Skip to content

Sheila Pantry Associates Ltd

News from around the World

News Archive

February 2009

Contents
  1. Healthy Workplaces: Get involved with new campaign materials
  2. Mind the Gap: Keeping up to date in fire information 2009
  3. NEBOSH's New International Diploma is available around the World
  4. Working safely and healthily in Great Britain from overseas
  5. New book: Lawsuit! Reducing the Risk of Product Liability for Manufacturers by Randall L Goodden
  6. Why waste time chasing around the Internet for quality safety and health information? Save time and money by taking OSH UPDATE!
  7. Australia's National Review into model occupational health and safety laws; second report to the workplace relations ministers' council
  8. New Book: Inherently Safer Chemical Process - a Life Cycle Approach
  9. ILO-CIS Bulletin on-line
  10. Be up-to-date with the latest fire information - have a trial of FIREINF
  11. New European Legislation
  12. Independence and impartiality: Guidance for second party inspections of mobile elevating work platforms (MEWPs)
  13. Canada: World's first nanotech law due
  14. US National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) today issued interim guidance for medical screening and hazard surveillance for workers potentially exposed to engineered nanoparticles

Healthy Workplaces: Get involved with new campaign materials

The European Agency for Safety and Health at Work has launched the promotion of the risk assessment campaign new sector posters that are now available for download in 22 languages: agriculture, education and construction.

A new video explains the main objectives of the risk assessment campaign and includes EU statistics on workplace accidents and good practice examples from different Member States. The video is available in English and French.

Sector posters on risk assessment: https://osha.europa.eu/en/healthy-workplaces-campaigns/previous-healthy-workplaces-campaigns

European Agency for Safety and Health at Work, Gran Vía 33, 48009 Bilbao, Spain | http://osha.europa.eu

Mind the Gap: Keeping up to date in fire information 2009

Essential one-day conference for all those involved in Information in fire and fire related topics.

Benefit from the expertise of specialist speakers.

Chaired by Sheila Pantry OBE, long time health, safety and fire information expert.

Wednesday, 13 May 2009
Imperial Hotel, Russell Square, London, UK

Booking

To make a booking for a delegate to conference please fill in the Booking Form

Cost per delegate is £120.00 (FIG UK Members £80.00) and send by Good Friday, 10 April 2009 at the latest, with cheque made out to "Fire information Group" to:

Sally Walsh, Fire Information Group, Dr J. H. Burgoyne & Partners LLP, 11-12 Halfmoon Court, Bartholomew Close, London EC1A 7HF, UK | Email: sally.walsh@burgoynes.com

NEBOSH's New International Diploma is available around the World

The World Trade Centre in Dubai was the apt setting for the launch of the NEBOSH International Diploma in Occupational Health and Safety. Around 80 safety professionals, course providers and business leaders attended the launch reception.

NEBOSH Chief Executive; Teresa Budworth explained to the assembled dignitaries: "NEBOSH's aim is to promote competency in health and safety. We are sure that our new International Diploma will become the qualification of choice for safety professionals worldwide.

Courses are already offered in the UAE, Singapore, Ireland and the UK, with distance learning providers making the qualification accessible to aspiring safety professionals anywhere in the world."

Mr Abdul Raham Jawahery, General Manager of Gulf Petrochemical Industries Company (GPIC) in Bahrain, and NEBOSH Ambassador urged those attending to ensure that safety retained its importance in the present economic downturn: He said "Cutting spending on health and safety is a false economy. In difficult times it becomes more important to control the losses arising from accidents at work."

He went on to pledge his company's commitment to investing in the safety competence of its Managers and safety team.

Julia Whiting, Communications Co-ordinator, NEBOSH, Dominus Way, Meridian Business Park, LEICESTER LE19 1QW | Tel: 0116 263 4724 | Fax: 0116 282 4000 | julia.whiting@nebosh.org.uk | www.nebosh.org.uk

Working safely and healthily in Great Britain from overseas

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) and local authorities are responsible for enforcing health and safety legislation in Great Britain (GB). The law provides protection for overseas workers whether they are working here legally or not.

A new HSE website will help overseas workers and their employers understand their roles and responsibilities under British health and safety law.

If you are working here from overseas, this website will help you:

If you are an employer, this website will help you find out about:

Other languages

Parts of the site are available in other languages:

Health and safety advice for workers and employers

Roles and responsibilities under British health and safety law.

www.hse.gov.uk/migrantworkers

New book: Lawsuit! Reducing the Risk of Product Liability for Manufacturers by Randall L Goodden

Addressing product liability concerns and laws both in the U.S. and internationally, this book helps manufacturers and engineers develop and implement proactive processes that can reduce liability concerns and potential lawsuits. It discusses preventive measures in the engineering, development, and manufacturing of products and explains the procedures and processes manufacturers must have in place to reduce the likelihood of liability as well as to provide the best defense in case of a lawsuit. Across the USA and throughout the world, there is a growing demand for safer, more reliable, and higher quality products. Recalls of unsafe products have set new records in the USA and in other countries, and many of the recalls were followed by lawsuits against those same manufacturers, distributors and importers that have now admitted to having defects in their products and designs. This book explains in detail the key issues management teams need to understand as well as the procedures and process manufacturing corporations must have in place and practice every day in order to help prevent or avoid the possibilities of a product liability lawsuit, as well as having the best defences in place in the event of an unavoidable lawsuit. This is a premier resource for engineers, manufacturers, risk managers, and others concerned about product liability.

Contents include:

The author Randall L. Goodden is recognized around the world as a leading expert and author on product safety and product liability prevention. Through his public and in-house seminars around the world, he has taught product safety and product liability prevention to thousands of manufacturing executives. For more than twenty-five years, Randall Goodden has worked as a Director and then Corporate Vice President in charge of Quality & Product Reliability, New Product Development, Field Services, and Litigation Management for a large international manufacturing corporation. He is the President of Goodden Enterprises, LLC and the founder and Chairman of the International Product Safety & Liability Prevention Association.

Lawsuit! Reducing the Risk of Product Liability for Manufacturers
by Randall L Goodden
John Wiley & Sons, Inc., 2009; 359 pages; ISBN 978 0 470 17797 6
http://eu.wiley.com/WileyCDA/WileyTitle/productCd-0470177977,descCd-description.html

Why waste time chasing around the Internet for quality safety and health information? Save time and money by taking OSH UPDATE!

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.

OSH UPDATE - produced by Sheila Pantry Associates Ltd now has 19 databases containing validated and authoritative worldwide information on all aspects of health and safety at work.

OSH UPDATE - arguably one of the best collections of full text and bibliographic health and safety information, is continuously updated as new data is published. It has user-friendly powerful software and the lowest priced collection of occupational safety and health (OSH) information.

During 2008, over 50,000 new records containing 4,715 URL links to full text including 842 full text documents were added.

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

Contact: Sheila Pantry Associates Ltd, Sheffield S26 1JG, UK | Tel: +44 (0) 1909 771024 | Fax: +44 (0) 1909 772829 | Email: sp@sheilapantry.com
Websites www.sheilapantry.com | www.oshworld.com | www.shebuyersguide.com | www.oshupdate.com | www.fireinf.com

Australia's National Review into model occupational health and safety laws; second report to the workplace relations ministers' council

This report is the second of the two reports that were required to provide under the terms of reference for the National Review of Model OHS Laws. The first report focused on the priority areas in clause 12 of our terms of reference, being:

The second report addresses the areas in clause 13 of our terms of reference:

Taken together, the reports discuss and make recommendations for the optimal content of a model OHS Act. The first report contains Parts 1 to 5. The second report contains Parts 6 to 12.

The authors have sought to facilitate access to the content of the reports by including at the start of each report a summary of its findings and a table of recommendations that indicates where each recommendation is to be found in the report concerned.

The final report of Australia's review to develop a national approach to OHS through a model OHS law was released mid February 2009. As it is the latest OHS legislative review, it is certainly worth a look.

National Review into model occupational health and safety laws; second report to the workplace relations ministers' council
January 2009, 475 pages

http://employment.gov.au/occupational-health-and-safety-harmonisation

New Book: Inherently Safer Chemical Process - a Life Cycle Approach

Center for Chemical Process Safety, New York

Inherently Safer Chemical Processes presents a holistic approach to making the development, manufacture, and use of chemicals safer. It discusses strategies for substituting more benign chemicals at the development stage, minimizing risk in the transportation of chemicals, using safer processing methods at the manufacturing stage, and decommissioning a manufacturing plant. Since the publication of the original concept book in 1996, there have been many developments on the concept of inherent safety. This new (second) edition provides the latest knowledge so that engineers can derive maximum benefit from inherent safety. The book is dedicated to Trevor Kletz who is considered by many to have created the concept of inherent safety. Chemical plants worldwide are safer because of his influence, his writings and his teachings.

The chapters cover the following:

  1. Objectives, Intended Audience, scope of this Book and History of Inherent Safety.
  2. The Concept of Inherent Safety.
  3. The Role of Inherently Safer Concepts in Process Risk. Management.
  4. Inherently Safer Strategies.
  5. Life Cycle Stages.
  6. Human Factors.
  7. Inherent Safety and Security.
  8. Implementing Inherently Safer Design.
  9. Inherently Safer Design Conflicts.
  10. Inherently Safer Design Regulatory Initiatives.
  11. Worked Examples and Case Studies.
  12. Future Initiatives.

The Appendices contain Checklists, Glossary, References, Chapter References.

In addition there are references on the key literature in Inherent Safety, additional reading and an Index.

Inherently Safer Chemical Process: a Life Cycle Approach
Center for Chemical Process Safety, New York
January 2009; 411 pages; ISBN 978 0471 77892 9
http://eu.wiley.com/WileyCDA/WileyTitle/productCd-0471778923,descCd-tableOfContents.html

ILO-CIS Bulletin on-line

For many years, CIS's most visible product was its bibliographic Bulletin called Safety and Health at Work. We stopped printing this Bulletin at the end of the 2003 publication year, and we are now pleased to offer its virtual equivalent as one of our electronic products available through the Internet. Each virtual Bulletin contains the latest additions to the CISDOC database, organized in the same CIS number order as the printed Bulletin used to be. No index is necessary, as every Internet browser has an inbuilt Find or Search function.

Four Virtual Bulletins for 2008 are now available: www.ilo.org/public/english/protection/safework/cis/products/bulletin.htm

Be up-to-date with the latest fire information - have a trial of FIREINF

Last year - 2008, FIREINF has doubled in size and is arguably the world's premier collection of related validated, authoritative information on fire and fire related information as well as a broad range of occupational safety and health information.

Emphasis in FIREINF is on all aspects of fire, emergency and preparedness management principles, fire risk assessment, practices and research. FIREINF leads the searcher to quality guidance and advice from around the world. And it is used worldwide by organisations, those teaching fire science as well as fire brigades and their union, rescue services, forensic and fire experts.

FIREINF is the world's premier collection of validated, authoritative fire and fire related information and contains two major collections.

For those individuals and organisations that do not subscribe to a range of journals/magazines this is one way of ensuring that the latest news, developments and trends are available.

The Full Text Collection has 5 databases containing thousands of pages of full text information and The Bibliographic Collection has 10 databases which together contain over 523,000 records to journal articles, guidance and advice, circulars, reports, conference proceedings, research reports, statistics and codes of practice from worldwide sources, all of which may be easily accessed. One of the databases - from the British Standards Institution - contains references to over 4000 fire and fire related standards.

This long established collection started in 1997 as Fire Worldwide and then expanded into Fire, Emergency and Preparedness Worldwide. From 2007 the collection continues to expand with the new powerful software and host platform and aims to help all those seeking information on all aspects of fire, emergency and preparedness management principles, fire risk assessment, good practices and research.

FIREINF is continuously enlarged as new information is published.

In this fast moving world it is essential to have quick access to validated, authoritative and constantly updated information collections. Much time is spent these days searching the Internet for validated and authoritative information often resulting in out-of date sources. Collections brought together and maintained by information specialists are one sure way of getting good quality data.

As new research and new ways of working, with the attendant alterations in products, services and technology developments means that no-one, especially those responsible for fire, emergencies and preparedness in workplaces of all kinds, should be without the latest information. Nor should people be without access to information that has been published in the past!

Searchers should also be aware that the myth abounding in the world that everything is published on the Internet and is free is just not true! Nor is the latest theory that if you have a credit card and access to search engines then you do NOT need a library!

One way to quickly gain access to legislation, guidance and advice that is up-to-date and relevant is to take a 15-day Free Trial of FIREINF - the service that is focused, affordable, easy to use and continuously updated as new data is published.

Published by Sheila Pantry Associates Ltd. since 1997 (previous titles Fire Worldwide and also Fire, Emergency and Preparedness Worldwide), FIREINF uses the powerful Headfast software

FIREINF is accessible via the Internet Service www.fireinf.com.

Contact Sheila Pantry Associates Ltd. for 15 day FREE trials for all services that are cost effective. Why pay more for information? Click onto www.sheilapantry.com/interest.html

New European Legislation

Commission Directive 2009/4/EC of 23 January 2009 counter measures to prevent and detect manipulation of records of tachographs, amending Directive 2006/22/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council on minimum conditions for the implementation of Council Regulations (EEC) No. 3820/85 and No. 3821/85 concerning social legislation relating to road transport activities and repealing Council Directive 88/599/EEC
Brussels, Official Journal of the European Union; L 21/39 24 January 2009 39-40, 2 pages
http://eur-lex.europa.eu/LexUriServ/LexUriServ.do?uri=OJ:L:2009:021:0039:0040:EN:PDF

Commission Decision 2009/52/EC of 18 December 2008 on the allocation of quantities of controlled substances allowed for essential uses in the Community in 2009 under Regulation (EC) No 2037/2000 of the European Parliament and of the Council on substances that deplete the ozone layer
Brussels, Official Journal of the European Union; L 21/53 24 January 2009 53-65, 13 pages
http://eur-lex.europa.eu/LexUriServ/LexUriServ.do?uri=OJ:L:2009:021:0053:0065:EN:PDF

Commission Regulation (EC) No 68/2009 of 23 January 2009 adapting for the ninth time to technical progress Council Regulation (EEC) No 3821/85 on recording equipment in road transport
Brussels, Official Journal of the European Union; L 21/3 24 January 2009 3-9, 8 pages
http://eur-lex.europa.eu/LexUriServ/LexUriServ.do?uri=OJ:L:2009:021:0003:0009:EN:PDF

Commission Recommendation 2009/60/EC of 23 January 2009 on guidelines for best enforcement practice concerning checks of recording equipment to be carried out at roadside checks and by authorised workshops
Brussels, Official Journal of the European Union; L 21/87 24 January 2009 87-98, 13 pages
http://eur-lex.europa.eu/LexUriServ/LexUriServ.do?uri=OJ:L:2009:021:0087:0099:EN:PDF

Independence and impartiality: Guidance for second party inspections of mobile elevating work platforms (MEWPs)

The International Powered Access Federation (IPAF) has produced guidance for second party inspection bodies that carry out periodic in-service inspections (also known as thorough examinations) of mobile elevating work platforms (MEWPs).

In the MEWP industry, it is common practice in many countries to employ second parties, typically in-house engineers, for these tasks.

"This guidance should help companies demonstrate the independence, impartiality and integrity of the second parties that they employ," said IPAF technical officer Gil Male. "These are important attributes which help second party inspection bodies to demonstrate independence from competing pressures that could influence the results of the inspections/thorough examinations that they carry out."

The guidance defines the essential characteristics of a second party inspection/thorough examination system. It can be downloaded from the Publications/Technical Guidance section of www.ipaf.org.

In the UK, access equipment used to lift people must be thoroughly examined by a competent person every six months. IPAF's CAP Card (Competent Assessed Person) programme certifies that the holder has been independently assessed as being knowledgeable and able to carry out thorough examinations of platforms in the context of current legislation. The assessments focus on machine safety and are for experienced engineers. More information on the CAP programme is at www.ipaf.org/cap.

IPAF is a not-for-profit members' organisation that promotes the safe and effective use of powered access. Members include manufacturers, distributors and equipment owners, including rental companies. More information is at www.ipaf.org.

Canada: World's first nanotech law due

The Canadian government is planning to release the world's first national regulation requiring companies to detail their use of engineered nanomaterials, reports say. The information gathered under the requirement, which it is thought will be published in February, will be used to evaluate the risks of engineered nanomaterials and will help the development of appropriate safety measures to protect human health and the environment.

Andrew Maynard, a nanotech safety expert from the US-based Project on Emerging Nanotechnologies (PEN), commented: 'People and the environment are being increasingly exposed to new nanomaterials. Yet governments lack information on the type, quantity and possible risks of nanoscale materials being manufactured and used in products today. This is information that is vital to ensuring the safe use of nanotechnology.'

Maynard, PEN's chief science adviser, added: 'This decision by Canada - to establish the world's first national mandatory nanoscale materials reporting programme for companies - is an important step toward ensuring that nanotechnology regulation is driven by accurate information and high-quality science.' Canada's action comes after a series of international reports highlighted major deficiencies in the health and safety oversight and control of nanotechnologies.

Unions in the UK, US, Australia and Holland have called for the precautionary principle to be applied to nanotech use while uncertainty remains on the potential health effects.

www.nanotechproject.org/news/archive/7061

US National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) today issued interim guidance for medical screening and hazard surveillance for workers potentially exposed to engineered nanoparticles

The US NIOSH recommendations in "Current Intelligence Bulletin 60: Interim Guidance for the Medical Screening and Hazard Surveillance for Workers Potentially Exposed to Engineered Nanoparticles," are available at www.cdc.gov/niosh/docs/2009-116.

The recommendations respond to ongoing interest by employers and other stakeholders in having authoritative occupational safety and health guidance in the manufacturing and industrial use of engineered nanomaterials. The recommendations also reflect NIOSH's ongoing leadership in providing such interim scientific guidance as research progresses for determining whether engineered nanomaterials pose risks for adverse occupational health effects.

"Leaders in business, the health community, and public policy have widely agreed on the need for prudent occupational safety and health strategies in the growing nanotechnology industry," said NIOSH Acting Director Christine M. Branche, Ph.D. "NIOSH is pleased to help provide scientific guidance for such strategies, which are integral for maintaining U.S. leadership in the global nanotechnology market."

As interim guidance, NIOSH recommends that employers:

The NIOSH interim guidance addresses the question of whether specific medical screening is appropriate for workers potentially exposed to engineered nanoparticles who do not display symptoms of disease. At this time, there is insufficient scientific and medical evidence to recommend the specific medical screening of workers potentially exposed to engineered nanoparticles, NIOSH concluded. However, NIOSH added, where occupational medical screening recommendations exist for given chemicals or bulk materials, those recommendations would be applicable for workers exposed to engineered nanoparticles composed of those same chemicals or bulk materials.

More information on NIOSH's strategic research program, including numerous informational, educational, and interim guidance resources, can be found at www.cdc.gov/niosh/topics/nanotech.

More information about NIOSH research and recommendations in general can be found at www.cdc.gov/niosh.

Copyright © 2024, Sheila Pantry Associates Ltd.

Tel: +44 (0) 1909 771024
Fax: +44 (0) 1909 772829
E-mail: sp@sheilapantry.com