CIS Newsletter

No. 157
October 2002

CIS Newsletter celebrates 14 years & still going strong! Bringing news to over 135 countries in the CIS Network

Contents

1. Editorial

2. News from around the World - Belgium, Canada, Denmark, European Commission, Hong Kong, Ireland, Poland, Singapore, Switzerland, UK, USA

3. News from the Fire World

4. OSHE Websites to explore

5. Diary of Events

Editorial

Dear CIS Colleagues

Concern seems to be growing about the need to understand and apply the risk assessment concept into health. Perhaps for many people there is always the thought that "it won't happen to me". And perhaps for companies and other organisations not to think long-term about the future of the employees' well-being and health.

Some would argue that this is short-sighted and that the health of the business really relies on the health of the employees. I would be interested to hear from you if you know of examples of where long-term health IS the concern of companies and what systems and schemes are in place where the concept of risk assessment has been applied to the health of workers.

For CIS members in Europe I hope the European Week for Safety and Health Campaign on Working on Stress which takes place throughout Europe this month - October is/was successful in your country.

2003 may seem a while off yet but I hope to bring you news next month of what is being planned for 2003 CIS Meeting. Of course if any of you wish to make suggestions please do send to Emmert Cleventine at CIS HQ and also to me for inclusion in this Newsletter.

An ever increasing number of CIS newsletters are delivered by email - well over 100 individuals/organisations receive the emailed version. Many of the e-mailed recipients are those working in the wider OSHE field but who are NOT CIS Members. CIS Newsletter is also on a number of web sites, e.g.. Australian National Occupational Health and Safety Commission, CIOP in Poland etc. Now, you can also get it on via your editor's website www.sheilapantry.com to which we will be shortly adding more back numbers for 2002. If you have the CIS Newsletter on your web site let me know and I will publicise it for you.

As always many thanks to those who have very kindly sent information .... and to those who have not sent any - I look forward to receiving your news item as soon as possible.

Best wishes to you and your colleagues.

Sheila Pantry, OBE
85 The Meadows, Todwick,
Sheffield S26 1JG, UK
Tel: +441909 771024
Fax: +441909 772829
Email sp@sheilapantry.com
www.oshworld.com
www.sheilapantry.com
www.shebuyersguide.com

CIS NETWORK OF NATIONAL INFORMATION CENTRES.........
WORKING TOGETHER AND HELPING EACH OTHER....

News from around the OSHE World.......

News from the ILO

Emmert Clevenstine wishes to remind CIS members that there are a number of newsletters generously produced by the Finnish Institute of Occupational Health which are available to keep you up to date regarding activities in various regions of the world. These are:

African Newsletter on Occupational Health and Safety.
The latest edition - August 2002 theme is on Information Networking - a tool for productive collaboration in the globalizing world.... contains a number of interesting articles including one by Emmert on The CIS Centres Network!

As networking is what we are all about in our daily lives - then the August edition is essential reading.

Other Newsletters are Asian-Pacific Newsletter on Occupational Health and Safety and the Barents Newsletter on Occupational Health and Safety.

You can get these from:
The Finnish Institute of Occupational Health, Office of Information and International Affairs, Topeliuksenkatu 41 aA, FIN-00250 Helsinki Finland
They are also available on the FIOH website www.ttl.fi/en
you can also link to them from www.oshworld.com ...... see under the subject links under "Journals"

CIS CENTRES WEBSITE....... a skeleton still waiting for your input!!!

As members will know there is a CIS Centres Port at www.ilo.org/safework/info/cis which is kindly hosted and technically backed-up by the Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety.

Please make sure that your information is on the CIS Centres portal! This way the world will know about your centre and its activities.

News from the UK

News from the Employment National Training Organisation

MORE HELP FOR EMPLOYERS TO TACKLE VIOLENCE AND AGGRESSION IN THE WORKPLACE

A new resource for employers has been developed to help reduce violence and aggression in the workplace. The National Occupational Standards in managing work-related violence can be used by employers to draw up policies on managing work-related violence and also provide a framework for managers and staff to assess training needs.

The Standards are aimed at a range of different occupational and management roles. Among the topics they cover are how to investigate a violent incident in the workplace, developing procedures to control risks to health and safety and making sure your actions contribute to a safe working environment.

The Health and Safety Executive has funded the development of the standards by the Employment National Training Organisation (NTO) as part of the Health and Safety Commission's three-year programme which has a target to cut incidents of violence at work by 10 per cent by the end of 2003.

Development of the National Occupational Standards is part of the Health and Safety Commission's three year programme to tackle work-related violence. The programme, which runs until the end of 2003, includes measures to raise awareness of the problem, development of guidance for sectors most at risk, and commissioning research to build on existing knowledge.

Copies of the National Occupational Standards in Managing Work-related Violence CD-Rom price £32.50, are available from the Employment NTO www.empnto.co.uk to purchase electronically, orderline Tel: + 44 (0)116-251-9727.

New from the European Commission

Commission organises data protection conference to look at key privacy issues

How should privacy on the Internet be protected? Are businesses over-burdened by enquiries from people wanting access to the personal details companies hold about them? How well are current rules on international transfers of personal data working? These and other topical questions will be addressed by an international conference on data protection in the EU, organised by the European Commission, which will take place in Brussels on 30 September and 1 October. Business leaders, consumer associations, academics and data protection authorities from both the EU and third countries will take part.

Among the speakers will be Internal Market Commissioner Frits Bolkestein, Lene Espersen, Danish Minister of Justice, Giacomo Santini, vice-chairman of the Committee on Citizens' Freedoms and Rights, Justice and Home Affairs of the European Parliament and Stefano Rodotà, President of the Working Party of the Article 29 of the Directive (committee of Data Protection Commissioners in the Community).

The conference is the final part of the Commission's open consultation in preparation for its forthcoming report on how the 1995 Data Protection Directive is being applied. Nearly 10,000 replies to the associated online consultation have been received.

http://ec.europa.eu/justice/policies/privacy/index_en.htm

The main principles behind the Data Protection Directive are:

News from the Network

Poland

Barbara Szczepanowska
Email: baszc@ciop.pl
writes to say......

SAWO International Fair in Poland

The 14th International Fair of Work Protection, Rescue and Fire Fighting Equipment SAWO took place in September 2002.

The Fair, as well as several other accompanying events, were organized under the patronage of the Ministry of Labor and Social Policy, Chief Labour Inspector, Commandant of the State Fire, Chief of the National Civil Defence. The Central Institute for Labour Protection and the Office of Technical Inspection cooperated and offered organizational and content help.

In Poland, SAWO is the biggest and most important fair, which deals with occupational safety and health, fire and rescue problems. Besides Polish manufacturers, many exhibitors from other countries take part in SAWO every year. The Fair is a forum for exchanging experience and new technologies useful in protecting human life and health.

Personal protective equipment was presented, as were solutions that are to protect and organize the working process in such a way that hazards are minimized. Such a comprehensive concept of human protection in different conditions and the need to search for solutions that help human avoid extreme situations were the leading themes of the Fairs.

Equipment and products that assure personal and collective protection against technical, chemical, medical, ecological, water and fire hazards were shown, as were safety working tools, safety technology, environmental monitoring, control-measurement equipment, safety signs, systems and means of communication and signalization. Several exhibitors also showed technology and equipment used in occupational medicine, first aid and prevention.

The Fair is also a forum for educational information.

During the Fair prizes (GRAND PRIX SAWO 2002 and medals) are awarded for the best manufacturers of occupational safety and health products.

"Safety in building work in the light of new regulations and practice" was the subject of a seminar organised by the Central Institute for Labour Protection. It was one of the events organised within the framework of the Fair. The aim of this seminar was, among others, to present the law regulations, especially those of the European Union, as well as practical Polish and foreign experience in shaping working conditions, not only safe for life and health, but also optimal from the point of view the needs and psychophysical possibilities of workers.

The Central Institute for Labour Protection also presented its products at the Fair:

For more information on the SAWO

News from Canada

Welcome to Issue 7 of "Health @ Work" (Santé @u travail)

Health @ Work is an informative (but "light") e-bulletin written by CCOHS staff which is sent approximately every 8 weeks. This e-bulletin contains information on workplace health promotion, the latest news from CHN, information from fellow associate partners, announcements, and tid-bits such as useful web site addresses, conference notices, and other interesting material.

The following are extracts from the latest edition.

CCOHS is proud to introduce the 12th addition to its collection of pocket guides. This guide provides practical steps and program suggestions for workplace health and wellness programs. You will be able to create a wellness program or integrate one or more initiatives into your existing framework.

To preview and order a copy of the guide, please go to CCOHS website for products and services at www.ccohs.ca/products/publications/wellness.html

Feature Article: Healthy Eating at Work and on the Go!

With back to school already started and parents packing their children's lunches, do you - as the adult - know what you are packing for your lunch at work? If you are like most of us, it is easier to buy lunch at work or grab something on the go. While it is important to be concerned about what your children are buying or eating, shouldn't you be concerned about your healthy eating habits?

Why be concerned about healthy eating?

Together - healthy eating and active living - combined with a positive outlook can lead to:

What should a healthy eating program at work focus on?

Whether your workplace is going to start a healthy eating programme or an individual has a goal to start eating healthy at work, the main message comes from Canada's Food Guide to Healthy Eating. Workplaces should make sure that wherever their employees get their food - whether it's vending machines, canteens, or cafeterias some healthy food choices are available.

Canada's Guidelines for Healthy Eating suggest that you:

What are some tips for snacks to keep at work?

Here are some ideas that you can incorporate while at work.

Store in your desk or locker:
Crackers, dried fruit / canned fruit, juice box, rice cakes, cereal, granola bars, instant soups / pastas, peanut butter, canned fish

Store in the lunchroom fridge:
Bagels / bread, bran muffins, yoghurt, cottage cheese, fresh fruit, raw vegetables, cheese, milk, salad greens.

On the Road:
Baby carrots, celery sticks, bagel bits, rice cakes, apples, crackers, pretzels

(From: the Dieticians of Canada "Nutrition to Go! Away from Home")

How can workplaces help employees at meetings or other work situations?

At Meetings:
Try to Limit - donuts, large muffins, cookies, tea and coffee with cream
Try Instead - small muffins, bagels, scones, tea biscuits, fresh fruit, juices / water, milk

Vending machines / Catering Trucks:
Try to Limit - danish, chocolate bars, French fries, pop, chips
Try Instead - juices / water, pretzels, sandwiches, milk, soup, fruit, cereal boxes, yoghurt, whole grain breads

Hectic Schedule / Long Hours:
Try to Limit - chips, cookies, coffee with cream, hot dogs, pizza with double cheese and pepperoni
Try Instead - fresh fruit, muffins, vegetable sticks, salads with lower-fat dressing, lean sliced meats, milk, yoghurt

On the Road / Lunch Meetings:
Try to Limit - chips, fried foods, large burgers, salads loaded with dressing
Try Instead - small plain burgers, bagels, cereal bars, crackers and cheese, juice / water, turkey sandwiches, pizza with ham and vegetables

(From: the Dieticians of Canada "Nutrition to Go! Away from Home")

Resources for...
Healthy Eating on the Go!

Resources:

Nutrition on the Go
From: The Dieticians of Canada
www.dietitians.ca/english/factsheets/onthego.html

Healthy Eating Health Centre
From: Canadian Health Network (CHN)
www.canadian-health-network.ca/1healthy_eating.html

Healthy Eating at Work
From: Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety (CCOHS)
www.ccohs.ca/oshanswers/psychosocial/healthyeating.html

The Office of Nutrition Policy and Promotion
From: Health Canada
www.hc-sc.gc.ca/fn-an/index-eng.php

Interested to receive CHN Up-dates? Subscribe to Healthlink!

Looking for an easy way to stay connected to the Canadian Health Network (CHN) web portal? CHN is pleased to offer you a subscription to the new Healthlink!

This is a FREE service offered by CHN to provide you with a twice monthly e-mail newsletter featuring all-Canadian articles, and events as well as intriguing and little-known health facts about health promotion and disease prevention.

You'll get a summary of new information that is appearing on the Canadian Health Network homepage. CHN has developed this service to make sure you don't miss anything current if you don't have the time to check the homepage often yourself.

To subscribe to the Healthlink! e-newsletter go to:
www.canadian-health-network.ca/html/newnotable/subscribe_e.html
Hope you enjoy this service!

Your news, suggestions, comments and CONTRIBUTIONS are Welcome!!
Please send to Jan Chappel at JanC@ccohs.ca or call (905) 572-2981 x4468, or Deana Papagianis at DeanaP@ccohs.ca or call (905) 572-2981 x4430

If you would like to become a member of the Workplace Health - Santé au travail (WH-ST) Discussion list, please contact Sandra Clark at SandraC@ccohs.ca.

News from the European Agency for Safety and Health at Work

Following on from the results of a recent user survey, the European Agency for Safety and Health at Work has redesigned its electronic newsletter - OSHmail which gives updates on European and international news on occupational safety and health to over 14,000 subscribers. Responding to requests for more regular information updates - OSHmail will now be published on a biweekly instead of a bimonthly basis. Other elements of the redesign specifically tailored to user demands include:

Agency Director, Hans-Horst Konkolewsky, said: "Our survey shows that 40 % of the people involved in safety and health at work want more news about European and international developments. For the Agency, this is a clear indication that prevention nowadays cannot just be approached from a national or local level, but increasingly has to be seen in a European and global context. I hope that the redesign of the OSHmail news service will give people better access to the necessary information to make Europe's workplaces safer, healthier and more productive."

OSHmail is published in English, French, German, Italian and Spanish.
OSHmail is the electronic newsletter of the European Agency for Safety and Health at Work and provides a regular update on European and international news on occupational safety and health. It can be accessed at: http://osha.europa.eu/oshmail/

Further information:
European Agency for Safety and Health at Work, Gran Via 33, E-48009 Bilbao, Spain, email: information@osha.eu.int, fax: +34 94 479 4383

Agency publishes annual report for 2001

Those wishing to see the range of activities in 2001 of the European Agency for Safety and Health at Work should look at the Annual report 2001 which also comes with a CD-ROM. The highlights of the year include:

and the Administrative activities.

Available in the 11 Community languages.

European Agency Annual Report. 2001. ISBN 92 95007 60 3
Further information:
European Agency for Safety and Health at Work, Gran Via 33, E-48009 Bilbao, Spain, email: information@osha.eu.int, fax: +34 94 479 4383

Five years of promoting Quality of Work in Europe

The European Agency for Safety and Health at Work has put together on a CD-ROM the publications it has produced over the period 1996-2001 in PDF format. These publications are available in English, French, German and Spanish.

The publications include Fact sheets, the Forum series, the Newsletters and many other publications.

Further information:
European Agency for Safety and Health at Work, Gran Via 33, E-48009 Bilbao, Spain, email: information@osha.eu.int, fax: +34 94 479 4383

Latest Agency News no. 12 2002

Contains a range of topics including Agency News, European Union and International News, Focal Point News, Noticeboard and Publications.

The European Agency News is published up to four times a year in English, French, German and Spanish.

Further information:
European Agency for Safety and Health at Work, Gran Via 33, E-48009 Bilbao, Spain, email: information@osha.eu.int, fax: +34 94 479 4383

News from Ireland

Health and Safety Forge North - South Links

The historic city of Armagh was the setting for the recent annual joint meeting of the Health and Safety Authority (HSA) and the Health and Safety Executive for Northern Ireland (HSENI).

This meeting is illustrative of the continuing good relationship that exists between North and South on health and safety at work issues.

Two cross-border working groups, drawn from the HSA and HSENI, were set up last year to specifically look at health and safety in the construction and agriculture sectors.

The meeting heard of the progress made by these working groups to date and considered how this joint approach might be extended to other areas such as small firms.

It is hoped that by sharing expertise in such areas, the two authorities can develop joint strategies aimed at reducing the number of tragic accidents in these sectors in 2002/3 and beyond.

Contact:
The Health and Safety Authority,
10 Hogan Place, Dublin 2, Ireland
www.hsa.ie

News from RoSPA

RoSPA CHALLENGE TO FLEET INSURERS

The Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents is calling for all motor insurance companies to review the systems which fleet operators have for managing occupational road risk (MORR) before setting premiums.

RoSPA is staging two new seminars on MORR following overwhelming demand from the fleet industry for more information. One of the key themes will be the cost of insurance and the drain that crashes can make on company finances.

The seminars, sponsored by BT, will be in the UK at Kents Hill Park Conference Centre, Milton Keynes on December 2, 2002, and Beardmore Conference Hotel, Clydebank on January 22, 2003. They will build on the two sell-out seminars RoSPA staged earlier in the year.

Roger Bibbings, RoSPA Occupational Safety Adviser, said: "The opportunity to secure major savings in future fleet insurance premiums will be one of the main items under discussion.

"Fleet managers and health and safety advisers must establish the number of employees having accidents in company cars, vans and lorries and communicate the costs of those crashes to senior management.

"In that way, employers might begin to realise that accidents while driving for work are the biggest occupational safety problem and that being on the road for work is more risky than employment in some of Britain's high hazard industries such as quarrying and construction. Besides failing to protect employees, failure to adopt a systematic risk management approach to MORR is literally pouring money down the drain.

RoSPA is writing to the Association of British Insurers asking it to urge its members to review their clients' MORR procedures.

Seminar speakers include: Ron Munro of Zurich Insurance on the insurer's perspective of reducing risk; Sue Viney, a chartered insurer of BHI Solutions, on measuring performance to manage risk and cost; David Faithful of Amery Parkes Solicitors on criminal and civil liabilities; and David Matthews of Tracker Network (UK) on "black box" technology.

More information from RoSPA:
Tel + 44 (0)121 248 2120.

News from the UK

HEALTH AND SAFETY EXECUTIVE MAKES A NOISE ABOUT PROTECTING HEARING AT WORK

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) new guidance on noise, making it easier to find information on protecting hearing from noise at work.

Six "Noise at work" publications have been combined to produce a comprehensive leaflet for employers and a pocket card for employees.

For employers, the leaflet "Noise at Work - advice for employers" outlines:

The new leaflet replaces four previous HSE leaflets ("Introducing the Noise at Work Regulations", "Keep the Noise Down", "Ear Protection" and "Health Surveillance in Noisy Industries").

For employees, the new pocket card "Protect your hearing- or lose it!"
outlines the risks of exposure and the duties on the employer and employee to provide and use protection. It provides information on:

This booklet replaces the existing pocket card ("Protect your hearing!") and the leaflet "Noise at work - a guide for employees". A new poster, "Protect your hearing or lose it!" is also available.

Single copies of "Noise at Work - advice for employers" INDG362 and "Protect your hearing- or lose it!" INDG363 are available free or in priced packs from

HSE Books, PO Box 1999,
Sudbury, Suffolk, CO10 2WA, UK
Tel: +44 (0) 1787 881165
Fax: +44 (0)1787 313995

European Union and the New Directive on Noise

Negotiations are currently underway in the EU on the final details of a new Noise Directive that lowers the action levels to 80 and 85 dB(A) and introduces a limit value of 87dB(A), above which exposure (taking hearing protection into account) will be prohibited. Adoption of this Directive is expected before the end of this year and all member states, including the UK, will then have three years to implement it in their own legislation i.e. by late 2005). The HSE will be producing new guidance to accompany this new legislation.

News from RoSPA

NEW LOOK AT ROAD SAFETY ENGINEERING

RoSPA has completely updated its Road Safety Engineering Manual - the comprehensive guide to cutting UK road accidents through engineering measures.

It is essential reading for staff working in the road safety engineering field, but will also be valuable to anyone with an interest in road safety.

The latest edition reflects the most recent casualty reduction targets and the new role of the Department for Transport.

The safety audit section has been completely revised to fit in with changes in this area. There are new case studies and statistics throughout the manual with the latest information on statistical testing.

The manual also provides support and reference material for the two-week RoSPA Road Safety Engineering - Accident Investigation and Prevention (AIP) course.

Topics covered include: the scale of the problem; how accidents happen and how they are recorded; accident investigation step-by-step; evaluating solutions; monitoring schemes; road safety audits; education, training and publicity; and road safety planning.

The manual, costing £45 including VAT, is available
Tel: + 44 0870 7772227, or by logging on to RoSPA's e-catalogue in the Buy-from-RoSPA section of www.rospa.com

NEW GUIDANCE FOR CONTRACTORS AND CLIENTS

New guidance to help clients and contractors work together to meet their health and safety responsibilities has been published by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE). The leaflet, "Use of contractors - a joint responsibility", is aimed at clients and contractors across industry and aims to clarify their general responsibilities to protect each other, their workforce and the public.

Clients and contractors are not always clear about who is responsible for health and safety. The guidance explains that in any client/contractor relationships in either the public or private sector, both parties will have responsibilities under health and safety law. The leaflet sets out general guidance on what both parties need to do to comply with their health and safety responsibilities.

The guidance covers identifying the job, selecting a suitable contractor and sub-contractor, assessing the risks of the work, providing information, instruction and training, co-operation and co-ordination, consulting the workforce and management and supervision.

The leaflet includes case studies showing what can happen when things go wrong, and gives details of where further guidance can be obtained.

Free single copies of Use of contractors: a joint responsibility (INDG368) can be ordered online at www.hsebooks.co.uk or are available from HSE Books, PO Box 1999, Sudbury, Suffolk, CO10 2WA, UK

Tel: +44 (0)1787-881165 Fax: +44 (0) 1787-313995. Priced packs of ten copies of the leaflet are also available from the same source. Please quote ISBN 0 7176 2566 4 when ordering priced packs. The leaflet is also available via the HSE website www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/indg368.pdf

News for the Construction Industry students

NEW HSE WEBSITE FOR CONSTRUCTION STUDENTS

A new online teaching aid for construction students and practitioners has been launched by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE). The website - www.learning-hse.com, contains valuable information on health and safety in construction, including legislation, safe working practices and case studies.

Developed as a result of recommendations in HSE's contract research report 'Identification and Management of Risk in Undergraduate Construction Courses', published last year, it is designed to supplement existing undergraduate courses by supplying an easy to use and constantly updated resource for students.

It is also anticipated that the site will prove valuable to people already working within the industry.

The material is not designed to represent an entire module or course; instead it provides background data, explanations, case studies and reference material to illustrate common principles in health and safety risk management, on which students may draw to further their research and study.

This freely available material will form a useful starting point for anyone embarking on a career in the construction industry.

The website is an excellent tool for studying the identification and management of risk in the construction industry.

A wide range of sources has been used to put together a clear and coherent package which will be invaluable to undergraduates and those who teach them.

Copies of Identification and Management of Risk in Undergraduate Construction Courses, ISBN 0-7176-2148-0, price £15.00, are available from
HSE Books, PO Box 1999, Sudbury, Suffolk, CO10 2WA, UK
Tel: + 44 (0)1787-881165
Fax: +44 (0)1787-313995.

HSE's Contract Research Reports are also available on the HSE website at www.hse.gov.uk/research/crr_htm.

News from the USA

Compliance advice for emergency action plans

The US Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has issued a new compliance directive to inspectors that consolidates the agency's Emergency Action Plan (EAP) and Fire Prevention Plan (FPP) (29 CFR 1910.38) into one compliance policy. Details can be found on OSHA's Web site, www.osha.gov.

The purpose of an EAP is to facilitate and organise employer and employee actions during workplace emergencies. An EAP is a written document that is required by a particular OSHA standard.

Crisis Preparedness Suggestions from Crisis Management International:

Don't miss this riveting excerpt from the introduction to Bruce T. Blythe's new book "Blindsided: A Manager's guide to Catastrophic Incidents in the Workplace"

www.cmiatl.com/pdfs/book_excerpt_doc.pdf

Visit: www.CMIatl.com
for more information and resources!

Few WTC firefighters used respirators

Very few firefighters used respirators or other types of breathing protection in the early days after the September 11 attack on the World Trade Center, when the air was at its worst, according to reports on the firefighters' injuries and illnesses published by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and in the New England Journal of Medicine.

In the first hours after the attack, most of the thousands of rescuers and workers rushed into the clouds of dust and smoke without much regard for their lungs, the reports say, based on surveys of the workers.

Among those who had severe cases of a cough, 93 percent said they used respirators "rarely or not at all" on the first day and only a little more in subsequent days.

Reviews of the emergency response concluded that this was partly the result of the urgency of the job and also because New York City officials and federal officials simply did not have the right gear on hand.

A week passed before most workers were wearing the device that federal worker-health officials decided was best suited to the conditions: a half-face respirator, a rubbery mask that seals around the nose and mouth and can be fitted with different filters.

During their first hours at the site, firefighters often had inappropriate protection. Most either had no lung protection or used paper masks. Others relied on self-contained breathing apparatus used to fight conventional fires. But these SCBAs provided air for only about 8 to 15 minutes.

News from Denmark

New range of products about to be launched into the UK. The most ergonomic computer monitors available.

The latest computer monitors from Eyegonomics have received an award in Denmark from the National Health and Safety Council regarding the low rates of emissions and the fact that the screens can be adjusted to any angle to suit the viewing height of the user. The Danish award also specifically mentioned the unique anti-reflective contrast screen reduced eye fatigue.

For further details contact: Tim Barnett | Email: tim@icontactuk.com | www.eyegonomic.co.uk

News from Singapore

FOSTER WHEELER'S OUTSTANDING SAFETY RECORD RECOGNISED BY SINGAPORE AWARD

Foster Wheeler Ltd. has announced that, based on work executed by several of its subsidiary companies in Singapore, it has received the Singapore Ministry of Manpower's (MOM) Occupational Safety & Health (OSH) Excellence Award. Foster Wheeler is the first engineering and construction contractor in Singapore to receive this Annual Safety Performance Award, which is given to companies that have achieved the gold award standard for three or more years consecutively. Foster Wheeler received three consecutive gold awards (2000-2002) for its safety performance at the Merck Sharp & Dohme project site.

Earlier this year, Foster Wheeler received three MOM awards for its outstanding safety record at two other pharmaceutical project sites - Schering-Plough Multi-Product Plant (gold) and GlaxoSmithKline Production Building 3 (silver) - as well as a refinery project site, ExxonMobil Singapore Integrated Pipeline (silver).

These awards build on Foster Wheeler's already impressive record in Singapore. On eight pharmaceutical projects alone (four completed), the company has won a total of one OSH Excellence, four gold and two silver MOM awards and to date has achieved over 15 million man-hours without a lost-time incident. These projects have included grassroots active pharmaceutical ingredient plants, as well as facilities for research and development, small-scale development, and secondary manufacturing.

In addition, Foster Wheeler has managed more than 22 million construction man-hours in executing Singapore refinery and chemical projects, achieving an additional two gold and three silver MOM awards in past years.

Foster Wheeler Ltd. is a global company offering, through its subsidiaries, a broad range of design, engineering, construction, manufacturing, project development and management, research, plant operation and environmental services. The corporation is based in Hamilton, Bermuda, and its operational headquarters are in Clinton, N.J. For more information about Foster Wheeler, visit www.fwc.com.

Victoria Martland or Sue Glanville
EuroPR Group 22 - 24 Worple Road
London, SW19 4DD, UK
Tel: +44 (0)208 971 6406/6404
e-mail: vmartland@europrgroup.com or sglanville@europrgroup.com

TUC urges workers to give their workplace a stress MoT

Thousands of workers will be urged to check whether their work is causing them stress in a nationwide health and safety exercise next month co-ordinated by the TUC. Guidance on how to use the TUC stress MoT on the TUC website at www.tuc.org.uk/h_and_s/tuc-5579-f0.cfm

Two surveys make up the TUC stress MoT: a people survey designed to assess whether people's work is making them stressed, and an organisation survey which checks how well employers are managing the risks of stress among their workforce. If a workplace 'fails' the MoT, the TUC will be advising safety reps to press for a proper risk assessment and stress audit to be carried out.

Workers completing the TUC stress MoT will be asked to say how much some of the known causes of workplace stress are affecting them. These causes (identified by the Health and Safety Executive as 'stressors') include demands of the job, relationships at work, changes at work and the physical nature of the workplace. Union reps will be urged to distribute the questionnaires to their workmates, to produce an accurate picture of stress levels in their particular workplace.

Safety reps who complete the TUC stress MoT will also be asked to draw a workplace stress map, noting the percentages of workers in each area of the workplace who feel that stress is causing them harm. Suggestion boxes for workers with ideas about reducing stress could also help safety reps persuade managers of the need for changes to bring about a healthier, less stressed workforce, says the TUC.

The TUC stress MoT www.tuc.org.uk/h_and_s/tuc-5579-f0.cfm, the people survey is at www.tuc.org.uk/h_and_s/tuc-5580-f0.cfm and the organisation survey is at www.tuc.org.uk/h_and_s/tuc-5581-f0.cfm - pdfs are also available by replacing the suffix "cfm" with "pdf".

People without access to the web should contact the TUC on +44 (0)20 7467 1250.

The launch of leading thermal imaging camera - Argus®3.

Recently launched is the world's most advanced thermal imager to US, UK and French markets, including entrance into a brand new market for the producer - the Marine industry. The product has been really well received by all parties and it looks set to have a very big future.

Argus®3 is unique in offering colourised thermal image display and the capability of taking up to 15 still images at the scene of a fire for later download to PC/laptop - something none of our competitors offer.

Not only is it the world's most advanced thermal imaging camera offering unique features to the end user, it is also one of the most important firefighting, rescue, engineering tools to have to hand - huge safety implications!

Joanne Bugg,
Marketing Communications Co-ordinator
E2V Technologies, 106 Waterhouse Lane, Chelmsford, Essex, CM1 2QU
Tel: +44 (0)1245 493 493, Ext: 3566
Fax: +44 (0)1245 453 324
www.e2vtechnologies.com

Difficult people: a guide to handling difficult behaviour

by Barry Winbolt

From time to time we all have to deal with difficult behaviour - our own and other people's. Mostly we manage well, but now and again we run into someone who just does not do things by the same rules.

Just publish, this book will give you new insights into those relationships that cause so much anguish, stress and lost time. It is a practical guide to help handle those nasty situations that obstruct us at work, interfere with our sleep and disrupt our lives.

It covers: who are these difficult people; the social context guiding principles, why are people difficult; stress, emotion, gender and confusion. Section 2 covers the seven key skills for success in handling difficult people.

There is a list of further reading for those who wish to follow-up ideas. It is timely published - the European Week on Stress takes place throughout Europe in October 2002.

Difficult people: a guide to handling difficult behaviour, by Barry Winbolt
Institute for Social Relations 2002 ISBN 0954168607 224 pages

Order from:
ISR Publishing, PO Box 2063
Seaford, BN25 1WA, UK
Tel: +44 (0) 1323 491 115
Fax: +44 (0)1323 898 018
Email: info@isr.org.uk

News from Hong Kong

Report of the Commissioner 2001 is the latest news from the Hong Kong Labour Department and covers:

The Safety and Health at Work Programme gives an indication of the range of activities, including training and education. In 2001 the Department conducted 597 training courses in safety legislation for 6,391 participants and 218 tailor-made safety briefing sessions for 6874 employees.

Occupational health is an important factor and in 2001 the Department delivered over 1775 health talks.

Promotion
Under a Customer Service Teams Project volunteers visited small and medium sized enterprises to introduce OSH and promote the safety management concepts to employers and employees. Over 37,000 visits have been made since the project was launched in 1999.

For copies of the report contact:
The Labour Department, 16 Floor, Harbour Building, 38 Pier Road, Central Hong Kong
Email: laboureq@labour.gcn.gov.uk
www.info.gov.hk/labour

Do what many people around the world are doing and check out.........
www.oshworld.com
Your portal to occupational safety, health, fire, chemical, environment information

News from the Fire World

New edition of Fire Worldwide - September 2002 .... an ever expanding information source

FIRE WORLDWIDE is further expanded with the inclusion of new full text of sources of information. At no extra cost to the users The Full Text Collection continues to expand with this edition containing 57 new documents (840 pages) covering a range of subject topics including an important new document proposing for the UK that, so far as possible, general fire safety legislation should be reformed to create one simple, fire safety regime applying to all workplaces and other non-domestic premises. The regime should be risk assessment based:

The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister UK A consultation document on the reform of fire safety legislation
July 2002, 117 pp

The Bibliographic Collection databases now contain over 235,000 records to worldwide sources of fire and fire related documents, legislation, articles in journals and newsletters, reports and research results. The British Standards database contains references to over 2500 fire standards.

For 30 day free trial either CD-ROM or via the Internet contact:
Stephen Beach, Safety Chemical Services Ltd, Broad Oak Enterprise Village, Broad Oak Road, Sittingbourne, Kent ME9 8AQ, UK
Tel: +44 (0)1795 435 899
Fax: +44 (0)1795 435 901

Fire Safety and Health and Safety Videos

Stay safe at work is the advice from the Fire Prevention Association (FPA) that has a wide range of training videos. The FPA is making a special offer - buy 3 videos and get 1 free. The range of titles includes:

For further details contact:
Fire Prevention Association
2 Bastille Court
Paris Gardens
London SE1 8ND, UK
Tel: + 44 (0)20 7902 5300
Fax: + 44 (0) 207902 5301
Email: fpa@thefpa.co.uk
www.thefpa.co.uk

OSHE Web sites to surf......

Labourline   Belgium
www.labourline.org
Labourline is the result of a common project on European labour information resources developed by the ETUI and the TUTB Documentation Centres. The consolidated bibliographic database contains two main orientations. As of September 2002, it comprises more than 12.000 references to documents on health and safety issues as well as more than 18.000 references to documents focusing on industrial relations.

Japan Advanced Information Center of Safety and Health JAISH   Japan
 www.jaish.gr.jp/eng/index.html
Japan Advanced Information Center of Safety and Health widely supports safety and health promotion activities at the workplace by providing a range of information on its website including free leaflets on a range of subject topics such as comfortable workplace examples, material safety datasheets, news, events, videos and links to other sources.

Japan International Center for Occupational Safety and Health (JICOSH)   Japan
www.jicosh.gr.jp/en
Japan International Center for Occupational Safety and Health offers a range of safety and health information sources including the English version of Japanese Industrial Safety and Health Law. It also offers OSH videos online.

European Agency for Safety and Health and Work: Campaigning   Spain
http://osha.europa.eu/publications/reports/#campaigning
European Agency for Safety and Health and Work manual Issue 102 - Good Practice Health and Safety Campaigning, though general, this publication may provide you with ideas about how to link campaigning activities to the European Week and at other times.

European Commission   Luxembourg
http://europa.eu/legislation_summaries/employment_and_social_policy/health_hygiene_safety_at_work/index_en.htm
European Parliament Committee on Employment and Social Affairs have published a resolution on harassment at work

European Commission   Luxembourg
http://osha.europa.eu/en/publications/work_programmes
The European Agency for Safety and Health at Work special web feature has been set up in order to keep you informed of the latest developments on the new European Union Strategy on Safety and Health. The European Commission in March 2002 published a Communication, "Adapting to change in work and society: a new Community strategy on health and safety at work 2002-2006", on this issue.

International Labour Organisation: Safework - Stress at work   Switzerland
www.ilo.org/public/english/protection/safework/stress/index.htm
International Labour Organisation's InFocus Programme on Safety and Health at Work including Safework's Stress at work guidance.

National Center for Infectious Diseases NCIDOD: Viral Hepatitis   USA
www.cdc.gov/ncidod/diseases/hepatitis/resource/index.htm
The US National Center for Infectious Diseases site offers brochures, publications, posters, slide sets, glossary and links to other relevant sources. There is also information in languages other than English.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: Biological Diseases and Agents   USA
www.bt.cdc.gov/Agent/Agentlist.asp
The US National Centers for Disease Control and Prevention site gives a listing of Category A, B and C and descriptions. Links to other relevant sources.

Environment Protection Agency: Biosolids   USA
www.epa.gov/owm/mtb/biosolids/index.htm
The US Environmental Protection Agency has extensive guidance including frequently asked questions on biosolids. Links to other relevant sources.

Diary of Events

Even if you cannot attend these events - write and ask for details....they may help you organise a similar event in your country

5-8 November 2002 - Expoprotection Fire 2002
Paris-Nord Villepinte (Hall 6) Paris France
Contact: Reed Exhibitions International. | Tel: +44 (0)20 8910 7741 | Fax:+ 44 (0)20 8910 7749 | www.reedexpo.com

3-4 December 2002 - The Application and Use of Risk Assessment
Jury's Great Russell Street, London, UK
Contact: Lorna Beachus, Informa UK Ltd , UK | Tel: +44 (0)1932 893 851 | Fax: +44 (0)1923 893893 | Email: cust.serv@informa.com | www.safetyevents.com

13 December 2002 - Hepatitis and HIV at Work- issues for employers
Halsbury House, London, UK
Contact: Butterworths Tolley Conferences and Training, Halsbury House, 35 Chancery Lane, London WC2A 1EL, UK | Tel: +44 (0)20 7347 3573 | Fax: +44 (0)20 7347 3576 | Email: conferences@butterworths.com | www.conferencesandtraining.com

2003

3-6 March 2003 - First International Course on Assessment of Psychological Factors at Work
Geilo Hotel, Geilo, Norway
Contact: Pirjo Turtiainen, NIVA, Topeliuksenkatu 41 aA, FIN-00250 Helsinki Finland | Tel: +358 9 4747 2349 | Fax: +358 9 4747 2497 | E-mail: pirjo.turtiainen@ttl.fi | www.niva.org

23-27 March 2003 - Second International Course on Evaluation and Good Occupational Health Practice
The Fell Hotel, Saariselka (Lapland) Finland.
Contact: Gunilla Rasi, NIVA, Topeliuksenkatu 41 aA, FIN-00250 Helsinki Finland | Tel: +358 9 4747 2498 | Fax: +358 9 4747 2497 | E-mail: gunilla.rasi@ttl.fi | www.niva.org

2004

13-16 October 2004 - Arbeitsshutz aktuell 2004
Weisbaden, Germany
Contact: Hinte GmbH, Germany | Tel: +49 721 931 33 730 | Fax: +49 721 931 33 810 | www.arbeitsschutz-aktuell.de

Other dates

3 December - International (European) Day of Disabled Persons

5 December - International Volunteer Day for Economic and Social Development (www.unv.org)

7 December - International Civil Aviation Day (www.icao.int)

10 December - Human Rights Day

12 December - International Children's Day of Broadcasting (www.unicef.org/icdb)