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News Archive

November / December 2009

10 December 2009 - 5th Annual Health and Safety Conference: Health and Safety Agenda for 2010

Now in its fifth year, the conference will be taking a very close look at what will constitute a successful occupational safety and health year in 2010. This practical one-day conference will help in your everyday work in your organisation. The eminent speakers will highlight the priorities and essential topics that should be on your 2010 Health and Safety Agenda.

This conference will help you to:

• Understand the aims and objectives of the Health and Safety Executive's (HSE) new Strategy be part of the Solution.
• Turn your own strategy into a successful action programme
• Identify the key health and safety topics for 2010

Benefits of attending

The aims of this practical one-day conference are to:

1. Understand the Health and Safety Executive's Strategy and the key component parts
2. Recognise that OSH legislation is constantly changing and how it affects organisations and businesses e.g. corporate manslaughter and fire safety
3. Raise individual awareness and perspectives on major health and safety topics such as fit for work; dealing with suppliers and contractors ; management of road risk for your workers; OSH in times of recession
4. Network with other senior professionals and benchmark your organisation, and
5. Above all, will give you the opportunity to talk to and ask questions of the expert speakers

Programme organised and chaired by Sheila Pantry OBE.
Venue: The Hatton (etc Venues), 51 - 53 Hatton Garden, London, EC1N 8HN, UK
Contact: Customer Services, Croner Training, 7th Floor, Elizabeth House, York Road, London SE1 7NQ, UK | Tel: 0845 082 1170 | Fax: 0845 120 9612 | Email: services@cronertraining.co.uk
For full details of programme, speakers and topics www.kaplanhawksmere.co.uk/hsconference

FIREINF can help you if you need up-to-date fire information

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. It is used worldwide by organisations, including 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 in 17 databases.

The Full Text Collection has 5 databases containing thousands of pages of full text information and The Bibliographic Collection has 12 databases which together contain over 535,000 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.

• FIREINF is continuously enlarged as information including new research and new ways of working is published
• It helps those responsible for fire, emergencies and preparedness in workplaces of all kinds to keep ahead with the latest information and developments
• It assists individuals and organisations that cannot afford to subscribe to a range of journals/magazines because these are indexed within FIREINF
• FIREINF contains information that has been published in the past, so an easy reference point for researchers

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

International symposium on ageing and globalisation in construction, 23-25 November 2009

The ISSA construction section organises its XXIXth international symposium from 23 to 25 November 2009 in Brussels. The main subjects of the symposium are ageing and globalisation, both as related to health and safety in the construction industry. The issue will be treated at 3 levels: the industry, the company and the individual.

Prevent, as a member of the ISSA and presiding the ISSA information section, supports the symposium and invites its network members to attend the event. We are able to offer you a reduced attendance fee at 400 Euro, which is 200 Euro less than the regular attendance fee.

If you are interested in attending the symposium, which we hope you will do, you need to register via customer@prevent.be, in order to take advantage of the reduced registration fee.

We hope to welcome you soon in the new Square conference hall. It will be the first event to be organized in the newly built conference venue.

Progress Toward Safe Nanotechnology in the Workplace: A Report from the US NIOSH Nanotechnology Research Center

As with any new technology, the earliest and most extensive exposures to engineered nanoparticles are most likely to occur in the workplace among the workers who produce and use nanoparticles. Read the latest update on the subject.

The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) is mandated by law to conduct research and develop guidance on worker safety and health.

NIOSH and its partners in other government agencies, countries, academia, industry, labor, and nongovernmental organizations have been conducting research and developing guidance to address the occupational safety and health of workers exposed to nanomaterials.

Progress Toward Safe Nanotechnology in the Workplace: A Report from the NIOSH
Nanotechnology Research Center Project Updates for 2007 and 2008
NIOSH Publication No. 2010-104

www.cdc.gov/niosh/docs/2010-104/pdfs/2010-104.pdf

Evaluation of the Healthy Workplaces Campaign 2008 & 2009: your help needed

The European Agency for Safety and Health at Work (EU-OSHA) has commissioned an independent evaluation of the Healthy Workplaces Campaign 2008 & 2009. The evaluation is being carried out by Centre for Strategy & Evaluation Services (CSES) and its purpose is to help identify ways of improving future campaigns.

We are keen to obtain an input to the evaluation from EU-OSHA's 'target audiences'. We would be grateful if you could take a few moments to complete the questionnaire.

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact either Achilleas Tsamis, (atsamis@cses.co.uk), Jack Malan (jmalan@cses.co.uk) tel: +44 (0)1959 525122 or the Agency (+34 94 479 4360). Please note that the identity of survey respondents will not be made known as we do not ask for your name and the survey responses will be aggregated.

Virtual Risk Manager road safety alert: Avoiding driver fatigue

Driver fatigue is estimated to contribute to approximately 20% of road collisions, and although driving when fatigued may not be illegal, research suggests that it can be as dangerous as drink driving. Being fatigued significantly raises the risk of a collision. It makes us less alert to what is happening on the road, and less able to react quickly and safely if a dangerous situation arises.

Are you at risk?

The two main causes of fatigue are lack of quality sleep (sleep debt) and driving at times when you would normally be asleep.

If you don't get enough sleep you go into debt - you 'owe' yourself more sleep. The only way to repay this debt is by sleeping. Until you catch up on your sleep, you have a greater risk of having a fatigue-related collision.

You also put yourself at risk of a fatigue-related collision if you:

• Drive in the early morning (1 am - 6 am), when you would normally be sleeping.
• Travel in the 'afternoon lull' (1 - 4 pm), when the 'biological clock' makes us feel sleepy.
• Start a big trip after a long day's work.
• Have a sleep disorder such as sleep apnoea. Symptoms include heavy snoring broken by sudden periods of silence, restless sleep and constantly being tired during the day.

What are the fatigue danger signs for drivers?

• Constant yawning.
• Drifting in the lane.
• Sore or heavy eyes.
• Trouble keeping your head up.
• Delayed reactions.
• Daydreaming.
• Difficulty remembering the last few kilometres.
• Variations in driving speed.

Myths about driver fatigue:

• Plenty of fresh air through the window will help keep me alert. A short-term benefit at best.
• Young people need less sleep. Under 25s are over-represented in fatigue-related collisions.
• I know when I'm tired, or having sleep attacks. You may only find out when it's too late.
• Having a short break will keep me safe. Once you are fatigued you must sleep.
• Coffee is a good way to combat fatigue. Coffee/caffeine only provides short-term benefits; once its effects wear off, you suffer from sleep rebound which is a major cause of collisions.
• Playing music will help keep me alert. This provides only a short-term benefit.

Remember - the only cure for fatigue is sleep.

If you start to feel tired take a Powernap of 10 minutes or more, which can significantly lower the risk of a fatigue-related collision.

The best approach is to avoid fatigue:

• Make sure you regularly get enough sleep.
• Plan your journeys more diligently, including identify places where you know you can stop safely to rest if you become fatigued.
• Be aware of your biological clock or circadian rhythms - increased collision risk between 1 - 6 am and 1 - 4 pm.
• Understand the sleep apnoea risks - visit doctor or occupational health specialist if concerned.
• Don't start a big trip after a long day's work.
• Take regular rest breaks to help avoid the onset of fatigue.
• Eat proper well-balanced meals, preferably at your normal meal times.

www.virtualriskmanager.net

Busy as a bee to promote better working conditions in Europe

A beekeeper's portrait was awarded with the first prize of the European photo competition on safer and healthier workplaces.

The European Agency for Safety and Health at Work (EU-OSHA) has just announced the winner of the photography competition focussing on safety and health at work. Christopher Azzopardi from Malta was awarded with the 1st prize for his photograph entitled "Beekeeper" at the European Summit on Risk Assessment and SMEs in Bilbao, the closing event of the Healthy Workplaces Campaign.

The 2009 winner, Christopher Azzopardi, was enthusiastic about his success: "I am very honoured to receive the prize. The photo was the most challenging picture I have ever taken. I was wearing protective clothing when I took the photo of a beekeeper working in an apiary in Malta, but the bees still managed to sting me several times. Through this photo I wanted to show the importance of wearing protective clothing while working in a dangerous environment."

The second and third prize was handed to Eric Despujols from France ("Welder") and Rodrigo Cabrita from Portugal ("A hard and complicated life").

The Europe-wide photo competition has captured the imagination of photography enthusiasts across the European Union. With every new photograph an insight into the interpretations of safety and health among Europe's citizens was gained. Jukka Takala, Director of EU-OSHA, emphasized the success of the competition at the award ceremony in Bilbao: "The interest shown and creative talent on display has been very encouraging. I am very pleased to award the best and most original photos answering our question "What's your image of safety and health at work?". Humour, simplicity and innocence are often present, sometimes accompanied by a slight sense of tension or even provocation, as if to remind us of the everyday importance of healthier and safer workplaces."

The photo competition was organised in the framework of the Agency's Healthy Workplaces campaign on risk assessment. All photographers - professionals or amateurs - were invited to join the competition and submit their photographs between May 9th and August 15th 2009. An acclaimed international jury was in charge to select the best entries. Top photographers Mertxe Alarcón, Clemente Bernad, Miguel Ángel Gaüeca and Ambroise Tézenas were joined by Peter Rimmer, communication expert in occupational safety and health and formerly from the Health and Safety Executive UK.

For more information on the submitted photographs and the "What's your image of safety and health at work?" competition visit www.osha-photocompetition.eu

The pan-European photo competition "What's your image of safety and health?" is organised by the European Agency for Safety and Health at Work to promote awareness on occupational safety and health. With this initiative, EU-OSHA encouraged entrants to photograph images which portray safety and health at work issues in creative and imaginative ways. Entries could depict work-related situations in different economic sectors such as agriculture, education or health care. In total, three winners are selected from the submissions. The first prize is awarded with €3,000. Second and third placed entries win €2,000 and €1,000 respectively. A touring exhibition showcases winning and short-listed photos throughout Europe.

2010 round of the RoSPA Occupational Health and Safety Awards - start to register your entry now

Following another record year, the 2010 round of the RoSPA Occupational Health and Safety Awards has recently been launched.

The longstanding programme continues to be sponsored by NEBOSH - the National Examining Board for Occupational Safety and Health and supported by the UK Health and Safety Executive (HSE), and it is widely regarded as the leading scheme for providing both recognition and celebration of organisations' health and safety management achievements.

In 2010, for the first time entrants are invited to 'pre-register' their entries ahead of submitting their full entries entitling them to receive a discount on the entry fee. Also new this year is an optional feedback service for the non-competitive achievement awards, which will provide invaluable advice and guidance on how submissions could be improved in future years.

Full details, including the entry form and guidance notes brochures can be found at www.rospa.com/awards

Introduction to Health and Safety at Work, 4th Edition by Hughes and Ferrett

Introduction to Health and Safety at Work has been developed for the NEBOSH National General Certificate in Occupational Safety and Health and is endorsed by NEBOSH. Each element of the syllabus is covered by a dedicated chapter and both taught units are covered. A chapter on international aspects make the book also suitable for the NEBOSH International Certificate. The successful previous editions have also found ready acceptance for other NVQ level 3 and 4 courses in Health and Safety.

Full colour pages and hundreds of illustrations bring the subject to life. To make studying easier, each chapter starts with learning outcome summaries and ends with questions taken from recent NEBOSH examinations. Specimen answers and a study skills chapter help to prepare for the exam. As an introduction to all areas of occupational safety and health the book is also a practical reference for managers and directors with health and safety responsibilities and safety representatives. It covers the essential elements of health and safety management, the legal framework, risk assessment and control standards and includes handy forms and checklists.

New in this edition:

• Updated in line with the 2009 changes to the NEBOSH syllabus
• Updated throughout in line with changes in the regulations

Introduction to Health and Safety at Work, 4th Edition
by P. Hughes and E. Ferrett,
Butterworth-Heinemann, 2009, 4th ed, 496 pages.
ISBN-13: 9781856176682

New books from BSI

Readers will be interested in the following new books from the BSI

• Communication Strategies: Write Your Incident Communication Plan Now
  http://shop.bsigroup.com/en/ProductDetail/?pid=000000000030202625
• Energy Management Principles and Practice: A Companion to BS EN 16001: 2009
  http://shop.bsigroup.com/en/ProductDetail/?pid=000000000030239731
• Data Protection Pocket Guide. Essential Facts at Your Fingertips
  http://shop.bsigroup.com/en/ProductDetail/?pid=000000000030123246

3 new books on ISO 9001

• Understanding ISO 9001: 2008 and Process-based Management Systems
  http://shop.bsigroup.com/en/ProductDetail/?pid=000000000030202747
• Creating a Process-based Management System for ISO 9001: 2008 and Beyond
  http://shop.bsigroup.com/en/ProductDetail/?pid=000000000030202748
• Process Management Auditing for ISO 9001: 2008
  http://shop.bsigroup.com/en/ProductDetail/?pid=000000000030202749

More information about these titles is available at the BSI web addresses, including sample chapter PDFs.

BSI, 389 Chiswick High Road, London W4 4AL, UK | Tel: +44 (0) 20 8996 7940 | Fax: +44 (0) 20 8996 7553 | email: sophie.phipps@bsigroup.com | www.bsigroup.com

Make the right OSH decision - use authoritative and validated information sources. OSH UPDATE is here to help... for access to the latest occupational health and safety information from worldwide sources

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.

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 has 19 databases containing validated and authoritative worldwide information on all aspects of health and safety at work.
• Contain over 800,000 records containing thousands of links to full text documents containing guidance, advice, research results, standards etc on all aspects of worked related health and safety.
• It has user-friendly powerful software that takes you direct to the documents and information that you are seeking.
• Is the lowest priced collection in the world of occupational safety and health (OSH) information.
• Will help you keep up-to-date easy and cheaply.
• Used by organisations worldwide from government departments, research laboratories, private companies, institutions, associations to individual consultants.

Don't make health and safety decisions without consulting the world's authoritative and validated guidance and advice that is found within OSH UPDATE. 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