News from around the World

News Archive

June 2003

European Agency launches more Facts.... on healthcare, dangerous substances in the workplace and accident prevention in the construction sector

The European Agency for Safety and Health at Work has issued the following two page Fact Sheets:

• No. 29 - Safety and health good practice online for the healthcare sector
• No. 33 - An introduction to dangerous substances in the workplace
• No. 34 - Elimination and substitution of dangerous substances
• No. 35 - Communicating information about dangerous substances

Accident Prevention in the construction sector

Labour Inspectorates across the European Union have launched a pan-European campaign to cut the number of accidents in the construction industry involving falls from heights. Using a mix of promotional activities and worksite inspections, the campaign, already started will continue into 2004. To support this campaign there is a special Facts Sheet (not numbered) entitled Accident Prevention in the construction sector.

Contact : European Agency for Safety and Health at Work, Gran Via 33, E-48009 Bilbao - Spain | Tel: + 34 94 479 4360 | Fax: + 34 94 479 4383 | email: information@osha.eu.int | http://osha.europa.eu

ILO Safework issues CD-ROM containing International and National Standards on occupational safety and health

The International Labour Office Safework have just issued a CD-ROM containing all the ILO Conventions and Recommendations as well as the Constitution of the ILO in full text in English French and Spanish. Also contains the most recent ILO OSH Codes of Practice in English, French and Spanish. Each code can be viewed and printed using Acrobat Reader.

LEGOSH - This database, produced by the ILO International Occupational Safety and Health Information Centre (CIS), contains references to national legislation on occupational safety and health.

DOCS part of the CD-ROM includes:

• Summary of relevant ILO instruments.
• Comparative analysis of the provisions in relevant instruments.
• Member State replies to the 2002 Survey on ILO Standards-related activities in the area of occupational safety and health.
• Summary replies to Part I of the 2002 Survey in table and graphic forms.
• 2002 Survey form.
• Replies sent by Employers' and Workers' organisations.

Contact: ILO Safework, CH-1211 Geneva 22 Switzerland | Tel: +41 22 799 67 40 | Fax: +41 22 799 85 16 | Email: CIS@ilo.org

UK National Radiological Protection Board latest electronic module available

Electric and Magnetic Fields is the latest electronic module, based on the National Radiological Protection Board (NRPB) At-a-Glance printed series of broadsheets, appearing on the NRPB website.

The module illustrates the nature of electric and magnetic fields and how they affect our day-to-day lives. It describes alternating electric and magnetic fields and the units used to measure them; shows how electric and magnetic fields are distributed and used; and outlines health issues and the research undertaken to-date. Further reading and websites are also provided, given that this is a topic where there is considerable interest from the public.

Modules for Radio Waves, Radon, Transport of Radioactive Materials, Nuclear Emergencies and Doses from Discharges are already to be found on the website, in the Understanding Radiation section, along with an electronic version of the NRPB Sunsense poster.

Other planned future modules include Ultraviolet Radiation, Lasers, Maps and Magnitudes and Medical Radiation.

It is hoped that providing free information in this format will appeal to both schoolchildren and other members of the public alike. As with their printed counterparts, they are intended for readers with little or no knowledge of the various radiation topics and aim to promote understanding with the use of colourful eye-catching illustrations and captions as the prime means of communicating information.

Individual copies of some of the printed At-a-Glance broadsheets are still available free of charge and can be obtained direct from the Information Office, NRPB, Chilton, Didcot, Oxon, OX11 0RQ, UK | Tel +44 (0)1235-822742 | fax: +44 (0)1235-822746 | e-mail: information@nrpb.org

Out of the closet: a project to increase men's awareness about prostate health in a workplace setting

The Men's Health Forum commissioned the Prostate Health Awareness Project, which was funded by the Health Development Agency, GlaxoSmithKline and the Orchid Cancer Appeal. The Royal Mail, as the largest employer of men in the UK, was chosen as the site of the project.

The results are published in Out of the water closet - a project to increase men's awareness about prostate health in a workplace setting. This report is for everyone who is interested in promoting men's health in the workplace. It describes the findings of a six-month research study which explored men's understanding of prostate health, their intentions about seeking help if they had a problem and their attitudes towards the promotion of men's health.

The study involved 2700 men working in Royal Mail businesses, who were sent a postal questionnaire before and after a health promotion campaign at work. The report challenges the myths that men are not interested in their health and are not prepared to address potentially embarrassing issues at work.

Primary care staff and public health specialists are urged to adapt their practice so that it is 'male-friendly', and to find ways of reaching men in the workplace.

The report is available from: Publications Sales, CEDC Enterprises, Unit C1, Grovelands Court, Grovelands Estate, Longford Road, Exhall, Coventry CV7 9NE, UK | Tel: +44 (0)24 7658 8440 | Fax: +44 (0) 24 7658 8441 | www.continyou.org.uk

There is a download flyer and order form on the web site.

Preventing psychosocial risks at work: European perspectives: Forum 9

Closing event of the European Week for Safety and Health at Work 2002

The European Week for Safety and Health at Work 2003 focused on the prevention of psychosocial risks. The closing event held on 25 November 2002 was structured around three morning workshops dealing with stress, bullying and violence, and a round table discussion in the afternoon. Six practitioners were also invited to present their case studies to illustrate how psychosocial risks can be successfully tackled in the workplace.

Forum 9 publication is based on the day. Readers will find key success factors, overall conclusions and future plans and developments.

Contact : European Agency for Safety and Health at Work, Gran Via 33, E-48009 Bilbao - Spain | Tel: + 34 94 479 4360 | Fax: + 34 94 479 4383 | email: information@osha.eu.int | http://osha.europa.eu/en/publications/forum

UK CIEH tackles workplace stress

The Chartered Institute of Environmental Health (CIEH) is to hold a series of seminars designed to provide trainers with an enhanced understanding of the popular CIEH Stress Awareness qualification.

The level 1 CIEH Stress Awareness qualification, launched earlier this year, aims to assist organisations gain greater knowledge of the subject and look at the practical steps individuals can take to reduce stress in their workplace. To accompany this new qualification, a series of seminars for trainers have been designed to help those who wish to teach the course.

Ian Greaves, author of the CIEH Stress Awareness pack, presents three one-day seminars that will provide trainers with an overview of the Stress Awareness course content and clarify the issue of stress evaluations and stress management techniques in the work place.

Stress is a significant workplace health and safety hazard; Stress-related ill health, accidents and absenteeism are responsible for the loss of 6.5 million UK working days each year, costing UK employers around £370 million and UK society as a whole as much as £3.75 billion, according to the Health and Safety Executive.

The seminars take place on 29th July and 13th November in London, UK and on 28th October in Manchester, UK. Prices are £215 + VAT for CIEH registered training centres and members and £270 + VAT for non-members.

For further information please contact the CIEH Events division on +44 (0)20 7928 6006, or e-mail: s.gannon@chgl.com. Information on all CIEH events can be found on our website at www.cieh.org/events.html.

Promoting health and safety in European Small and Medium-sized enterprises (SMEs)

The European Social Agenda sets out as one of its key health and safety objectives the promotion of the application of legislation in SMEs, taking into account the special constraints to which they exposed. The Community Strategy on Safety and Health at Work 2002-2006 also calls for specific measures tailored for SMEs and very small business though information, awareness and risk prevention programmes.

This latest European Agency publication provides you with summaries, results and contact details for the successful projects in promoting health and safety in European Small and Medium-sized enterprises. The projects show how workers and employers in many different industries from all over Europe benefited from a tailored approach.

This 151 page report Promoting health and safety in European Small and Medium -sized enterprises (SMEs) ISBN 92 9191 0171, published 2003, is available from the Office for Official Publications of the European Communities, Luxembourg

For other details contact: European Agency for Safety and Health at Work, Gran Via 33, E-48009 Bilbao - Spain | Tel: + 34 94 479 4360 | Fax: + 34 94 479 4383 | email: information@osha.eu.int | http://osha.europa.eu/en/publications

News from Prevent, Belgium

The Institute for Occupational Safety and Health Prevent is a multi-disciplinary knowledge centre focusing on the prevention of occupational risks through promotion of the quality of working conditions and the improvement of the work organisation. The Institute provides support, advice and information for businesses and institutions as well as for occupational accident insurers, external occupational safety and health services, professional associations, the social partners, the government and other partners within society.

Prevent is dedicated to the development, collection and organisation of knowledge in occupational health and safety. More about Prevent's activities can be found in the annual report for 2002.

Contact: Prevent, Rue Gachard, 88, Box 4 , 1050 Brussels, Belgium | Tel: +32 2 643 44 44 | Fax: 32 2 643 44 40 | Email: prevent@prevent.be | www.prevent.be

News from JISHA, Japan

The Japan Industrial Safety and Health Association (JISHA) has issued its latest and very informative report "Present status of Japanese Industrial Safety and Health- 2002 edition". The report covers data on occupational accidents and diseases, trends, breakdown of accidents by industry and type of accidents. It also covers trends in occupational diseases and breakdown by disease.

There is a list of government and non-government organisations involved in industrial safety and health in Japan, safety and health laws and regulations and an outline of JISHA.

Contact: JISHA, ILO-CIS National Centre in Japan | 5-35-1, Shiba, Minato-ku, Tokyo 108 0014, Japan | Tel/Fax: +81 3 3454 4596 | Email: kokusai@jisha.or.jp | www.jisha.or.jp

News from IAPA, Canada

The Industrial Accident Prevention Association IAPA in Ontario, Canada, Annual Review 2002 reflects on the year 2002 and the various accomplishments, including ongoing efforts to achieve health and safety excellence which were made possible through the contributions of staff, clients, member firms, volunteers and the governing body and partners.

The report also lists IAPA documents and policies on the web www.iapa.ca
Contact: Industrial Accident Prevention Association, 207 Queens Quay West, Suite 550, Toronto, ON M5J 2Y3, Canada | Tel: +1 416 506 8888 | Fax: +1 416 506 8880

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