Editorial
Networking for success in the OSHE World
October 2002
Sheila Pantry, OBE
Obtaining timely and quality information is vital to any business and its workers. The rapid development of information sources, particularly in occupational safety, health, environment (OSHE) subject areas combined with the communication technologies is providing many opportunities to be able to obtain quick answers to today's problems in the workplace.
Networking offers access also to the specialists around the world. Their expertise will enable people to have up-to-date knowledge and practical help. The recent African Newsletter on Occupational Health and Safety, August 2002, published by the very active Finnish Institute of Occupational Health is available on www.ttl.fi/en/publications/electronic_journals/african_newsletter and gives examples of some very important networks in the world.
There are many other electronic OSHE sources available and links to these can be found in this OSHWORLD www.oshworld.com web site.
There are health and safety collections of information such as OSH-ROM which continues to grow as it has done for over 16 years. The references and abstracts in OSH-ROM give access to quality information to help all those seeking good advice and guidance.
This month's FOCUS article is An overview on European Legislation written by Reinhart Eisenberg, a Brussels based lawyer who has worked in many countries. I hope you will find it a useful reference document wherever you are in the world.
As always OSHWORLD's regular pages are constantly updated, with new events planned as far ahead as 2005 in the Diary of Events which lists training courses, symposiums and conferences in many places in the world on a wide range of subjects. Remember that even if you cannot attend these many events, speakers and organisers are often willing to share their knowledge. Look at the details - where possible I add in the web sites of these events so you can request further information. And do let me know if you are organising any occupational safety, health, and environment events so that I can add them to the Diary.
Globally there are continually new titles, news items, new products so remember to look at the News to find the latest information. Use OSHWORLD as your portal to many hundreds of validated and authoritative web sites which you can find in the Country and Subject links we offer. New subject topics are constantly brought together on web sites, e.g. anthrax and bio-monitoring.
Some of the longer standing sites have been built up and now contain vast amounts of information on specific topics, and it is not always apparent that some "nuggets of gold" are available. OSHWORLD goes "data mining" looking for such topics and you will see many entries in the subject links which will take you to these topics. All links are constantly checked to ensure that no "orphan" links exist. And you work smarter not harder if you bookmark OSHWORLD.... we do the checking for you!
Most information services have a reference shelf where you can quickly check the reference sources - so OSHWORLD brings you a collection of Reference sources.
Remember to look at the Products and Services on this web site and see what is new and updated, such as Fire Worldwide which will help all those either working in Ireland or seeking guidance, advice, good practices, standard specifications, knowledge of legislation and also what is being published worldwide. There is an ever increasing range of full text information now in Fire Worldwide. See for yourself and take a free 30 trial - either via the Internet on on CD-ROM.
Click onto the various Bookshops to order any new document as they are being published. Many of these Bookshops such as H&H Scientific Information Ltd have a constant stream of new titles available.
Please send any suggestions or comments about OSHWORLD - your portal to validated and authoritative information.
Remind everyone to make 2002 a zero accident and incident-free year in your workplace. And every success to all those taking part in this month's European Week for Safety and Health Campaign on Working on Stress.