News from around the World

News Archive

February 2003

Stress Management Video

Hascombe Enterprises in association with Suzy Lamplugh Trust has launched First Steps to stress Management at Work, a 30 minute training video which through three scenarios aim to address the problem of stress and also to provide suggestions on how to reduce it.

The scenarios covered are: working with customers, working with teams and achieving good work/life balance.

Further details contact: Fast Guides on Tel:+44 (0) 20 7945 6090

Isn't it about time?

Stress is one of the top workplace problems. Putting things off can seriously damage your health or someone else's. Nearly all of us procrastinate at one time or another. At best, it is a frustrating habit. At worst, putting things off can cause anxiety, stress and other problems for people with whom you work and live, but most of all for yourself. But a new book entitled Isn't it about time? by Andrea Perry shows that if people "just got on with it" they would be much better off.

This amusingly illustrated book provides an insight into the whole process of following our own logic into effective action. Some of the topics covered include:

• how much do you procrastinate? Test yourself with the Procrastination quiz
• what to do if someone at work, including your boss, procrastinates
• how we learn to put things off
• how to develop your ability to get on with what you need or want to do

Don't be put off reading this 266 page book because you can dip into it chapter by chapter or the parts that appeal to you first. Easy reading with bullet points emphasising the main messages. There is a questionnaire for self assessment and the total will give you a quick indication of how large a part procrastination currently plays a part in your life. Organising your time and effort pays dividends.

Isn't it about time? by Andrea Perry. 2002. ISBN 1 903269 03 2
Worth Publishing Ltd, 6 Lauderdale Parade, Lauderdale Road, London W9 1LU, UK. | Tel: +44 (0) 20 7266 0333 | Fax: +44 (0) 7289 5672 | Email: ap@worthpublishing.demon.co.uk | www.worthpublishing.com

Fire Worldwide - Free 30 day trial

FIRE Worldwide, published by Sheila Pantry Associates Ltd., using the powerful SilverPlatter software is available for standalone use on CD-ROM or is accessible via Internet.

Fire Worldwide is a premier collection of validated, authoritative information and contains two major collections - the Full Text Collection and the Bibliographic Collection.

• The Bibliographic Collection has 7 databases which contain over 235,000 records to journal articles, guidance and advice, circulars, reports, conference proceedings, research reports, statistics and codes of practice from worldwide sources. One of the databases - from the British Standards Institution contains references to over 2500 fire and fire related standards.
• The Full text Collection has 4 major databases contain full text documents which are continually being added to this wide-ranging source of critical fire information. The collection contains all appropriate European and UK legislation for fire and fire related industry - some hundreds of documents. In addition a range of fire and fire related documents from organisations such as :
  • The UK Fire Protection Association
  • World Fire Statistics Bureau
  • CTIF - The International Committee for the Prevention and Extinction of Fire
  • The UK Department of Transport, Local Government and the Regions
  • US National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
  • UK Health and Safety Executive
  • Ireland Department of the Environment Fire Safety

The publishers are committed to maintaining and expanding Fire Worldwide, which is arguably the world's best collection for fire and fire related information.

Used by organisations worldwide, Fire Worldwide is set to expand still further! For full details of this product, please check out the list of contents of Fire Worldwide on www.sheilapantry.com

To take a free 30-day trial of Fire Worldwide - either via the Internet or on CD-ROM, please contact: Sheila Pantry Associates Ltd | Tel: +44 (0) 1909 771024 | Fax: +44 (0) 1909 772829
Email: sp@sheilapantry.com with your details:
Name:
Position:
Organisation:
Address :
Post Town/City:
Postcode:
Country:
Email:
Telephone:
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28th February 2003 is International RSI Day

If you are not familiar with this you may wish to join RSIDay@yahoogroups.com for international information. The RSI Association is holding a special Conference and Exhibition in Nottingham, UK on that day. See their web site www.rsi.org.uk for details. Among other exhibitors PCD Maltron Ltd will be showing their full range of special single handed and anti-RSI keyboards.

These keyboards have already enabled over 1000 people to continue or return to work with an estimated saving to UK Plc. of £100M for an investment of £375,000. See PCD Maltron Ltd web site user reports for substantial evidence of recovery and rehabilitation. Also the list of Organisations where considerable costs in both human and financial terms have been avoided.

Contact: Stephen Hobday
PCD Maltron Ltd. 15 Orchard Lane, East Molesey, Surrey, KT8 0BN, UK | Tel/Fax: +44 (0)20 8398 3265 | Email: sales@maltron.com | www.maltron.com

'Millennium Product' awarded by British Design Council.
'Health & Safety Product of the Year' North West Today.

New EU Legislation

The Official Journal is now entitled as Official Journal of the European UNION not COMMUNITIES

New legislation of interest...

Directive 2003/4/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 28 January 2003 on public access to environmental information and repealing Council Directive 90/313/EEC
Official Journal of the European Union, L41, VOL. 46 , 14.2.2003, 26-32

172/2002 * Decision of the EEA Joint Committee No 172/2002 of 6 December 2002 amending Annex XVIII (Health and safety at work, labour law, and equal treatment for men and women) to the EEA Agreement
Official Journal of the European Union, L38, VOL. 46 , 13.2.2003, 38-39

Directive 2002/95/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 27 January 2003 on the restriction of the use of certain hazardous substances in electrical and electronic equipment
Official Journal of the European Union, L37, VOL. 46 , 13.2.2003, 19-23

Directive 2002/96/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 27 January 2003 on waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE)
Official Journal of the European Union, L37, VOL. 46 , 13.2.2003, 24-38

Directive 2002/88/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 9 December 2002 amending Directive 97/68/EC on the approximation of the laws of the Member States relating to measures against the emission of gaseous and particulate pollutants from internal combustion engines to be installed in non-road mobile machinery
Official Journal of the European Union, L35, VOL. 46 , 11.2.2003, 28-81

2003/82/EC * Commission Decision of 29 January 2003 confirming measures notified by Belgium pursuant to Article 6(6) of Directive 94/62/EC of the European Parliament and the Council on packaging and packaging waste (notified under document number C(2003) 361)
Official Journal of the European Union, L31, VOL. 46 , 6.2.2003, 32-35

International Fishing Industry Safety and Health Conference

Few jobs are as dangerous as that if commercial fishing. Commercial fishermen work in hard weather, often at great distances form emergency care or rescue services. They must often combat external risk factors - extreme temperatures, the constant movement of their vessels - while at the same time, they face the challenges of fatigue and physical stress. Preparation, and use of proper equipment, can go a long way to help commercial fishermen withstand the rigours of their work.

The US National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) research indicates that fishermen who wear Personal Flotation Devices are far more likely to survive vessel sinkings or capsizings. Vessels that maintain emergency equipment such as life rafts, electronic beacons, and immersion suits in good working order help to ensure the survival of their crew.

While many of the safety measures that have been implemented in the past decade or commercial fishermen in the US are due to requirements of the Commercial Fishing Vessel Industry Safety Act, other safety measures have been implemented as a result of innovation from commercial fishermen and vessel and equipment manufacturers throughout the US and around the world. The findings in this document represent health and safety recommendations for commercial fishermen, from some of the most knowledgeable researchers in the world. The proceedings volume contains articles from commercial fishing safety experts from the Nordic nations, United Kingdom, Argentina, Canada, Israel and other areas, as well as articles from researchers throughout the United States. The topics covered include:

• worldwide problems and challenges in the industry
• innovative approaches to investigating and preventing fishing vessel casualties
• fishermen's perceptions of risks
• successful intervention programmes
• hazard analysis and injury surveillance
• safety training for fishermen
• poster presentations

John Howard, Director NIOSH says "we hope that the common interests that were identified at the International Fishing Industry Safety and Health Conference - IFISH in Woods Hole, Massachusetts continue to help forge collaborative networks and joint research, as we work together to improve safety for commercial fishermen around the world".

DHHS (NIOSH) Publication No. 2003-102 - Proceedings of the International Fishing Industry Safety and Health Conference, 23-25 October 2000, edited by Jennifer M Lincoln and others. Published October 2002. 473 pages. Available from Publications Dissemination Office, NIOSH, 4676 Columbia Parkway, Cincinnati, OH 45226-1998, USA. | Tel: +1800 356 4674 | Email: pubstaft@cdc.gov | www.cdc.gov/niosh

Food Safety in Europe: FSE2003 Conference

This conference looks at the major themes occupying the European food industry. It will be held on Monday 3 November 2003 at the Royal National Hotel, Russell Square, London, UK.

It is organised by Angel Business Publications Ltd publishers of the European Occupational Health and Safety Magazine (EurOhs) and Sheila Pantry Associates Ltd.

Eminent speakers with backgrounds in government, industry, research and education will discuss future ways of securing a safe and healthy food industry from suppliers through to the consumer. Speakers will cover: the international world health scene, looking at looking at food safety from an international perspective. The problems, priorities and actions by World Health Organisation (WHO); the implications of the European Commission new food and hygiene directives; an overview of food safety in Europe and the UK and the key major priorities from the Food Standards Agency point of view; the UK Public Health Association on the impact of food on health on the consumer and the increase rise in food poisoning, " obesity virus" food additives, and communicable and non communicable diseases. Other speakers will look at allergens and food safety from the retail end.

The web site www.fse2003.com gives all details, including a booking form.

For further details contact: Mary Meadows, Office and Logistics Manager, European Occupational Health and Safety Magazine (EurOhs), Angel Business Communications Ltd., 34 Warwick Road, Kenilworth CV8 1HE, Warwickshire, UK. | Tel: +44 (0)1926 512424 | Fax: + 44 (0)1926 512948 | Email: mary@angelbc.co.uk | www.fse2003.com

The World of Work

The latest edition - December 2002 looks at global labour agreements: a framework for rights. There are also a number of interesting articles including:

• As IDS spreads, "human capital" is at risk
• Beedi industry on a downward roll. In India, beedi rollers seek new ways of earning a living
• In today's mines, fatigue, human error, AIDS are the new dangers.
• Fundamental rights at work: Southern Africa
• Women in the formal sector: urgent need for maternity protection.

The World of Work magazine is published four times a year, in English, Chinese, Czech. Danish, Finnish, French. German. Hindi. Hungarian, Japanese, Norwegian, Russian, Slovak, Spanish and Swedish, by the ILO Department of Communication, CH 1211, Geneva 22, Switzerland | Tel: +41 22 799 7912 | Fax: +41 22 799 8577 | www.ilo.org

Quality of women's work and employment. Tools for change

Improving the quality of women's work and employment is the focus of this new publication. It draws mainly, but not exclusively, on research carried out by the European Foundation for the Improvement of Living and Working Conditions in this area over the past decade, which has highlighted both positive and negative change as well as persistent challenges faced by women in their working life. It also points to some tools and strategies identified by the Foundations' work which could enhance the quality of women's work and employment.

There is an extensive reading list.

Quality of women's work and employment. Tools for Change.
European Foundation for the Improvement of Living and Working Conditions.
Foundation Paper No. 3. December 2002. 36 pages. ISBN 92 897 02060

Available from:
Office for Official Publications of the European Communities, Luxembourg
Further information from European Foundation for the Improvement of Living and Working Conditions, Wyattville Road, Loughlinstown, Dublin 18, Ireland | Tel: +351 204 31 00 | Fax: +353 1 282 6456 | Email: postmaster@eurofound.eu.int | www.eurofound.europa.eu

Research News from Canada

The Occupational Health and Safety Research Institute Robert-Sauvé (IRSST), are keen to update readers on the research the Institute has carried out or funded, and have introduced a new tool: Info IRSST. It is an electronic newsletter that contains IRSST press releases, new publications as well as new research projects.

To find out more ....IT TAKES ONLY A CLICK TO ACCESS INFO IRSST

www.irsst.qc.ca/htmen/7_6.htm

IRSST's site is regularly updated and is a mine of information on all of the activities and programmes. Some 750 publications resulting from IRSST work are also available to be downloaded free of charge.

Contact: Jacque Millette, Directeur des communications, IRSST, Quebec, Canada | Email: millette.jacques@irsst.qc.ca | www.irsst.qc.ca