News from around the World

News Archive

January 2013

Nautilus welcomes target to cut deaths at sea

Seafarers' union Nautilus has welcomed a call from the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) for the seafarer death rate to be halved over the next two years. Speaking at the opening of the IMO's first meeting of the year, secretary-general Koji Sekimizu told delegates that his vision to halve the number of lives lost at sea should be a legitimate target for the United Nations agency and for the shipping industry. The IMO leader said that the number of lives lost annually at sea has been over 1,000 for each of the past five years.

Despite the difficulty in obtaining reliable data, he said that in 2012 there were approximately 100 lives lost in the fishing sector, 400 in domestic operations, and around 500 in other categories, including international shipping. An 'ambitious, but achievable target', he said, would be to aim for a 50 per cent reduction by 2015. He also proposed that the IMO should set up a mechanism to collect and collate statistics on lives lost to enable formal, official figures to be produced.

More information: https://www.tuc.org.uk/workplace-issues/health-and-safety/risks-newsletter/risks-2013/risks-589-19-january-2013#tuc-21827-5

What information do you really need to do your job safely and healthily? Using validated and authoritative information in OSH UPDATE and FIREINF online services will ensure that you have the correct guidance and advice... find out more

Want to know the latest fire, health, safety and environmental information without too much effort? Limited budget? Short of time? Not many experts around you? 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 Much time is spent these days searching the Internet for validated and authoritative information often resulting in out-of-date sources being retrieved.

Then these Health, Safety, Environment and Fire information collections OSH UPDATE www.oshupdate.com and FIREINF www.fireinf.com 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.

These long established sources of information are offered by Sheila Pantry Associates Ltd from the UK and are used daily by organisations, universities and individuals worldwide.

Why are you waiting? Join these users of OSH UPDATE and FIREINF that renew their subscriptions year on year.

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!

Request a free of charge 15 day trial at www.sheilapantry.com/interest and check out for yourselves.

Top 12 NIOSH Science Blog Posts in 2012

US National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) says "the ringing in of a New Year brings not only resolutions but the inevitable recap of the past year including the obligatory lists: Top 10 News Stories, Top 10 Weather Events, even Top Ten Celebrity Mug Shots.

NIOSH decided to add its own list - The Top 12 NIOSH Science Blogs of 2012. The list shows the vast array of topics covered by NIOSH. Of note this year, the third and eleventh most viewed blogs were written by external partners. NIOSH hope that you find the Top 12 fascinating and encourage you to make your own New Year's Resolutions.

1. Help Wanted: Spray Polyurethane Foam Insulation Research. We urged you to help us collect on-site air samples during SPF installation. The response was fantastic! Thank you!
2. Worker Exposure to Crystalline Silica During Hydraulic Fracturing highlighted a newly-identified hazard in the fracking industry, provided prevention information and asked for assistance with future efforts.
3. Hair Formaldehyde and Industrial Hygiene, from the Center for Research on Occupational and Environmental Toxicology (CROET) at Oregon Health and Science University, summarized the campaign to inform stylists of the risks related to formaldehyde-containing hair straighteners and the need for proper protection.
4. Sleep and Work. In honor of National Sleep Awareness Week we summarized sleep and work issues in this blog and highlighted NIOSH research in the companion blog NIOSH Research on Work Schedules and Work-related Sleep Loss (#6).
5. Stress and Health in Law Enforcement highlighted research from the Buffalo Cardio-Metabolic Occupational Police Stress (BCOPS) study and from related studies of morbidity and mortality among police officers.
6. See #4 above
7. Brain Injury in the NFL discussed new research finding that National Football League (NFL) players may be at a higher risk of death associated with Alzheimer's and other impairments of the brain and nervous system than the general U.S. population.
8. Safer and Healthier at any Age: Strategies for an Aging Workforce presented strategies for preparing your workplace to accommodate an older workforce.
9. All-terrain Vehicles and Work highlighted the risks associated with ATVs and identified safe practices for use in the workplace.
10. Respiratory Protection for Workers Handling Engineered Nanoparticles. While this blog was technically posted in December of 2011 we included it anyway. This blog provided an update on the science and rationale behind NIOSH's recommendations for the use and selection of respirators against engineered nanoparticles.
11. Sleep Pain and Hospital Workers, from colleagues at Harvard, examined the question: Does lack of sleep increase pain and limit function among hospital care workers?
12. Safety and Health in the Theater: Keeping Tragedy Out of the Comedies... and Musicals... and Dramas discussed the often overlooked hazards in the theater.

Canadian Report: Identifying the Psychological Health and Work-Related Determinants of Occupational Disability in a Target Sector

The IRSST (Occupational Health and Safety Research Institute Robert-Sauvé) has published a research project that develops a systematic approach for identifying the determinants of the inability of workers with psychological problems to maintain an active working life.

The researchers identify these determinants in order to prevent distress and presenteeism, which, in turn, will offer the possibility of implementing the best practices for preventing occupational disability that are appropriate.

The proposed instruments are applicable to several job categories and are designed to be useable in other work contexts where the issue of occupational disability is present. The added value of this study is that it documents the factors related to the work environment as well as those related to the individual's environment. The study innovated by proposing a pre-tested instrument that both focuses on employees' actual and prescribed work in terms of the perceived difficulties and takes into account the workload perceived by the employees.

• Document: www.irsst.qc.ca/-publication-irsst-une-approche-systematique-d-identification-des-determinants-de-l-incapacite-lies-au-travail-et-a-la-sante-psychologique-dans-un-secteur-cible-r-759.html
• French version: www.irsst.qc.ca/-publication-irsst-approche-systematique-identification-determinants-incapacite-lies-au-travail-sante-psychologique-dans-secteur-cible-r-679.html

U.S. CSB Report says Honolulu Fireworks Disposal Explosion that Killed Five Workers Resulted from Unsafe Practices, Lack of National Guidelines, and Lack of Safety Provisions for Federal Contractors

In a final report, the U.S. Chemical Safety Board (CSB) said an explosion and fire that killed five workers during a fireworks disposal operation in Hawaii in 2011 resulted from unsafe disposal practices; insufficient safety requirements for government contractor selection and oversight; and an absence of national guidelines, standards, and regulations for fireworks disposal.

CSB recommends that federal agencies develop a new government-wide safety and environmental responsibility requirement for contractors, and calls for new regulations on the safe disposal of fireworks, a growing problem across the U.S.

The CSB also planned to release a new safety video entitled "Deadly Contract" with an animation depicting the tragic sequence of events.

The April 8, 2011, accident occurred as employees of Donaldson Enterprises, Inc. (DEI) sought shelter from rain inside a tunnel-like magazine located at Waikele Self Storage in Waipahu, Hawaii, near Honolulu. The storage facility contained government-confiscated illegally labelled fireworks, which the workers had been dismantling under a subcontract to a federal prime contract. The CSB determined that changes in DEI's fireworks disposal process resulted in the accumulation of a large quantity of explosive components just inside the magazine entrance, creating the essential elements for a mass explosion. A large explosion and fire fatally injured all five workers inside the magazine. One worker, who had been standing outside the magazine entrance door, escaped with injuries.

CSB Chairperson Dr. Rafael Moure-Eraso said, "Our investigation found that company personnel had no specific expertise in fireworks disposal, that the company's procedures were extremely unsafe, and that there are no national standards or accepted good practices for disposing of fireworks. While fireworks provide entertainment for millions, the disposal of unused fireworks creates enormous hazards for workers because, we were surprised to find, there are no guidelines to do the work."

The investigation found that a single, large, federal contractor, the VSE Corporation of Alexandria, Virginia, handles storage, auctions or disposal for large amounts of government-seized property, such as counterfeit goods, livestock, and in this case, illegal fireworks. VSE subcontracted the disposal of three imported fireworks shipments seized by federal law enforcement agencies that had come through Honolulu over a three-year period to DEI. They were labelled for consumer use, but actually contained far more explosive materials typical of those used for professionally-produced public displays.

CSB investigator Amanda Johnson said, "DEI was awarded the subcontract from VSE because it was a local company already storing the seized fireworks in the hillside facility, and its proposal was the lowest in cost and considered the most time-efficient. However, VSE was unaware that despite DEI's military ordnance background, the company had no experience with fireworks disposal."

The report found that the U.S. Department of the Treasury's contracting regulations did not impose sufficient requirements on VSE for selecting and overseeing subcontractors to handle hazardous materials.

www.csb.gov/donaldson-enterprises-inc-fatal-fireworks-disassembly-explosion-and-fire

Eurofound publishes a new report on active inclusion of young people with health problems or disabilities: Active inclusion of young people furthest from the labour market

Young people with health problems or disabilities are currently being missed by both employment policy employment policy and practice. Eurofound argues in a new report on active inclusion of young people with health problems or disabilities that there is a need and opportunity to bring these young people into focus. There are good practices across the European Union, that include flexible benefits, promotion of better school-to-work transitions and taking a pathways-to-employment approach. However, until now public policies have not given enough support to the implementation of this positive and pro-active approach. The report will be presented at a joint international conference with the Dutch Ministry of Social Affairs and Employment in The Hague, The Netherlands, on 17 January 2013.

Nearly all Member States are experiencing with high levels of unemployment and economic inactivity amongst young people. Even before the onset of the crisis there were increasing numbers of young people with young people with health problems or disability who very often, due to mental health problems, were entering into disability or social assistance schemes in large numbers. A number of countries have been paying more attention to this group, among them Norway, the UK, Denmark, Finland and most of all the Netherlands, where the dramatic increase was quite evident because of a separate benefit scheme for youngsters.

The social and economic disadvantages associated with ill-health or disability are reflected in the employment rates for persons with very severe and severe degrees of disability, currently at 20% and 44% respectively. In 2009, the poverty for persons with disabilities was 70% higher than average. The ongoing crisis makes the situation even more difficult.

A range of policies are relevant to the situation of young people with health problems or disabilities. The most appropriate strategy seems to be 'active inclusion' with its emphasis on joined-up actions across the pillars of flexible income support, inclusive labour market measures, access to social and health services and lifelong learning.

This Eurofound study examines the situation of young people with health problems or disabilities in 11 EU Member States and at EU-level. The main aim of the research is to examine how the policies have been implemented to move young people with health problems or disabilities from inactivity into employment. The report showcases 44 innovative case studies across the Member States.

The report identifies a trend towards dealing with the needs of people with health problems or disabilities in mainstream rather than specialist services. However the targeting of young people with disabilities or health problems by these measures varies considerably between Member States. The good practice examples show how to strengthen the integrated approach to skills development, training and job placement. The cases underline the value of rapid placement in a real job to ensure momentum is maintained. The role of mental health problems as a factor in the social as well as economic exclusion of the target group needs to be addressed more effectively. Finally, some employers need support with the recruitment, acknowledgment and retention of staff with disabilities.

More information: www.eurofound.europa.eu/publications/htmlfiles/ef1226.htm

The European Foundation for the Improvement of Living and Working Conditions (Eurofound) is a tripartite EU Agency which provides social partners, governments and EU decision makers with relevant, timely and unbiased research results so that the lives of European citizens can be improved.

For further information, contact Måns Mårtensson, Eurofound, Loughlinstown House, Wyattville Road, Dublin, Ireland D18 | Tel: +353-1-204 3124 | Mobile: +353-876-593 507 | Email: mma@eurofound.europa.eu | www.eurofound.europa.eu

A+A 2013 in Düsseldorf continues to head for growth: Focus on Corporate Health and Fashion

A+A in Düsseldorf is continuing to head for growth. A+A 2013 is the international number one event for a safe and healthy working environment (trade fair & congress from 5 to 8 November). By the beginning of December 2012 exhibitors had already reached the record figure of the previous year (A+A 2011), at 57,500 square metres. Again, just over 1,600 exhibitors are expected who will be presenting and highlighting a broad spectrum of products and services in a range of areas: personal protective equipment, corporate security, special equipment for disaster relief and health at the workplace.

Certain aspects, however, will be more at the focus than on previous occasions, says Joachim Schäfer, Managing Director of Messe Düsseldorf: "One market that has been growing, in particular, is Corporate Fashion & Image Wear. In this highly fashion-focused area of work clothes and protective clothing the products of our exhibitors and the A+A Fashion Show will win new target groups for A+A, e.g. decision-makers from companies requiring customised clothing."

Set against the background of demographic change and a general rise in health consciousness, even greater importance will now be attached to one particular "classic" in the A+A programme: "More and more companies are beginning to see corporate health management as a vital success factor. It's a matter of sustaining employee performance and of counteracting physical and psychological strain. A+A will be showcasing the broad range that is covered by Corporate Health," says Birgit Horn, Director of Messe Düsseldorf, as she previews the products and services that will be offered at the A+A trade fair, congress and special shows.

There will be a theme park in Hall 10, called Workplace Design, collaboratively organised, among others, by the publishing company Dr. Curt Haefner-Verlag together with Ergonomics Departments of various universities and the Deutsche Netzwerk Büro (German Networking Office). Its focus will be on ergonomic workplace design, on examples of solutions for a variety of industries and on stress profiles, ranging from office workplaces, assembly lines and supply chain packing stations to an example of how lab activities might be organised. Moreover, the theme park will include a forum with best practice presentations from the daily lives of companies.

Corporate Health exhibitors, too, will be present in Hall 10, with suitable visual highlighting for trade visitors. One immediate neighbour will be the Health & Safety Meeting Point as a central port of call for non-commercial exhibitors, such as professional and trade associations, German statutory accident insurers and the International Labour Organisation.

Safety & Security - clearly structured

Eight halls of the Düsseldorf exhibition centre will be fully occupied at A+A 2013. Assignment to each hall will follow clearly thematic lines, based on the main walking routes taken by visitors. Exhibitors of Personal Protective Equipment (Safety) will occupy Halls 3, 4 and 5 (this hall will be shared with Corporate Fashion and the A+A Fashion Show) as well as Halls 7.9, 9 and 10.

These Safety products and services (personal protection) will be arranged in parallel with Security, i.e. corporate security and special equipment for disaster relief, in Halls 6 and 7a. This is also where two further features will be situated: the well established theme park Fire & Disaster Relief (Hall 6, in partnership with the German Association of Plant Fire Services WFV and the German Federal Relief Agency THW) and the Safety & Security Innovation Park (Hall 7) with live demonstrations and presentations of innovative products and services.

The partner country of A+A 2013 will be Turkey - a country with a large economically active population, above-average economic growth over the last few years and ambitious political targets to improve occupational health & safety standards. It is therefore seen as a lucrative future market for protective equipment and for safety & security solutions. A+A will include a German-Turkish dialogue on health and safety, with the participation of important professional associations, institutions and government.

A+A Congress and ILO Conference

Another integral part of A+A, in addition to the trade fair and its theme parks, will be the international A+A Congress, which attracted over 5,000 delegates last year. There will be just over 60 series of events, covering the areas of health, safety and ergonomics. The talks and discussions will be about political reform projects at the national and European levels as well as technical innovations and also the latest findings in research. The A+A Congress - organised by Basi, Germany's National Occupational Health and Safety Association - will feature not only issues of general interest, but also traditional events with a focus on "hands-on" areas, e.g. ideas and solutions in corporate health and safety management (including occupational medicine, health promotion and integration) and on specific hazards and strains in every working life, at the workplace (including machine safety, fire safety and personal protection equipment).

As before, much attention at the A+A Congress will focus on an event that has received considerable international interest: the conference of the International Labour Organisation (ILO) as a dialogue and information platform on worldwide trends in preventative healthcare. This year's emphasis will be on occupational diseases.

The main target group of A+A includes experts in occupational health & safety and security management, HR managers, buyers from industry, company doctors, owners of small businesses, staff councils, works councils, fire-fighters, relief workers and the police force.

When A+A was launched in 1954, it was set up as a nationally focused event on "Occupational Health & Safety and Occupational Medicine", but it has since then developed into an internationally influential thematic and market platform for health and safety at work. It is held at two-year intervals. In 2011 it recorded nearly 1,600 exhibitors from 54 countries and over 60,000 trade visitors - a new record in its history.

Further details about A+A 2013 can be found on the web: www.AplusA.de

Martin-Ulf Koch and Larissa Browa, Messe Düsseldorf GmbH, A+A 2013 Press Office | Tel: +49 (0)211-4560-444/-549 | Fax: +49 (0)211-4560-8548 | E-mail: KochM@messe-duesseldorf.de | E-mail: BrowaL@messe-duesseldorf.de

'EU Explained' is the Hansard Society's new teaching resource on the European Union and it is now available to teachers for free

Developed with the support of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO), EU Explained helps teachers to give their students a greater awareness about how the EU operates, the impact it has on the UK and how they can seek to influence the decisions made there.

www.hansardsociety.org.uk/blogs/citizenship_education/archive/2011/05/09/3032.aspx

INRS to host a conference looking at occupational allergies

An Occupational Health Research Conference will take place between 3rd and 5th of April 2013 in Nancy, France.

The event will gather researchers, experts and practitioners from different backgrounds to share the latest knowledge and discuss research needs on risks, measurement and prevention related to occupational exposure to allergens.

The conference is organised by the Institut National de Recherche et de Sécurité (INRS) in association with the Partnership for European Research in Occupational Safety and Health (PEROSH).

A single driving licence for the whole EU

January 2013 will see the introduction of a European driving licence as part of the entry into force of the third EU Driving Licence Directive. The new credit-card style format will replace some 100 paper and plastic models currently in use by more than 300 million drivers across the EU.

http://ec.europa.eu/transport/road_safety/topics/driving-licence/eu-driving_licence/index_en.htm

Second European Motorcyclists' Forum - Cologne 3 October 2012

Following the success of the first Forum, which took place in Brussels in 2010, the second European Motorcyclists' Forum was held in Cologne on 3 October 2012. The event was organised by FEMA with the support of the European Commission and brought together motorcyclists, experts in the field and policy makers.

http://ec.europa.eu/transport/road_safety/events-archive/2012_10_03_ptw_en.htm

Public Consultation on Improving Air Quality

The European Commission is holding a public consultation on the best way to improve air quality in Europe. For the next twelve weeks, interested parties are invited to share their views on ways to ensure full implementation of the existing framework, to improve it, and to complement it with supporting actions. The results of the consultation will feed into a comprehensive review of Europe's air policies due in 2013. The consultation is open until 4 March 2013.

Air pollution and the associated threats to the environment and human health continue to be a concern for many EU citizens. Despite progress in the past decades resulting from legislation to reduce harmful pollutants such as sulphur dioxide, lead, nitrogen oxides, carbon monoxide and benzene, some pollutants are still causing problems. Summer smog, potentially harmful ground-level ozone and fine particles that pose significant health risks regularly exceed safe limits. Consequently, exposure to air pollution still causes over 350,000 premature deaths in the EU every year.

The consultation is divided into two parts - a short questionnaire for the general public, and a more extensive set of questions for experts and practitioners from national administrations, regional and local authorities, researchers, businesses, stakeholders, health, environmental and other groups with experience in implementing EU air quality legislation.

This web-based consultation is part of a broader process designed to involve civil society in the upcoming air policy review. It is the final formal step of the consultation process started by the Commission in January 2011 (see MEMO/11/31), and which has involved regular meetings with Member States and other stakeholders and a first public consultation on the effectiveness of EU air quality policy and priorities for the future (see IP/11/813).

The Commission will also shortly issue the results of a Eurobarometer survey on air quality. Some 25,000 European citizens in 27 Member States have been interviewed to give their views on air quality issues.

The consultation is open until 4 March 2013: IP/12/1337 11/12/12

http://europa.eu/rapid/press-release_IP-12-1337_en.htm

SUBSPORT Case Histories on Substitution

SUBSPORT, the Substitution Support Portal, is an online resource that provides information to aid a reduction in the use of harmful substances used at work, including a database of alternatives to hazardous chemicals.

The rapidly developing database now includes more than 200 substitution case stories. The information is not just provided by companies; a number on substitution case histories have been submitted by trade unions and other organisations, such as the Swedish National Substitution Group - a network of practitioners at universities and hospitals that promote substitution.

https://www.tuc.org.uk/workplace-issues/risks-newsletter/risks-2012/risks-587-22-december-2012#tuc-21786-23

In 2013 make sure that you have access to OSH and FIRE validated and authoritative Information

Save time and ask yourself "What information do I really need to do my job safely and healthily"?

Want to know the latest fire, health, safety and environmental information without too much effort? Limited budget? Short of time? Not many experts around you? 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 being retrieved.

Then these Health, Safety, Environment and Fire information collections OSH UPDATE www.oshupdate.com and FIREINF www.fireinf.com 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.

These long established sources of information are offered by Sheila Pantry Associates Ltd from the UK and are used daily by organisations, universities and individuals worldwide.

Why are you waiting? Join these users of OSH UPDATE and FIREINF that renew their subscriptions year on year.

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!

Request a free of charge 15 day trial at www.sheilapantry.com/interest and check out for yourselves.

News from Canada: Needlestick Resistance of Protective Gloves: Development of a Test Method

A new study published by the Canadian Institut de recherche Robert-Sauvé en santé et en sécurité du travail (IRSST) was conducted in response to joint requests to identify gloves that afford adequate needlestick protection. Needlestick injury is a hazard faced by a growing number of workers. In addition to other hazard-reduction strategies, including administrative measures, protective clothing, especially needlestick-resistant gloves, must be made available to these workers.

The objective of this study was to continue the work on puncture resistance begun in an earlier project and to develop a test method for characterizing needlestick resistance. Preliminary work was also done to assess puncture resistance that takes the effect of the hand wearing the glove into consideration.

The study confirmed that needlesticks are different from punctures by standard probes, with respect both to fracture mechanism and force levels measured. While puncture by standard probes is governed by the maximum rate of strain of the material, needlesticks include a large measure of cutting and friction because of the cutting edge at the tip of the needle.

The influence of needle characteristics (dimensional tolerances, wear, diameter, tip angle and number of facets), test material properties (thickness, type and hardness) and experimental conditions (probe velocity, angle of attack, temperature and humidity) on the force measuring needlestick resistance was studied for a series of materials representative of different types of protective gloves. The report includes recommendations regarding the best gloves to use for a given purpose.

• English: www.irsst.qc.ca/en/-irsst-publication-needlestick-resistance-of-protective-gloves-development-of-a-test-method-r-753.html
• French: www.irsst.qc.ca/-publication-irsst-resistance-gants-piqure-aiguilles-mise-au-point-methode-essai-r-711.html

News from the USA: Health Hazard Evaluation (HHE) Program Update

New HHE Report: Metalworking Fluid Exposure at an Aircraft Engine Manufacturing Facility

Health Hazard Evaluation (HHE) Programme investigators evaluated metalworking fluids (MWFs) at an aircraft manufacturing facility due to concerns about the potential for a new MWF formulation to cause health hazards. Investigators found that employees who worked with MWFs reported more work-related asthma symptoms and dermatitis than employees who did not work with MWFs. Concentrations of airborne MWFs and endotoxin in the air were very low. Investigators found the central MWF supply system to have good microbial control. Investigators recommended that:

• A medical surveillance program be started for employees who are exposed to MWFs.
• Managers train employees on the proper use of engineering controls.
• Employees who work with MWFs wear protective sleeves.

www.cdc.gov/niosh/hhe/whats_new.html

USA NIOSH and Korea Occupational Safety and Health Agency Renew Partnership

In October 2012, the US National Institute for Safety and Health (NIOSH) and the Korea Occupational Safety and Health Agency (KOSHA) signed an agreement to renew their partnership.

NIOSH and KOSHA plan to continue activities initiated in December 1996, to use their collaborative efforts and expertise to advance the protection of workers and to promote best practices to improve worker safety and health.

For more information, please contact Dr. Margaret Kitt at MKitt@cdc.gov

UK: New Health and Safety Toolbox

The UK Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has in response to calls to develop simpler and more interactive guidance for Small and medium enterprises (SMEs), revised the long established 'Essentials of Health and Safety at Work' publication and an interactive web microsite with refreshed guidance has been produced in its place.

HSE has released this revised guidance - now called the "Health and Safety Toolbox" - as a set of interactive web pages that allows small businesses to navigate quickly to areas of interest. A priced hard copy publication will be available for those who prefer this format in Spring 2013.

The Toolbox, in conjunction with Health and Safety Made Simple (HSMS) and the online risk assessment tools, completes HSE's set of guidance for low risk businesses. In parallel, work has been undertaken to simplify the journey of a low risk business through the suite of Health and Safety made Simple guidance available on HSE's website to make it easier and quicker for them to find the information they need, and no more. The home page has been redesigned and features new buttons to ensure that those who are low risk or new to health and safety start their journey with Health and Safety Made Simple. HSE believes the improvements to HSE's website will provide a clearer, simpler and more intuitive journey for low risk businesses and SMEs - signposted from many parts of the site. This will reduce burdens and effort for employers by enabling them to find relevant information based on their experience of health and safety and type of working environment or topic - using simple navigation or search.

www.hse.gov.uk/toolbox/index.htm

Fluorinated greenhouse gases 2011

Aggregated data reported by companies on the production, import and export of fluorinated greenhouse gases in the European Union: Summary Technical Report No 12/2012

This document provides new aggregated information on the production and trade of fluorinated gases - or F-gases - in the EU. Although emitted in relatively small quantities, the emissions of these gases are increasing, and many are several thousand times more powerful greenhouse gases than carbon dioxide (CO2). It presents a summary of the latest data reported under the 'F-Gas Regulation' (No 842/2006) by 120 individual companies that have either produced, sold, imported or exported F-gases in the European Union (EU).

Fluorinated greenhouse gases 2011
by Wolfram Jörß, W.; Döring, U.; Goossens, E.
European Environment Agency, 2012, ISBN: 978929213327, ISSN: 1725-2237
European Environment Agency Technical Report No 12/2012
DOI: 10.2800/55795

www.eea.europa.eu/publications/fluorinated-greenhouse-gases-2011

Guidance on the use of fire detection in rooms intended for sleeping

The UK Fire Industry Association has produced a new Guidance on the use of fire detection in rooms intended for sleeping.

British Standard BS 5839-1: 2002 recommends the use of either heat or smoke detectors in rooms opening into escape routes. This would typically include rooms intended for sleeping, for example hotel bedrooms, student accommodation, etc. BS 5839-1: 2002 also warns about the use of smoke detectors where situations such as steam from shower rooms may cause false alarms. This has often led to the selection of heat detection as the most appropriate detection method in sleeping rooms.

Recent advances in fire detection technology gives an opportunity to review current practices and discuss new methods to enhance life protection afforded in rooms intended for sleeping.

This Fire Industry Association (FIA) document provides guidance on the application of currently available fire detection technologies for rooms in buildings intended for sleeping.

This guidance document does not replace the existing recommendations in the British Standards BS 5839-1 or BS 5839-6 but is intended to supplement those Codes of Practice as it expands on the latest developments in detection technologies and their application to bedrooms.

www.fia.uk.com/resourceLibrary/guidance-fire-detections-in-rooms-for-sleeping.html