News from around the World

News Archive

July 2011

Do you need access to worldwide authoritative and validated fire and OSH information that are user friendly and cost effective?

Keeping up with the latest worldwide OSH and fire information can be a time consuming exercise, but help is available if you subscribe to the ever growing OSH UPDATE collection of 20 databases and the FIREINF collection of 17 databases.

It is worth spending time checking out the latest reports and other guidance and advice that have recently produced from worldwide sources. You will find many such pieces of advice and guidance in OSH UPDATE www.oshupdate.com and in FIREINF www.fireinf.com

The electronic services OSH UPDATE www.oshupdate.com and FIREINF www.fireinf.com will help you and your organisation to keep up-to-date. These services continue to bring you the latest information on health, safety, environment, fire and other subjects that you will find useful in your daily work. OSH UPDATE contains over 817,000 records - including CISDOC database and FIREINF over 538,000 records.

OSH UPDATE and FIREINF services contain both full text and bibliographic information are continuously enlarged as new information is published. These services are used by organisations, universities, companies and some ILO CIS Centres worldwide.

For a 15 DAY FREE NO OBLIGATION TRIAL contact: Sheila Pantry Associates Ltd | email: sp@sheilapantry.com | or fill in the Interest form www.sheilapantry.com/interest.html

New European Campaign launched on Healthy Skin at Work

The European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology (EADV) has launched a pan-European Healthy Skin@Work campaign, which seeks to raise public and political awareness on the challenges of occupational skin diseases at European and national level.

It aims at creating a dermatological prevention service system that interlocks and builds upon each other for the benefit of exposed individuals in high risk work environments throughout the EU. The ongoing campaign is supported by national sub-campaigns in Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Germany and Romania. This year, the national campaigns are being replicated and joined by additional ones in Denmark, Austria and Slovenia.

One important objective of the campaign was achieved in September 2010 through the adoption of the European framework agreement on the prevention of health risks in the hairdressing sector, also referred to the Declaration of Dresden (DoD) by the social partners of the EU Commission´s Social Dialogue. The DoD is the main outcome of the EU-funded SafeHair project and is an EADV-scientifically-guided voluntary consensus reached amongst all stakeholders (European hairdressers´ employers´ and workers´ associations, suppliers and safety engineers) on the importance of prevention and of implementing respective measures in the hairdressing trade. It is a unique tool in terms of providing practical recommendations for the implementation of prevention standards pertaining to a number of complementary spheres of action.

The EADV-campaign is scientifically guided by the European Initiative for the Prevention of Occupational Skin Diseases (EPOS), which is a network of 79 experts from more than 50 dermatological centres in 24 European countries under the umbrella of the EADV.

According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), occupational skin diseases (OSD) are the leading cause of occupational illnesses as they represent up to 27 per cent of all diseases worldwide. OSD can affect workers in almost all sectors and occupations.

In Europe, they are considered to be the second most common work-related health problem and one of the most important emerging risks related to the exposure to chemical, physical and biological risk factors. In the context of increased exposure to solar UV radiation, occupational non-melanoma skin cancer (NMSC) is becoming a rising problem. OSD cost up to €5 billion per year due to loss of productivity and cause extensive suffering for workers as it can result in detrimental socioeconomic and psychological consequences, including job loss and long-term unemployment.

For more details on the campaign and on how to support it, please contact: pweinert@uos.de

Helping Europe's next generation to work

The unemployment rate for young people aged between 16 and 24 years in the EU27 is twice as high as the overall rate of unemployment, participants at the conference Working Together for Youth Employment: A Global Challenge on 30 June 2011 in Brussels, Belgium, were told.

The event, co-organised by four EU Agencies Cedefop, EU-OSH and hosted by the Employment Committee of the European Parliament, gathered policy-makers and experts from European social partners, European institutions, and representatives from the civil society, to discuss findings and formulate options on what policies could put the Europe's next generation to work.

Across Europe, specific initiatives by governments or social partners have been implemented such as developing work opportunities or policies aimed at increasing young people's employability and entry to the labour markets.

The 4 million young people unemployed in the European Union is huge challenge for Europe.

The panel debate focused on the need invest in young people, to create jobs and opportunities, and not succumb to the notion of a lost generation.

The number of young people not in education, employment or training (NEET) has increased over the last few years, the conference heard. New research from Eurofound show that the cost of NEETs is €100 billion/annum, spread over resource costs and public finance costs. Youth unemployment is an excessive cost to society, and we cannot afford this, not in terms of money nor in terms of human lives, said the Chair of the Employment and Social Affairs Committee.

More information about the event, including presentations, is available at: www.eurofound.europa.eu/events/2011/agencies300611

Contact: Eurofound, Loughlinstown House, Wyattville Road, Dublin, Ireland D18

EU conducts a survey on the impacts of REACH

As part of the European Commission's review of the REACH Regulation, the Centre for Strategy and Evaluation Services (CSES) has been instructed to perform a study assessing the impact of the REACH Regulation on the operation of the single market and the competitiveness of the European chemicals industry.

ECHA invites interested parties to participate in the CSES conducted survey of businesses across the European Union aimed at manufacturers and importers of chemical substances, as well as downstream users, chemical distributors and other firms involved in the chemicals' supply chain that may be affected by the REACH Regulation.

The survey is expected to remain open until July 15 2011.

Survey: http://cses.co.uk/reach_survey

Stop Sticks

The US National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health NIOSH-developed STOP STICKS campaign focuses on raising awareness that, in turn, prepares and motivates healthcare workers to make the changes needed to reduce sharps injuries.

The Campaign goal is to raise awareness about the risk of exposure to bloodborne pathogens such as HIV, hepatitis B, and hepatitis C from needlesticks and other sharps-related injuries in the workplace.

While the campaign materials were developed mainly for operating room and emergency department audiences, the target audience includes clinical and nonclinical healthcare workers and healthcare administrators in hospitals, doctor's offices, nursing homes, and home healthcare agencies. www.cdc.gov/niosh/stopsticks

How unions make a difference to health and safety - the union effect

The UK TUC (Trades Union Congress) says that the most effective tool that we have in ensuring good health and safety at work is trade unions, because organised workplaces are safer workplaces. That is one of the main reasons that people join and stay in a union. When asked, 70% of new trade union members considered health and safety a "very important" union issue - more even than for pay.

The public also recognise the importance of unions having a key role in health and safety. An NOP poll found that 98% of those asked believed "people at work should have the right to be represented by a trade union if they want to on health and safety".

The TUC says "We know that the 150,000 trade union safety representatives make a difference because trade union involvement:

• Helps reduce injuries at work
• Leads to reductions the levels of ill-health caused by work
• Encourages greater reporting of injuries and near-misses
• Makes workers more confident
• Helps develop a more positive safety culture in the organisation.
• Saves the economy many millions of pounds"

Report: www.tuc.org.uk/workplace-issues/health-and-safety/organisation/worker-involvement/union-effect

Safety and Health among Hotel Cleaners

The US National Occupational Research Agenda (NORA) is a partnership program to promote innovative research and improve workplace practices. Unveiled in 1996, NORA is a framework for guiding occupational safety and health research and interventions throughout the nation. NORA stakeholders collaborate to identify critical workplace issues in industry sectors.

The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) convened a number of these partners to develop the National Services Agenda, which includes safety and health goals for the Accommodations Industry.

Groups such as unions, worker organizations, government agencies, and hotel/motel associations can build partnerships to implement these goals and help ensure that hotels are safe for all employees.

DHHS (NIOSH) Publication Number 2011-194: www.cdc.gov/niosh/docs/2011-194/pdfs/2011-194.pdf

Worldwide Events not to be missed in August and September 2012...

There are many worldwide events taking place in the next few months: www.oshworld.com/diary11q3.html

For the complete listing see www.oshworld.com/diary.html

Workplace deaths increase in UK Coalition government's first year

The number of people killed at work in Britain last year rose by 16 per cent, prompting renewed calls on the Government to rethink its strategy to reduce health and safety activity and resources.

However, the minister countered with the assertion that "the reforms will ensure that action is better targeted on those who irresponsibly put workers and the public at risk".

The statistics can be viewed on the HSE website at www.hse.gov.uk/statistics/fatals.htm

Horizontal Plastic Injection Moulding Machine - Safety Checklists

A new document published by the IRSST (Occupational Health and Safety Research Institute) has been developed to support companies in the plastics processing industry in their efforts to prevent accidents involving horizontal plastic injection moulding machines.

This document can also serve in the training offered to the personnel in these companies and to students in plastics processing; however, it does not allow a risk analysis to be done to determine the limits, to identify hazards, and to estimate the risk; in these cases, appropriate standards must be consulted.

Practical safety checklists make up the core of this document, namely a general checklist on the safeguarding of machines, and a specific checklist for those individuals who perform various tasks on these machines, such as production, tuning, maintenance. The components of a horizontal plastic injection moulding machine and the safeguards against its inherent risks are presented to facilitate the use of the checklists. These risks can lead to serious, and even fatal, injuries.

To download the document, please visit: www.irsst.qc.ca/-publication-irsst-presse-injection-plastique-horizontale-grilles-verification-securite-rg-687.html

Contact: Maura Tomi, M.Sc., Information Officer, Communication Division, IRSST | Tel: 514-288-1551 ext. 302 | Fax: 514-288-0998

Leadership and work involvement toolkit

There is one key insight, based on research, that underpins The Health and Safety Executive's Leadership and Worker Involvement Toolkit. When a business benefits from good leadership, and combines this with action to involve the workforce, then a step change in health and safety performance is enabled.

Whether you are a worker, a supervisor, a construction manager or you run your own business, this toolkit contains something for you. For example;

• Step 1 - the Health and Safety Diagnostic Tool - a ten to fifteen minute interactive exercise that will help you to identify the level of safety culture in your business or project - www.hse.gov.uk/construction/lwit/step1.htm
• Step 2 - the Five Whys interactive - understand in seconds why it is so important to get to the root of your problems - www.hse.gov.uk/construction/lwit/step2.htm
• Step 3 - Understand the risks, - the top ten safety risks along with the top five health risks - www.hse.gov.uk/construction/lwit/step3.htm
• Step 4 - A leadership check tool - with information and help to take you further - www.hse.gov.uk/construction/lwit/step4.htm
• Step 5 - It will never happen to me - Watch the video, a widow's true story - www.hse.gov.uk/construction/lwit/step5.htm

For workers there are pages to help you find the information you need: www.hse.gov.uk/construction/lwit/for-workers.htm

If you are a health and safety adviser or consultant, check out the information, training packs and assessment tools that this toolkit provides: www.hse.gov.uk/construction/lwit/info.htm

This is not about technical improvements in machinery safety, or about improving health and safety management systems. This is about harnessing the value and creativity of people at work in construction. It is about getting the very best out of the plant and procedures that you use on your project, whilst minimising the potential for harm.

Find out more: www.hse.gov.uk/construction/lwit

Wanting to get more OSH information in one easy step?

Keeping up with the latest worldwide OSH and fire information can be a time consuming exercise, but help is available if you subscribe to the ever growing OSH UPDATE collection of 20 databases and the FIREINF collection of 17 databases.

It is worth spending time checking out the latest reports and other guidance and advice that have recently produced. You will find many such pieces of advice and guidance in OSH UPDATE www.oshupdate.com and in FIREINF www.fireinf.com

The electronic services OSH UPDATE www.oshupdate.com and FIREINF www.fireinf.com will help you and your organisation to keep up-to-date. These services continue to bring you the latest information on health, safety, environment, fire and other subjects that you will find useful in your daily work. OSH UPDATE contains over 817,000 records - including CISDOC database and FIREINF over 538,000 records.

OSH UPDATE and FIREINF services contain both full text and bibliographic information are continuously enlarged as new information is published. These services are used by some CIS Centres, organisations, universities and companies worldwide.

For a 15 DAY FREE NO OBLIGATION TRIAL contact: Sheila Pantry Associates Ltd | email: sp@sheilapantry.com | or fill in the Interest form www.sheilapantry.com/interest.html

A + A trade fair which will take place in Düsseldorf from 18-21 October 2011

Protective measures for the hands - At A+A 2011 manufacturers present solutions for the most diverse purposes

"I've got a good grip on that" is a statement which today is mostly used figuratively. But it clearly shows how important it is not to let things get out of hand. Unfortunately, people still lose their grip while performing dangerous work and accidents happen. Of all the injuries reported to the German social accident insurance DGUV, at 30 percent hand injuries are the most frequent. With approximately 1,500 exhibitors from 60 countries and more than 55,000 professionals visiting the leading international trade fair for safety, security and health at work, A+A 2011 in Düsseldorf (18 to 21 October) provides a complete market overview of current product trends and hand protection solutions for various purposes.

Employers must draw up company directives which, among other things, set out the type of gloves, duration of use, types of use, storage conditions and method of cleaning as well as any restrictions in use. In addition, based on the directives employees must be instructed on the characteristics and handling of the gloves at least once a year.

Mechanical hand protection

There are companies such as Ansell Health Care Europe, headquartered in Brussels, that manufacture protective handwear for virtually any area of use. Others, such as Mapa in Zeven and COMASEC in Neuenkirchen, have a broad range but originally started with chemical protection. August Penkert in Mühlheim/Ruhr is best-known for leather gloves.

For more information on A+A 2011, the exhibitors and their products (e.g. relating to hand protection), visit: www.AplusA.de

Messe Düsseldorf GmbH, Press and Public Relations A+A 2011, Martin-Ulf Koch/ Larissa Browa (Assistant) | Tel. +49 (0)211-4560-444 | Fax: +49 (0)211-4560-8548 | Email: KochM@messe-duesseldorf.de

UK Contact: Paul Evans | Tel: 01442 288281 | Fax: 01442 230012 | Email: paul@itsluk.com

X2012: 7th International Conference on the Science of Exposure Assessment

2-5 July 2012, Royal College of Physicians, Edinburgh

The British Occupational Hygiene Society is hosting the 7th International Conference on the Science of Exposure Assessment (X2012) in Edinburgh, Scotland on 2-5 July 2012.

X2012 will bring together the leading international experts and provide a platform for the exchange of knowledge and expertise in exposure assessment sciences. X2012 will contribute to the developments in state-of-the-art methodologies and practices in this field, and thereby improve our knowledge base to effectively control exposure to hazardous agents in the work environment, at home and elsewhere in the general environment.

More detailed information, including the Initial Announcement, can be found by visiting www.X2012.org.

Committee for Socio-economic Analysis adopts its first opinion and agrees on two draft opinions on restriction proposals under REACH

At its meeting in Helsinki 14-16 June 2011, the Committee for Socio-economic Analysis (SEAC) adopted its opinion on a restriction of dimethylfumarate (DMFu) in articles and agreed on draft opinions on restrictions concerning mercury in measuring devices and phenylmercury compounds.

In its first opinion, the Committee for Socio-economic Analysis concluded that restricting the use of DMFu in articles is the most appropriate Community-wide measure and that the measure is justified from a socio-economic point of view.

For its opinion, the Committee took into consideration the comments that had been received during the public consultation on the draft opinion of SEAC on this restriction proposal.

The proposal to restrict the use of DMFu in articles was submitted by France. ECHA's Committee for Risk Assessment adopted its opinion on the proposal in March 2011.

Alternatives available for mercury in measuring devices

SEAC concluded, in its draft opinion on mercury in measuring devices, that there are technically and economically feasible alternatives available for these devices and that the restriction is justified from a socio-economic point of view.

The scope of the original restriction proposal made by ECHA was slightly modified; SEAC proposed to also restrict the placing on the market of mercury-in-glass thermometers used in industrial applications for temperature measurements above 200 °C, given the evidence that economically feasible alternatives exist.

Furthermore, as a result of the public consultation, SEAC supported a restriction on the placing on the market of mercury strain gauges (instead of restricting the placing on the market of plethysmographs designed to be used with mercury strain gauges).

As foreseen by REACH, the draft opinion of SEAC will be published for public consultation. The final opinion is scheduled to be adopted in September 2011.

Phenylmercury compound restriction: further reduction of the use of mercury

SEAC supports in its draft opinion the restriction, proposed by Norway, on five phenylmercury compounds used as catalysts in polyurethane systems: phenylmercury acetate, phenylmercury propionate, phenylmercury 2-ethylhexanoate, phenylmercuric octanoate, and phenylmercury neodecanoate. The Committee concluded that the proposed restriction of these five phenylmercury compounds is the most appropriate Community-wide measure, and that the action is justified from a socio-economic point of view.

SEAC concluded that the restriction should enter into force with a delay of five years after its adoption, in order to allow for substitution of the substances and processes.

As foreseen by REACH, the draft opinion of SEAC will be published for public consultation. The final opinion is scheduled to be adopted in September 2011.

Further Information: https://echa.europa.eu/view-article/-/journal_content/91dfcdb2-6f7b-4a1a-bef7-47892d30d910

Hospital Management Asia 2011: 10th year

7-8 September 2011, Resorts World Convention Centre, Singapore

Senior Executives of the Joint Commission International, Johns Hopkins International, International Hospital Federation, and the Asian Hospital Federation will attend the 10th Year of Hospital Management Asia in Singapore on 7-8 September 2011.

Joining them are senior executives from the service and banking sector to share with you insights you will benefit from.

You will have many opportunities to share similar experiences and problems directly with each other and learn advanced tools and techniques from the 50+ industry expert.

First let me tell you about your fellow delegates. It is a diverse group from 25+ countries in Asia Pacific, Europe and US. They will represent different hospital departments - from emergency room, to nursing to clinical, diagnostic and ancillary services.

The topics that will be discussed include a number of advanced topics and determined by a poll of delegate prospects that this is what they want to hear about to improve the service and take their career to a new level.

The topic that will be debated at the conference is: With advancements in technology and wellness practices, low cost health care delivery models will replace hospitals in the coming years. What do you think? Come prepared with your questions.

You will start thinking again after you hear from representatives from the service sector insights into wellness vs. curative care. Contrast this with what you can learn from a banker. Imagine! Be prepared to challenge them.

Judges will be there to share their views on how they selected winners. They will moderate the best practice presentations.

Johns Hopkins and the International Hospital Federation will conduct a Health Leaders Forum on Thursday, September 8, 2:00 pm - 3:30 pm

These and many more to bring HMA on its 10th year to another level. Join us.

Contact: Reg Silagpo, Delegate Services Coordinator | Tel: (632) 846 8339 | Fax: (632) 812 6288 | Email: regsilagpo@exedraevents.com

Organisers: Asian Publishing Convention (APC) and Asian Publishing Awards | Editors Content Hub (ECH) and Publishers Resource Center (PRC) | Hospital Management Asia (HMA) and Asian Hospital Management Awards | Manila International Storytelling Festival (MISF)

EXEDRA EVENTS: http://exedraevents.com

ILO Conference ends with adoption of new Domestic Workers Convention, election of new Governing Body

The 100th meeting of the International Labour Conference ended in Geneva following the adoption of a new Convention on Domestic Workers www.ituc-csi.org/new-international-convention-on.html, and the election of a new Governing Body to oversee the work of the UN agency. ITUC Deputy President Luc Cortebeeck was elected as Chair of the Workers' Group and Vice-Chair of the Governing Body, succeeding Sir Roy Trotman, to whom the Conference paid tribute for his years of service at the ILO on behalf of working people. Australian Government representative Greg Vines was elected as Chair, and employer delegate Daniel Funes de Rioja as the other Vice-Chair.

Other major discussion points at the annual gathering included labour inspection and social protection, both issues of key concern to the international trade union movement.

The Conference decided that the ILO should adopt a Recommendation on social protection next year and agreed that social protection should be extended to all workers without exception. It recognised that extending social protection is crucial to the formalisation of informal employment, and that contributory schemes are a cornerstone of sustainable social protection systems.

On labour administration and inspection, which is weak in many countries, the Conference reiterated the importance of tripartism and social dialogue, called for sufficient resources to be devoted to labour administration and inspection services, and stated that inspection should be carried out by public authorities. It also stressed that all workers, including in the informal economy, the public sector, EPZs and migrants, should be covered by labour inspection.

The Conference also reviewed reports of countries' implementation of ILO Conventions which they have ratified, and cited Burma, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Guatemala, Swaziland and Uzbekistan in "special paragraphs" in its final report. These citations are applied to the most serious cases of countries which continually refuse to stop violating ILO standards.

The importance of tripartism and social dialogue was a common feature of the discussions on the different topics addressed by the Conference. It was also agreed that the ILO should step up its efforts to achieve coherent, employment-centred policies at the global level and that the Governing Body would have a substantive discussion on this issue in November.

"This 100th ILO Conference took place at a time when the organisation's role is as important as at any time in history. We are looking to the ILO for strong global advocacy, reinforcement of workers' rights and even more effective work at country-level to promote creation of decent jobs. Many government leaders used the Conference to support the role of the ILO in the current severe jobs crisis, and we expect them to match these words with action, and all other governments to meet the standards required to ensure decent work for all," said ITUC General Secretary Sharan Burrow.