensive knowledge base for further reference. The model courses illustrate how elements can be taken from the Construction OS&H resources to make a bespoke training course. Get started!

Contents

ILO construction OH&S is produced by the Sectoral Activities Department of the ILO (International Labour Organisation), under the Direction of Elisabeth Tinoco. Principal authors are Professor Richard Neale, Emeritus Professor of Construction Management, University of Glamorgan, Wales, UK, and Fiona Murie, Director, Occupational Health and Safety, and Construction Coordinator, Building and Woodworkers International (BWI). The work was technically supervised at ILO's Sectoral Activities Department by Edmundo Werna, with collaboration from Annie Rice of ILO's Programme on Safety and Health at Work and the Environment.

News from around the World...

News from Russia

News from Roman Litvyakov, ILO Russia

Masterclass on Occupational Safety and Health Management Systems Audit for specialists from Russia and Kazakhstan took place in Warsaw, Poland, July 2010

The masterclass was organised by Central Institute for labour protection and National Research Institute (CIOP-PIB) in cooperation with the ILO Moscow office.

13 experts from Russia and 5 from Kazakhstan took part in the masterclass.

CIOP has a 60 years experience of work in many areas of OSH.

One of them is implementation of the Occupational Safety and Health (OSH) Management Systems (MS) at enterprises and creation and development of the national OSH MS certification system.

Polish national standard on OSH MS is harmonized with the ILO-OSH 2001 Guideline. In 2007 Russia, Kazakhstan and other CIS countries approved the interstate standard GOST 12.0.230-2007 that is fully identical with the ILO-OSH 2001.

Russia and Kazakhstan has started to develop national certification systems on OSH MS and international expense and best practice in this sphere are highly requested.

Polish experts have adapted the training materials with the requirements of the GOST 12.0.230-2007 and told about their experience in promotion, implementation and certification of the OSH MS in Poland. Participants have studied the basic principles of the modern OSH management systems and its audit procedures. This Polish experience will be utilised by the countries for the establishment and development of their national OSH MS certification systems.

The training was continuation of the cooperation between the ILO Moscow office and CIOP in the sphere of sharing of the best practice from the EU in the Eastern Europe and Central Asia countries. The first study tour to CIOP for the specialists from Kazakhstan took place in 2008. The experts from CIOP visited Astana in 2009 and implemented there a 3 days seminar OSH MS Certification.

This latest course in Warsaw was highly evaluated by the participants as well as the trainers. The CIOP, Kazakhstan and Russia and ILO Moscow office has started to discuss future steps of this very useful cooperation.

News from Australia

Recent publications from Safe Work Australia

National Hazard Exposure Worker Surveillance: Exposure to dust, gases, vapours, smoke and fumes and the provision of controls for these airborne hazards in Australian workplaces
Safe Work Australia, August 2010, 78 pages
ISBN 9780642330925 (PDF)
ISBN 9780642330932 (RTF)
www.safeworkaustralia.gov.au/AboutSafeWorkAustralia/WhatWeDo/Publications/Pages/RP201007NHEWSExposureDustGasesVapoursSmokeAndFumes.aspx

National Hazard Exposure Worker Surveillance: Vibration exposure and the provision of vibration control measures in Australian workplaces
Safe Work Australia, 8 July 2010, 67 pages
ISBN 9780642330949 (PDF)
ISBN 9780642330956 (RTF)
www.safeworkaustralia.gov.au/AboutSafeWorkAustralia/WhatWeDo/Publications/Pages/RP201007NHEWSVibrationExposureAndProvisionOfVibrationControl.aspx

Asbestos Exposure and Compliance Study of Construction and Maintenance Workers: Follow-up Report
Safe Work Australia, 30 June 2010, 49 pages
ISBN 9780642330963 (PDF)
ISBN 9780642330970 (RTF)
www.safeworkaustralia.gov.au/AboutSafeWorkAustralia/WhatWeDo/Publications/Pages/RP201006AsbestosExposureAndComplianceStudy.aspx

An Evaluation of MSDS and Labels associated with the use of Engineered Nanomaterials
Safe Work Australia, 15 June 2010, 52 pages
ISBN 9780642330888 (PDF)
ISBN 9780642329486 (RTF)
www.safeworkaustralia.gov.au/AboutSafeWorkAustralia/WhatWeDo/Publications/Pages/RP201006EvaluationOfMSDSAndLabels.aspx

Developing Workplace Detection and Measurement Techniques for Carbon Nanotubes
Safe Work Australia, 15 June 2010, 75 pages
ISBN 9780642330864 (PDF)
http://www.safeworkaustralia.gov.au/AboutSafeWorkAustralia/WhatWeDo/Publications/Pages/RP201006DevelopingWorkplaceDetectionAndMeasurement.aspx

News from Canada

Spot the Signs of Workplace Violence

Violence is a growing concern in the workplace, and while many may think of violence as only physical assault, it is a much broader problem. To help people recognize and report the signs, the Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety (CCOHS) has developed posters depicting various types of behaviours that are considered workplace violence.

"Workplace violence is any act in which a person is abused, threatened, intimidated or assaulted in his or her employment," says Jessie Callaghan, senior technical specialist at CCOHS, and expert in the areas of workplace violence and bullying. "It's not limited to incidents that occur within a traditional workplace. Work-related violence can occur at off-site business functions, at work social events, in clients' homes or away from work but resulting from work, such as a threatening telephone call to your home from a client."

Workplace bullying is a form of workplace violence that involves repeated incidents or a pattern of behaviour that intimidates, offends, degrades or humiliates a person or group, or is an assertion of power through aggression. Each of these acts is considered a serious workplace problem and can cause undue stress, anxiety and low morale, ultimately affecting the individual, the employer and productivity as a whole for the organization.

For more information on violence and bullying and to download the free PDF posters, please visit the CCOHS website at www.ccohs.ca.

More News from Canada

IRSST Review of selected literature on the carcinogenicity of trichloroethylene (TCE)

The Institut de Recherche Robert Sauvé en Santé et en Sécurité du Travail (IRSST) just published a review of selected literature on the carcinogenicity of trichloroethylene (TCE). Specifically, the remit was to review the last 15 years of the literature, a period that covers the time since the expert evaluation of TCE's cancer potential by a Working Group of the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC, 1995).

The present review focused on informative epidemiology studies published since the IARC review. In addition, searches were carried out to determine whether any post-IARC TCE cancer studies have been carried out in laboratory animals. A brief overview of the knowledge database of TCE's cancer potential (both in humans and laboratory animals) at the time of the IARC review was also included.

To download the document: www.irsst.qc.ca/en/_publicationirsst_100538.html

For the French version: www.irsst.qc.ca/fr/_publicationirsst_100539.html

Maura Tomi, M. Sc., Information Officer, Communication Division, IRSST | Tel: +1 514-288-1551 ext. 302 | Fax: 514-288-0998

News from Germany

The latest edition of KANBRIEF no. 2/10 presents New KAN studies

KAN - Kommission Arbeitsschutz und Normung's latest edition of KANBrief No. 2/10 has recently been published. KAN endeavours to exert influence upon standardization activity at the earliest possible opportunity. For this purpose, it commissions studies and expert reports in the run-up to standardisation activity proper that provides guidance during subsequent technical work.

This latest issue of KANBrief contains amongst other items information on

KANBRIEF is available on the web: www.kan.de

KANBRIEF is published quarterly.

Contact: Werner Sterk, 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

New publications from Eurofound

Living and working in Europe 2009

Throughout 2009, findings from the European Foundation for the Improvement of Living and Working Conditions (Eurofound) research reflected both the impact of the financial crisis and recession, and the efforts made by EU policymakers, Member State governments, and social partners to mitigate the recession's impact upon European citizens, workers, and families.

Eurofound's first yearbook - Living and Working in Europe: 2009 Yearbook - distils the key findings it published in 2009. Large-scale restructuring resulting in substantial job loss, growing industrial conflict and difficulties faced by ordinary citizens in making ends meet, all underline the impact that the recession has wrought. At the same time, however, the yearbook highlights the degree of cooperation in numerous instances between employers, trade unions and governments, who have sought to work together to save jobs, boost skills and maintain purchasing power. Designed to be a comprehensive, accessible and attractive overview of Eurofound's work over 2009, the yearbook was launched at the European Commission's Social Europe 'Circus' campaign in Ireland, in early July.

www.eurofound.europa.eu/publications/htmlfiles/ef1016.htm

Counting the cost of absence from work

According to estimates in a new comparative report from Eurofound, 2.5% of European GDP is lost every year due to absence from work, while employers in Germany, for instance, put the cost of absence at €34 billion annually. In a number of countries efforts have been made at both national and company level to boost the health of workers and so reduce the amount of sick leave taken, rather than simply a narrow emphasis on the financial costs of absenteeism.

This study is based on a questionnaire distributed to the national correspondents of the European Working Conditions Observatory network. Its purpose is to show the overall extent of absence from work and outline the policies that have been developed in an attempt to deal with this issue, and to put this in the context of wider debates about the quality of work. This study addresses patterns of absence from the 27 EU Member States and Norway, the costs involved, policies for dealing with absence and general developments in relation to promoting health and well-being. Average rates of absence across Europe are between 3% and 6% of working time. There is also evidence of presenteeism - the practice of attending work while ill - although there is a general lack of data on trends. While some countries are attempting to control costs, others put the emphasis on promoting well-being.

Absence from work by Paul Edwards and Kay Greasley
IRRU, University of Warwick/University of Lancaster
Language: EN
Publication date: 21-07-2010
TN0911039S
European Foundation for the Improvement of Living and Working Conditions, 2010
29 pages

www.eurofound.europa.eu/ewco/studies/tn0911039s

News from Ireland

Safety Data Sheet (SDS) Information Sheet

Ireland's Health and Safety Authority have produced a new publication on Safety Data Sheets (SDSs) that provide useful information on chemicals, describing the hazards the chemical presents, and giving information on handling, storage and emergency measures in case of an accident. In accordance with the REACH Regulation, a safety data sheet should be provided with any hazardous chemical.

Over the coming years, as the REACH Regulation becomes operational, SDSs will include further information on safe handling, in the form of exposure scenarios. REACH also requires users of chemicals to follow the advice on risk management measures given in the exposure scenario.

www.hsa.ie/eng/Publications_and_Forms/Publications/Information%20Sheets/Safety_Data_Sheet.pdf

Struggling to find authoritative and validated OSH information? OSH UPDATE is here to help...

News from Japan

Introduction to the JISHA's surveys on the Risk-Assessment/OSHMS disseminated situation and measures to be taken for their promotion

The Industrial Safety and Health Act (ISH Act) of Japan was revised to be effective in April 2006 to stipulate, without penalty, that employers should make efforts to implement Risk Assessment (RA) at their workplaces.

While RA and OSHMS were considered to be very effective in preventing work-related accidents, it was also pointed out that they might bring about issues such as shortage in competent manpower, or operational and technical problems when they are more widely disseminated in the future.

To see the full 11 page report Introduction to the JISHA's surveys on the Risk-Assessment/OSHMS disseminated situation and measures to be taken for their promotion go to www.jisha.or.jp/international/pdf/jisha_report.pdf

International Affairs Div., International Affairs Center, Japan Industrial Safety and Health Association (JISHA), 5-35-1 Shiba, Minato-ku, Tokyo 108-0014, JAPAN (ZIP 108-0014) | Tel: +(81) 3-3452-6297 | email: kokusai@jisha.or.jp

News from Spain

European Agency for Safety and Health at Work - Mainstreaming OSH in university education: challenges and opportunities

Tomorrow's architects, engineers, health professionals and business administrators will all need to be aware of occupational safety and health (OSH) and incorporate risk management into their daily working lives, if they are to keep themselves (and those around them) safe while they are at work. But how do we ensure that OSH training is an integral part of university education, rather than something that young people encounter only when they enter the world of employment? A new report looks at the challenges of 'mainstreaming' or integrating OSH into university courses, as well as providing examples of imaginative ways in which these challenges can be overcome.

As Jukka Takala, Director of the European Agency for Safety and Health at Work (EU-OSHA), points out, the new report is just the latest in an ongoing EU-OSHA initiative to support the 'mainstreaming' of OSH into education at all levels. 'Education is key if we are to develop a culture of risk prevention', he says. 'But it is not just about teaching children and young adults to live and work safely. If OSH is truly to become an integral part of business management and operations, all future managers and professionals need risk education about their role and responsibilities.'

When it comes to integrating OSH into university education, though, there are a number of particular challenges. There is often a lack of teaching staff who have expertise in OSH, and a lack of OSH teaching materials suitable for university level. There can be a lack of funds for developing OSH education at universities, compared with schools. And university courses can favour theoretical learning methods over practical, active ones.

Nevertheless, as the report makes clear, there are examples from around Europe of OSH successfully being made a part of university education. Factors that help in mainstreaming OSH in universities include:

The report presents an analysis of all the success factors found in the cases. Ultimately it recommends the development of a 'whole-university approach', which combines OSH and risk education with the practical steps that universities take to provide a safe and healthy working environment for its staff and students.

Links to reports

News from the UK

Book - Slip, trip and fall prevention by Steven Di Pilla

Provides an understanding of the advantages and limitations of each method, allowing education choices of approved methods. Contains checklists, guides, handouts, and case studies put easy to use tools into safety managers hands. Includes extensive illustrations of preferred design dimensions. Delineates the concepts and pitfalls in developing management controls for effectively reducing accidents. Identifies key exposures for facilities most susceptible to losses from slip, trip, and fall accidents. More than one million people suffer from a slip, trip, or fall each year and 17,700 died as a result of falls in 2005. They are the number one preventable cause of loss in the workplace and the leading cause of injury in public places.

Completely revised, Slip, Trip, and Fall Prevention: A Practical Handbook, Second Edition demonstrates how, with proper design and maintenance, many of these events can be prevented. This well-illustrated and carefully researched volume covers standards and best practices for facility design, effective management control programs, test methods and standards relating to pedestrian safety, and slip resistance methods in the U.S. and abroad. It includes checklists, handouts, case studies, rich online resources, and an extensive bibliography.

New in the Second Edition: Enhanced photographs and tables, profiles of online resources , updated examples, case studies, and sidebars. A new chapter on the unique hazards and controls to protect staff and patrons in food service. A new chapter on known parameters and causes of patient falls, assessment methods, and methods for reduction of staff falls. Discussion of flooring and floor maintenance, cleaning products and methods, outsourcing, and maintenance. Coverage of management controls, a holistic approach to integrating slip/fall prevention controls into existing functions, hazard mapping, and electronic inspection systems. Physical aspects of rubber walkways surfaces, expanded floor mats, new stairway statistics, visibility, and design. Roughness measurements, perception of slipperiness, overseas standards, profiles of high risk industries, and accident investigation.

Contrary to popular belief, most slips and falls are not due to carelessness. This Handbook examines the many options available in the design and maintenance of facilities that can reduce or eliminate the potential for slips and falls.

Slip, trip and fall prevention by Steven Di Pilla.
CRC Press (Taylor and Francis Group), July 2009, 480 pages
ISBN 9781420082340
www.crcpress.com/product/isbn/9781420082340

e-book: http://dx.doi.org/10.1201/9780203496725

News from the USA

Mission in the Gulf of Mexico
from Dr John Howard, Director, NIOSH, USA

On April 20, 2010, an explosion on the Deepwater Horizon oil-drilling rig, caused by a blowout, killed eleven workers and ignited a fireball whose flames were visible from many miles away.

The resulting fire could not be extinguished. On April 22, 2010, Deepwater Horizon sank, leaving the drilled well gushing at the sea floor and causing the largest offshore oil spill in U.S. history, which continues to this day. See live video feed from remotely operated vehicles (ROVs) on the BP Web site: www.bp.com/liveassets/bp_internet/globalbp/globalbp_uk_english/homepage/STAGING/local_assets/bp_homepage/html/rov_stream.html.

In the aftermath of the explosion, fire, and continuing release of crude oil into the Gulf of Mexico, a large response effort has been mounted under the direction of the Secretary of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. The response effort is led by the U.S. Coast Guard's Deepwater Horizon Unified Command: www.deepwaterhorizonresponse.com/go/site/2931.

US National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) is heavily engaged in several activities in support of the Deepwater Horizon Response.

First, NIOSH is rostering all response workers. To date, NIOSH has rostered over 20,000 response workers on the water and on the land. Response workers on the water are involved in activities at the source of the crude oil release, working on vessels involved with burning crude oil on the water and working on vessels applying dispersant on the surface of the water and booming and skimming oil from the surface. Response workers on the land are involved in shoreline cleanup, decontamination of equipment and wildlife, and management of the waste stream. More information about the rostering effort can be found at www.cdc.gov/niosh/topics/oilspillresponse/workerroster.html. One of the lessons learned from the World Trade Center response was the necessity of having the basic contact, demographic, and job information of each response worker. Such documentation will aid in monitoring potential health effects over time.

Second, NIOSH is also conducting a series of health hazard evaluations of response workers. An interim report and updates to the Deepwater Horizon Hazard Evaluation are posted at www.cdc.gov/niosh/topics/oilspillresponse/gulfspillhhe.html.

Third, NIOSH is conducting health surveillance through worker health and symptom surveys and by analyzing injury and illness data from cleanup contractors. www.cdc.gov/niosh/topics/oilspillresponse/data.html. Also, CDC is collecting and analyzing health surveillance data from poison control centers, healthcare facilities, and Gulf States health departments. Findings are posted at http://emergency.cdc.gov/gulfoilspill2010/2010gulfoilspill/health_surveillance.asp.

Fourth, NIOSH, together with OSHA, has developed Interim Guidance for Protecting Deepwater Horizon Workers and Volunteers, a set of recommendations to be followed during the response, and will update those recommendations as more is learned at www.cdc.gov/niosh/topics/oilspillresponse/protecting.

Fifth, NIOSH plans scientific studies to (1) examine the toxicity of this particular type of crude oil, as well as the oil dispersants being used, and (2) evaluate exposure monitoring using air sampling and bio-monitoring measurements. NIOSH will also propose health effects studies that should be conducted in exposed workers.

I invite you to visit the NIOSH Web site to learn more about what NIOSH is doing as a part of the Deepwater Horizon Response www.cdc.gov/niosh/topics/oilspillresponse or join the discussion on the NIOSH Science Blog www.cdc.gov/niosh/blog.

I would also like to express my sincere appreciation to each NIOSH employee who is involved in the Response. As we see from ongoing reports and news coverage, we and our federal, state, and local partners are serving a vital need in helping to protect the health and safety of those who are working hard in diverse response tasks on the water and on shore. As I hope our products demonstrate, we are committed to addressing this need with our benchmark values of scientific diligence, partnership, and technical expertise.

News from the USA

The July issue of LIFELINES ONLINE (Vol. VII, No. 2) is available at the LHSFNA website.

These are the headlines:

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

Also, please note that back issues of LIFELINES ONLINE - as well as 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, USA

OSH BRIEFS

TUNISIA

ISST latest edition

The April 2010 edition of the Institute de Sante et de Securite au Travail (ISST) review Sante-Securite-Travail - (SST) - contains a 10 page Dossier - Rayonnements non ionisants de moins de 300 GHz: effets sur la santé et measures de prevention en milieu professional. Also other articles are included.

ISST is also the CIS National Centre in Tunisia.

Contact: ISST, 5 Bd Mustapha Khaznader, 1007 Tunis, Tunisia | Tel: +216 71 561 636 | Fax: + 216 71 571 902 | Email: Analy.isst@Email.ati.tn | www.isst.nat.tn

USA

Do cell phones cause brain cancer?

In May 2010, an international study team published the results of a 5-year-long investigation into that very question.

Read the perspective of the only American researcher involved with the INTERPHONE study on the NIOSH Science Blog.

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

Department of Trade and Industry: Fireworks safety   UK
www.dti.gov.uk/fireworks
UK Department of Trade and Industry advice on fireworks safety. From how to use them safely through to protecting children and animals. Plus, what you should know about changes to the UK law and campaign materials.

Department of Trade and Industry: Fireworks safety   UK
www.dti.gov.uk/homesafetynetwork/fw_intro.htm
Department of Trade and Industry fireworks safety web pages.

Department of Trade and Industry: Mobile Phones   UK
www.dti.gov.uk/sectors/telecoms/telecomsmobilephones/page10033.html
Department of Trade and Industry UK gives details on mobile phones, health and the environment. Discusses the findings of the Stewart Report which is the result of the Independent Expert Group work.

Department of Trade and Industry: SCAMs   UK
www.dti.gov.uk/ccp/scams/page1.htm
Department of Trade and Industry's guide to SCAMs and rip-offs. Whilst not strictly health and safety it will be of interest to those who are plagued with scams and rip-offs. Contact pages and links to organisations that can help.

Department of Trade and Industry: Work Life Balance   UK
www.businesslink.gov.uk/bdotg/action/layer?topicId=1074409708
Department of Trade and Industry's guide to work-life balance campaign. Contains details of what is work-life balance what it is, case studies and Frequently Asked Questions.

Department of Transport (DfT): Helmets: Safety: SHARP   UK
http://sharp.direct.gov.uk
Department of Transport UK Safety Helmet Assessment and Rating Programme (SHARP) conducts rigorous test on motorcycle helmets and gives them a safety rating from 1- 5 stars - but all helmets must meet the minimum safety standards. The website offers a search facility for over a hundred helmets. The results can be sorted by make, model, size and price.

Department for Transport (DfT): Road Safety   UK
www.dft.gov.uk/pgr/roadsafety
The UK Department for Transport website contains information on the Government's Road Safety Strategy and its targets for reducing the number of road deaths and injuries by 2010. In addition there is information about Government policies and initiatives and advice for all road users.

Department for Transport (DfT): Road Safety   UK
www.ukroadsafety.com
The UK Department for Transport website for road safety practitioners. Includes articles, circulars, Transport Notes, papers e.g. Road Safety Good Practice Guide.

Department for Transport (DfT): Road Safety: Highway Code   UK
www.direct.gov.uk/en/TravelandTransport/Highwaycode
UK Department for Transport (DfT) Highway Code on the website has been adapted for online use from the Department for Transport's current printed version of the Highway Code. In any proceedings, whether civil or criminal, only the Department for Transport's current printed version of the Code should be relied upon.

Department for Transport (DfT): Road Safety: Medical aspects of fitness to drive   UK
www.dft.gov.uk/pgr/roadsafety/research/newsletters
Department of Transport Medical aspects of fitness to drive Part 2: Medical aspects of fitness to drive. Spring 2003 which has some recently completed project summaries.

Department for Transport (DfT): Road Safety: Statistics   UK
www.dft.gov.uk/pgr/statistics
UK Department for Transport (DfT) web site collects, analyses and publishes a wide range of statistics covering all forms of transport. You can search here for the data you want by topic, and also find information about recent and forthcoming statistical releases and publications. The statistics mainly refer to personal injury accidents on public roads attended by police officers or reported to the police.

Department for Transport (DfT): Transport of Dangerous Goods   UK
www.dft.gov.uk/pgr/freight/dgt1
UK Department for Transport (DfT) web site collects, analyses and publishes a wide range of information covering transport of dangerous goods by rail, road and water freight.

Department for Work and Pensions: Fit Note   DWP   UK
www.dwp.gov.uk/fitnote
UK Department for Work and Pensions evidence shows that work is generally good for your health and that often going back to work can actually aid a person's recovery. On the other hand, staying off work can lead to long-term absence and job loss with the risk of isolation, loss of confidence, mental health issues, de-skilling and social exclusion. The new fit note can help. Doctors are able to advise people who are on sick leave for over 7 days whether, with extra support from their employer, they could return to work earlier.

Diabetes UK: Diabetes at Work   UK
www.diabetes.org.uk
Diabetes UK is the largest organisation in the UK working for people with diabetes. Information, guidance and advice to help people manage their diabetes and take steps toward reducing risks for related complications, such as heart disease.

Directors' Responsibility for Health and Safety   UK
www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/indg343.pdf
The UK Health and Safety Executive guidance on the responsibilities for health and safety of directors of companies

Disaster Action   UK
www.disasteraction.org.uk
Disaster Action is a charity set up and run by survivors and bereaved from UK and overseas disasters. Founded in 1991, Disaster Action provides independent advocacy and advisory service that represents the interests of those directly affected by disaster.

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

Edinburgh Engineering Virtual Library EEVL Chemical Sources   UK
www.intute.ac.uk/sciences/chemistry
Edinburgh Engineering Virtual Library provides an excellent gateway to quality chemical and chemical engineering information, over 400 links listed.

Electrical Contractors' Association (ECA)   UK
www.eca.co.uk
The Electrical Contractors' Association (ECA) UK, working closely with the HVCA and SELECT, is a leading player on health and safety. It works with a range of other partners, including HSE and Amicus, to enable ECA members to comply with health and safety law and win the business benefits of cost-effective health and safety management. See also www.eca.co.uk/IndustryGuidance/HealthAndSafety - health and safety section directs you to ECA's pick of the other internet sites. These sites provide high quality, free health and safety advice and information, including information of particular relevance to electrical contracting work.

Emergency Planning College   UK
www.epcollege.gov.uk
The Emergency Planning College is situated at the heart of UK Government, within the Civil Contingencies Secretariat of the Cabinet Office. Since 1989, it has been the Government's centre of excellence for running short seminars, workshops and courses on an inter-agency basis in the field of crisis management and emergency planning. Its diverse and dynamic programme attracts in excess of six thousand delegates per year from a wide range of backgrounds providing a national forum for discussion and the sharing of good practice.

Emergency Planning Society   UK
www.the-eps.org
The Emergency Planning Society was formed in 1993 through the merger of the Emergency Planning Association and the County Emergency Planning Officers Society. The business of the Society is managed by a Board of Directors comprising of elected officers. There are six levels of membership, three of which members can pass through by application to a Qualification Board. The Society, its branches and its various groups organise conferences, workshops, working parties, studies and seminars to examine emergency planning practice and experience, and to develop advice on good practice. Information and reports are disseminated throughout the emergency planning community.

Engineering Employers Federation (EEF)   UK
www.eef.org.uk
Engineering Employers Federation services reflect the breadth and depth of their knowledge: Human Resources (HR) and Legal; Health and Safety; Environmental Services; Training and Development; Policy and Representation; and Information and Research. The OSH (Occupational Safety and Health) Benchmarking tool www.eef.org.uk/eef/ohskpi allows member companies to compare their occupational health and safety performance for against other member companies who have also entered their annual OH&S performance results. By responding to these questions, you will be able to get an immediate report that compares your performance against the data gathered so far.

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Diary of Events

These events may inspire you and your organisation to offer similar type of events.

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Also look in www.oshworld.com/diary.html that is constantly being updated.

13-17 September 2010 - Fire and Explosion Investigation
University of Leeds, Leeds, UK
Contact: University of Leeds | Tel: +44 (0)113 343 2494/8104 | Email: cpd@engineering.leeds.ac.uk | www.engineering.leeds.ac.uk/cpd/FireExpolsionInvestigation.shtml

16 September 2010 - 4th Europlatform conference: renting smart
Hotel Eurostars Madrid Tower, Madrid, Spain
Contact: International Powered Access Federation (IPAF) and its official magazine Access International, Murray Pollok, managing editor of Access International | Email: murray.pollok@khl.com | www.europlatform.info | More information is at www.ipaf.org

19-22 September 2010 - 2nd Annual Process Safety Management Summit
Venue to be Confirmed, Dubai, UAE
Contact: www.oilandgasprocesssafety.com/Event.aspx?id=307920

19-23 September 2010 - 6th International Course on Age Management - breaking the myths of longer work lives and retirement (6010)
Lapland Hotel Riekonlinna, Saariselkä (Lapland), Finland
Contact: Contact: NIVA, Topeliuksenkatu 41 a A 00250 Helsinki, Finland | Tel. +358 30 4741 | Fax: +358 30 474 2497 | Email: niva@ttl.fi | www.niva.org/courses/6010.htm

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

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

11-15 October 2010 - Fire Dynamics and Modelling
University of Leeds, Leeds, UK
Contact: University of Leeds | Tel: +44 (0)113 343 2494/8104 | Email: cpd@engineering.leeds.ac.uk | www.engineering.leeds.ac.uk/cpd/FireDynamicsModelling.shtml

13-15 October 2010 - Flexicurity and occupational health (6011)
Vilvorde Kursuscenter, Charlottenlund, Denmark
Contact: Contact: NIVA, Topeliuksenkatu 41 a A 00250 Helsinki, Finland | Tel. +358 30 4741 | Fax: +358 30 474 2497 | Email: niva@ttl.fi | www.niva.org/courses/6011.htm

14-15 October 2010 - Call for Papers for the Symposium on Surface and Dermal Sampling
San Antonio, Texas, USA
Contact: Hannah Sparks, Administrative Assistant, Symposia Operations, ASTM International | Email: hsparks@astm.org | Tel: +1 610 832-9677
Papers are needed for the Symposium - Symposium Co-Chairmen Mike Brisson, Kevin Ashley, and Jacques Lesage encourage you to submit an abstract online. For details about the call for papers and online abstract submission - go to: www.astm.org/d22symp1010.htm

19-20 October 2010 - 7th International Conference on Flat Bottom Tanks
Alte Kongresshalle, Theresienhöhe 15, 80339 Munich, Germany
Contact: Dipl.-Ing. (FH) Peter Szalata, TÜV SÜD Industrie Service GmbH | Tel: +49 89 5791-1896 | Email: peter.szalata@tuev-sued.de | www.tuev-sued.de/akademie_de/tagungen_und_kongresse/international_conferences/7th_international_conference_on_flat_bottom_tanks

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

28-31 October 2010 - 8th International Conference on Occupational Health for Health Care Workers
A joint ICOH - ISSA Conference
Casablanca, Morocco
Contact: www.issa.int

10-11 November 2010 - Tank Storage Asia 2010
Maya Hotel, Kuala Lumpar, Malaysia
Contact: www.tankstorageevents.com/tsasia

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
Readers may also wish to take a free trial of OSH UPDATE www.sheilapantry.com/interest.html

15-19 November 2010 - SOLVE: Addressing social factors through health promotion in the Workplace
ILO International Training Centre, Turin, Italy
Contact: Sr. Félix Martín Daza, International Training Centre of the ILO, Social Protection Programme, Viale Maestri del Lavoro 10, 10127 Turin, Italy | Tel: +39 011 6936576 | Fax: +39 011 6936548 | www.ilo.org/wcmsp5/groups/public/---ed_protect/---protrav/---safework/documents/event/wcms_126657.pdf

15-19 November 2010 - Fire Safety Design
University of Leeds, Leeds, UK
Contact: University of Leeds | Tel: +44 (0)113 343 2494/8104 | Email: cpd@engineering.leeds.ac.uk | www.engineering.leeds.ac.uk/cpd/FireSafetyDesign.shtml

13-16 March 2011 - 7th Global Congress on Process Safety
Chicago, IL, USA
Contact: www.aiche.org/conferences/specialty/gcps.aspx

18-23 March 2012 - 30th International Congress on Occupational Health
Monterrey, Mexico
Contact: Bob Orford MD, ICOH National Secretary for USA, International Commission on Occupational Health (ICOH) | www.icohweb.org/membership.asp | www.icohcongress2012.org

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