CIS Newsletter
No. 170
November 2003
CIS Newsletter celebrates 15 years & still going strong! Bringing news to over 135 countries in the CIS Network
Contents
- Editorial
- CEFIC and REACH
- Musculoskeletal conditions affect millions
- EEF
- News from Malawi, ILO, Egypt
- News from the WHO
- News from the USA
- Small businesses urged to seek stress protection
- European Foundation and enlargement
- News from Canada... the Ageing Worker
- KOSHA news, China Coal
- International OSH Certificate
- Research work
- OSHE chemical and web sites to explore
- Diary of Events
Editorial
Dear CIS Colleagues
Moving towards the end of this year most people will be thinking about the achievements to-date and making plans for the New Year ahead. In Europe, 2004 will be the European Year of Construction, so there will be publicity campaigns, advice and guidance coming through as well as events, seminars and workshops during the year. Meanwhile many look at the various news items in this edition - you can see how efforts are being made worldwide. Read about:
- CEFIC and the latest chemical information
- The latest news from the World Health Organisation
- ILO Violence and stress
- Europe and enlargement
- News from around the world - Canada, Egypt, Korea, Malawi, Switzerland, UK, USA
- Web sites to explore
- Diary of Events and much more
As usual many thanks to all the contributors to this edition of your Newsletter - all news however small is most welcomed. If you are planning any publications, seminars or training courses, then please send your details to me so that we can share your efforts with others. Don't forget to send me your latest news! And please share this newsletter with others.
Over 100 individuals and organisations have let me know that wish to receive the Newsletter by email....if you wish to join just let me know and I will send it. CIS newsletters can be found on www.sheilapantry.com click onto CIS Newsletters!
Perhaps your own website will want to link to them?
Best wishes to you and your colleagues.
Sheila Pantry, OBE
Sheila Pantry Associates Ltd
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....
Cefic continues to co-operate to make REACH workable
The European Commission adopted on 29 October 2003 its proposal for new chemicals legislation, passing it over to the scrutiny of the European Parliament and the Council. The chemical industry continues to support the broad objectives of new chemicals legislation. "The challenge is always to strike a balance between protection of human health and environment, and the competitiveness of the European industry" says Eggert Voscherau, Cefic President. "Given our concerns about workability, we now have to analyse the final proposal to see whether it meets the objectives", he added.
Cefic completely underwrites the decision taken by the EU Council in Brussels, 16/17 October, inviting the Commission to take into account the consequences of proposed EU legislation on enterprises through providing a comprehensive impact assessment. The Council further mentioned that the forthcoming proposal on chemicals should be the first case for implementing this approach taking particularly into account its effects on small and medium-sized enterprises.
The chemical industry reiterates its willingness to make all its expertise and resources available. After careful analysis of the proposal the industry will co-operate constructively with the stakeholders to ensure an efficient, workable and cost-efficient system. "Cefic welcomes the Commission's initiative to hold a workshop on the methodology of the impact assessment, and is looking forward to a strategic alliance and discussion with the Commission, European Parliament and Council," says Alain Perroy, Director General of Cefic.
Contact:
Jan BASZAK | Tel: +32 26767219 | Mobile: +32 477340541 |
jba@cefic.be
Marc DEVISSCHER | +32 26767223 | Mobile: +32 476253445 |
mde@cefic.be
Musculoskeletal conditions affect millions
Joint diseases, rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis, osteoporosis, spinal disorders, low back pain, and severe trauma are among 150 musculoskeletal conditions affecting millions of people globally, according to a comprehensive new publication released at the end of October 2003 by the World Health Organization (WHO) in "The Burden of collaboration with the Bone and Joint Decade Initiative Musculoskeletal Conditions at the Start of the New Millennium", the first report of its kind - provides both a snapshot of the size of the problem, and a baseline against which to measure the effects of health interventions. The aim is to map out the burden of the most prominent musculoskeletal conditions.
One of the major diseases, osteoporosis, is characterized by low bone mass and structural deterioration of bone tissue, leading to an increased susceptibility to fractures, especially of the hip, spine, and wrist. Hip fracture is the most costly result as it always requires hospitalization, is fatal in 20% of cases and permanently disables a further 50%. Only 30% recover fully. 1.7 million hip fractures occurred worldwide in 1990; this figure is expected to rise to 6 million by 2050.
"Musculoskeletal conditions are giving rise to enormous health-care expenditures and loss of work. There will be a marked increase in requirements for health care and community support in the coming years," said Dr Catherine Le Galès-Camus, WHO Assistant Director-General for Noncommunicable Diseases and Mental Health.
These debilitating conditions are painful for the individual, lead to the inability to work and to enjoy life fully, and are a cost to societies and countries. The numbers of those affected are set to rise over the next few decades. In the developing world, successful treatment of communicable diseases, combined with a rapid increase in road traffic accidents, will lead to an increase in the burden of musculoskeletal conditions. In industrialized countries, the increasing numbers of elderly people is a key factor in this rise.
For more information contact:
Ms Fadéla Chaib, WHO | Tel: +41 (22) 791 3228 | Mobile phone: +41 (79) 475 5556
| Email: chaibf@who.int
EEF rebrands as 'the manufacturers organisation'
EEF has confirmed its role as the voice of British manufacturing when it drops the title "Engineering Employers' Federation" in favour of "EEF, the manufacturers organisation."
This rebranding is meant to better reflect the changing nature of the EEF's membership and its increasing involvement in issues affecting the UK's productivity performance. At a time when manufacturers are facing greater competitive pressures than ever before, this move will enable the organisation to cement its role and provide the sector with the powerful voice it needs.
The EEF is also one of the UK's leading providers of professional business services in areas such as health, safety and environment, employment relations and employment law, world class manufacturing performance and training and skills. The change will help the organisation to appeal to a far wider range of companies in manufacturing and beyond who will be able to benefit from the EEF's knowledge and expertise.
The move will also be accompanied by a new logo which is designed to reflect a cleaner, more modern image, in keeping with that of modern manufacturing companies.
Commenting on the move, EEF Director of External Affairs, Ian Peters, said:
"UK manufacturing too often gets a bad press with reports of plant closures and job
losses. Whilst there are difficulties there is also a very positive story to tell, of
innovation, of technological advances, export success, new enterprises and new job
creation. EEF, the manufacturers' organisation, intends to promote these successes and
achievements and ensure that the issues affecting manufacturing, engineering and
technology based businesses are fully reflected in government policy."
"Manufacturing continues to need an effective voice and the highest quality support services. EEF is the only organisation dedicated to, and capable of, providing both".
EEF, the manufacturers organisation, has a membership of 6,000 manufacturing, engineering and technology related businesses. Comprising 12 regional Associations, the Engineering Construction Industry Association, and UK Steel division, it is one of the UK's leading providers of business services in health, safety and environment, employment relations and employment law, world class performance, education, training and skills.
Email: mswift@eef-fed.org.uk
Violence and stress at work - A threat to productivity and decent work
ILO Draft Code of practice on violence and stress in services and new ILO book on preventing violence in the workplace. Every year, violence and stress at work affect millions of workers and cost millions of working days around the globe. Though some stress is normal, excessive and continued stress or violence in the workplace are a threat to the quality of service, to productivity and to decent work in a variety of industries. The harmful impact of workplace violence and stress is felt in both industrialised and developing countries, and in both public and private sectors.
In response to this threat to decent work, the International Labour Organisation is holding a meeting of experts to endorse a new code of practice on violence and stress at work, and has just published a relevant handbook on how to prevent and respond to violence in the workplace. (Preventing and Responding to Violence at Work, authors Kimberly Ann Rogers and Duncan Chappell 2003)
The draft code of practice on violence and stress at work in services entitled " A threat to productivity and decent work" was discussed at the International Labour Organisation in Geneva from October 8th to 15th 2003 by thirty- six experts representing equal numbers from ILO governments, employers and workers' groups. They will be joined by observers from a number of intergovernmental and non-governmental organisations.
Codes of practice are not intended to replace national laws or regulations or accepted standards. Codes of practice are primarily designed as a basis for prevention and protective measures, and are considered as ILO technical standards in occupational safety and health.
The new ILO publication on violence at work approaches the issue from two fronts. First, it demonstrates how workplace violence can be prevented by examining ways in which organisations and groups are handling the problem. It reviews an array of existing guidelines and policies developed by governments, trade unions, special study groups, workplace violence experts, employers' groups and specific industries, and generates a useful survey of best practice strategies. Second, the guide outlines in detail a reliable and effective methodology for developing workplace violence prevention and response programmes.
For more information on the meeting
www.ilo.org/public/english/dialogue/sector/techmeet/mevsws03/index.htm
For a pdf of the draft code of practice on violence and stress at work
www.ilo.org/public/english/dialogue/sector/techmeet/mevsws03/mevsws-cp.pdf
For a summary of comments received on the code
www.ilo.org/public/english/dialogue/sector/techmeet/mevsws03/comments.pdf
For sector - specific information on violence and stress at work:
www.ilo.org/public/english/dialogue/sector/themes/violence.htm
To order the book:
www.ilo.org/public/english/region/eurpro/london/publ/puborder.htm
Preventing and Responding to Violence at Work
Kimberly Ann Rogers and Duncan Chappell
2003, xi+139 ISBN 92-2-113374-5 GBP9.95
Contact: Monica Evans | Tel: +44 (0)207 828 6401 x 201 | Email: evansm@ilo.org | www.ilo.org/public/english/region/eurpro/london_r
News from Egypt
Mohamed Allam writes:
I am very sorry to tell you that the last CIS meeting in London is the last time that I will see you and all of our CIS family because I retired in 14/9/03. So I will not be able to see all of you again. I will always remember each one of you my friends and will keep the very good memories of my time with the CIS Network.
Of course, I still have a part time job as training consultant for my Institute.
Very best wishes to you and every one in the CIS family.
M. Allam
30/10/03
Editor: We shall miss seeing Mohamed and hearing his many contributions at the CIS Meetings and to the Newsletter.
And most of all his sense of humour and enthusiasm. We wish him every success in the future.
News from Malawi
Noel Mkhumba, well known to CIS Members is no longer working with the Malawi Department of Occupational Safety and Health. Mr A C Mhango, Senior Occupational Safety and Health Officer is now the caretaker of the Documentation Centre.
CIS Network welcomes Mr Mhango and wishes him every success in the work.
At the same time we wish Noel every success in the future.
News from the WHO: A global strategy for OH&S
World Health Organization Global Strategy on Occupational Health for All
A Global Strategy on Occupational Health for All was developed to better address the occupational injuries and diseases that make a major contribution to the Global Burden of Disease, and to reach a majority of the world's workers with no access to occupational health services. The strategy was developed by the WHO Occupational Health Programme in collaboration with the Network of the WHO Collaborating Centres in Occupational Health. The Planning Group of the Network surveyed the needs for occupational health and safety; ideas and comments were invited also from experts in the WHO Headquarters and Regions, the Collaborating Centres and other partners working in the field. The Global Strategy on Occupational Health for All was approved by the World Health Assembly in 1996 and is the framework within which the WHO work in Occupational Safety and Health (OSH) occurs.
The Global Strategy sets out eight major priority areas:
- strengthening of international and national policies for health at work
- promotion of a healthy work environment, healthy work practices, and health at work
- strengthening of occupational health services
- establishment of appropriate support services for occupational health
- development of occupational health standards based on scientific risk assessment
- development of human resources
- establishment of registration and data systems and information support
- strengthening of research.
When endorsing the Global Strategy on Occupational Health for All, the World
Health Assembly (representing the health ministries in all UN WHO member countries)
made some interesting recommendations, about:
special attention to full occupational health services for the working population,
including migrant workers, workers in small industries and in the informal sector;
focus on occupational groups at high risk and with special needs, including child
workers; United Nations system organizations, (include International Labour
Organisation, intergovernmental bodies such as the European Commission,
non-governmental and national organizations) to strengthen their action in this field
and their co-operation and co-ordination with the WHO;
and last but not least, a stronger role was proposed for the network of WHO
collaborating centres in occupational health.
The full text of the Global Strategy is available in pdf and html. This is a summary which also includes a summary of the priorities in pdf and html
www.who.int/oeh/OCHweb/OCHweb/OSHpages/GlobalStrategy/GlobalStrategy.htm
WHO and the Internet
The World Health Organization (WHO) is turning to the Internet to help distribute occupational health and safety information around the world. This is just one of several hundred projects detailed in the Compendium of Activities of the WHO Collaborating Centres in Occupational Health released in September 2003 and available on the Internet. All of the projects support the priorities of the World Health Organization's Global Strategy on Occupational Health for All, the framework for the WHO's work in occupational safety and health.
The Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety is one of many partners collaborating to advance the program's objectives by helping with the design of a new web portal, which will spread credible OH&S information throughout the world. A second initiative is to develop a database framework for OH&S organizations to detail and index their best practices as a learning tool for others. More than 300 projects, pursued by 62 of the WHO's 70 collaborating partners, are to deliver on this strategy over the next three years.
Key projects include:
- Fostering new, intensive partnerships in Africa
- Monitoring and implementing an International Labour Organization Convention to eliminate the worst forms of child labour, including slavery
- Eliminating silicosis
- Improving working conditions of health care workers
- Tackling psychosocial factors at work, such as violence and stress
- Promoting OH&S in small and informal enterprises
- Enhancing preventative technologies
You are invited to review the global strategy and the collaborator projects and consider how you too may participate in this global mission.
The World Health Organization (WHO), backed by its collaborating centres, is taking steps to address occupational injuries and diseases and reach workers around the world that do not have access to occupational health services and information.
The projects support the WHO's global strategy and include initiatives to promote partnerships in Africa, occupational health and safety in the informal sectors as well as increase research, training and distribution of information through the Internet.
News from the USA
NIOSH, The USA CIS National Centre has updated web sites
Fighting Wildfires Spotlight
A new spotlight on the NIOSH homepage focuses on fighting wildfires and provides key resources, important general information about working in hot environments, related topic pages, and a direct link to the Health Hazard Evaluation database. To access the spotlight online visit www.cdc.gov/niosh/topics/firefighting
Small Business Topic Page
A new NIOSH topic page provides occupational safety and health resources to small businesses. The NIOSH resource guide for small businesses and NIOSH publications are accessible through the webpage. An added feature is the link to related NIOSH Safety and Health topic pages that are of particular interest to small businesses. The website is www.cdc.gov/niosh/topics/smbus
NIOSH Safety and Health Topic Webpages Update
NIOSH has recently updated and redesigned several NIOSH Safety and Health Topic webpages with new publications and links for NIOSHTIC-2 database searches, enhancing the pages' value as time-saving portals to further data. The following is a list of recently updated topic pages:
- Dentistry www.cdc.gov/niosh/topics/dentistry
- Dry cleaning www.cdc.gov/niosh/topics/dryclean
- Pneumoconiosis www.cdc.gov/niosh/topics/pneumoconioses
- Reproductive Health www.cdc.gov/niosh/topics/repro
- Tuberculosis www.cdc.gov/niosh/topics/tb
Small businesses urged to seek stress protection
Small businesses should take action to protect themselves from compensation claims for causing work related stress, according to a leading employment law expert. The advice from Mark Thompson, legal team leader at Associa Employment Service in the UK, comes in response to a new report showing that the problem of workplace stress is worsening.
Research issued by Personnel Today magazine and the Health & Safety Executive (HSE) reveals that an estimated 1.5 million working days are lost to stress every year - at a cost of GBP1.24 billion. Thompson commented: "Few small businesses realise that it is every employer's duty by law to make sure that their employees are not made ill by their work. This includes illnesses brought on by work related stress.
"Employers who do not take stress seriously are leaving themselves open to compensation claims from employees who suffer ill-health through work related stress.
"We advise small businesses to look carefully at their working conditions to help both manage stress in the workplace and protect their business from legal action.
Associa Employment Service has put together a checklist of ten simple tips for small businesses looking to minimise stress-related compensation claims. The checklist offers advice on managing demands placed on individual employees, such as prioritising tasks, to guidance on providing a proper job description.
The check list can be found on the Associa Employment Service web-site, www.associa.co.uk/products/employment.htm
Associa Employment Service's check list for protecting small businesses from stress related compensation claims is as follows:
- Change your culture - businesses which foster a culture of blame when things go wrong or place an expectation that people will regularly work excessively long hours breed stress. Introduce clear business objectives, good communication and close employee involvement.
- Demanding times - too much work or too little time, coupled with inadequate training could increase stress. Boring or repetitive work might worsen any stress. Take care to prioritise tasks and give warning of urgent or important jobs, while employees should be matched to jobs and have the necessary training.
- Take control - employees who feel they lack control over their work could be stressed employees. Give employees more control by enabling them to plan their own work, make decisions about how that work should be completed and how problems should be tackled.
- Role confusion - make sure your employees are not confused about how everybody fits in. Relieve stress by talking to employees regularly to make sure that everyone is clear about what their job requires them to do.
- Hell is other people - problems that can lead to stress often include poor relationships between employees. Employers could provide training in interpersonal skills or set up effective systems to prevent bullying and harassment.
- Lack of support - having unsupportive managers or co-workers can lead to hard-pressed employees becoming stressed. Make sure you support and encourage staff, foster a team working environment and have in place procedures to look after work loads left by absent employees.
- Don't ignore your employees - listen to your employee's stress complaints. If the stress is work-related, try to address the source and make sure you involve the employee in your decisions. Do not be tempted to think that firing someone provides an easy way out! If you do not act reasonably in dismissing an employee, they could claim unfair dismissal.
- Assess the risk - where stress caused or made worse by work could lead to ill health, you must assess the risk. A risk assessment for stress involves looking for pressures at work that could cause high and long-lasting levels of stress, deciding who might be harmed by these and deciding whether you are doing enough to prevent that harm
- Talk about it - consult with your staff to get some idea of what pressures might be causing stress. This might include an informal meeting or even a questionnaire.
- Take steps - take reasonable steps to deal with work pressures - make sure that you involve your employees, including Trade Union representatives where they have been appointed, at every stage of the assessment process
Further details on the Personnel Today and the Health & Safety Executive (HSE) research can be found on the Personnel Today web-site: www.personneltoday.com/articles/2003/10/21/20919/over-1.5m-days-are-lost-to-stress-each-year.html
News from the European Foundation for the Improvement of Living and Working Conditions
The Foundation is paving the road to enlargement: Longer working hours. Higher physical risk in acceding and candidate countries
Workers in the acceding and candidate countries (ACC) work longer hours in less service-related industries than their European Union (EU) counterparts, with higher exposure to various physical risk factors such as dangerous substances, fumes and noise. These are some of the conclusions that can be drawn from the wide-ranging report 'Working conditions in the acceding and candidate countries' recently published
'The survey provides a first comprehensive overview of working conditions in the 13 acceding and candidate countries, using the same methodology as in the previous European working conditions surveys carried out by the Foundation in 1990, 1995 and 2000,' says Willy Buschak, Acting Director of the European Foundation for the Improvement of Living and Working Conditions, the Dublin-based EU-agency providing data and analysis on socio-economic issues in Europe. 'The report is the first in a series of Foundation publications and events over the coming months, aimed at increasing knowledge, data and analysis on living and working conditions in the new enlarged Europe. A comprehensive report based on the survey of living conditions in the ACC will be published in February 2004. A conference to promote social dialogue as a tool for conflict resolution in the ACC will take place in March. The results of the 28-country pan-European Quality of Life monitoring initiative will also be available in May 2004.'
The average working week in the ACC is 44.4 hours per week compared to the EU average of 38.2. One in five the workforce in the ACC is involved in agriculture, compared to only one in 20 in the EU. Considerably fewer people in the ACC (47%) are employed in the services sector than in the EU (66%). 51% of the workforce in the ACC is over the age of 40, compared to 47% in the current EU Member States. Some 40% of ACC workers believe their health and safety is at risk due to work, compared to only 27% in the EU.
The results of this survey offer an important first and unique comparative insight into working conditions in these countries. The findings provide a positive input to the socio-economic policies for the new enlarged European Union and will serve as a basis for monitoring trends in working conditions in an enlarged Europe. The Foundation's fourth European working conditions survey, planned for early 2005, will cover working conditions in the 25 EU Member States as well as candidate countries and selected third countries.
The survey is based on face-to-face interviews with a representative sample of a total of 11,000 workers: 1000 workers in each country, apart from Malta and Cyprus where 500 persons were interviewed.
The full report is available for downloading in the following languages: EN, FR, LT, BG, CS, ET, HU, SK, PL, SL, TR, RO, and LV, at www.eurofound.europa.eu/publications/htmlfiles/ef0306.htm
Contact: The European Foundation for the Improvement of Living and Working Conditions, please contact Mr. Mans Martensson, press officer | tel: +353-1-204 3124 | mobile: +353-876-593 507 | e-mail: press.officer@eurofound.eu.int
Keep up with news from the European Foundation at www.eurofound.europa.eu/press/releases
News from Canada
E-Bulletin Evaluation
"Health @ Work" (Sant, @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 network contributor partners, announcements, and tid-bits such as useful web site addresses, conference notices, and other interesting material.
How are we doing? We would like to find out if there are any changes we need to make to the e-bulletin newsletter. Please help us by answering the questions below. Results will be grouped, and all comments will be kept anonymous. Please answer the questions below by placing an "X" in front of the appropriate list of options and writing in any additional comments, then return by November 7, 2003 by FAX: +1 905-572-2206 to: Deana Papagianis c/o Canadian Health Network (CHN) team at Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety (CCOHS) OR by E-MAIL to: chn@ccohs.ca
(This evaluation could be useful to CIS Members to evaluate their own service - Editor)
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CCOHS has moved!
Please update your address books to our new building location at:
135 Hunter Street East, Hamilton, Ontario, L8N 1M5
All other contact information (phone number and e-mail) remains the same.
Highlights from your CCOHS-CHN team
Ageing Workers
Would you consider someone the age of 55 to be an older worker? Would you believe some studies out there examine ageing workers as those 45 years or older? Like it or not the large number of 'baby boomers' born after World War Two are now ageing - that means a large part of the workforce is middle age or past middle age. The 'baby boom' population effects both the age distribution in the workforce and the size of the retired population especially in the next 30 years. This group will raise the average working age to 41 by the year 2008, up from 35 in 1980. In addition to individuals leaving the workforce, the number of older people who work part-time is also increasing.
Do ageing workers need any special accommodations?
Yes and no. A well-designed work place benefits everyone. Workstations and job tasks
that are matched to the needs of the individual employee are always best. Different
conditions for different workers may be needed to meet the needs of any employee, not
just one that is older.
Are there any specific health and safety concerns related to ageing workers?
A few. Most studies say that older workers tend to have fewer accidents, but when an
older worker does get injured, their injuries are often more severe. They also may
take longer to get better. Plus, the types of injuries can be different. Younger
workers tend to get more eye or hand injuries, while older workers who have been
working for years report more back injuries. Many workplace injuries are the result of
doing the same things again and again. Repetitive motion injuries, for example,
develop over time. An older worker, then, may report more musculoskeletal injuries
since they've had longer time for the condition to develop.
When anyone, no matter how old they are, is pushed to work harder than they safely can, there is a risk for injury. Because older workers tend to have more severe injuries when they do happen, it's important to make adjustments to workstations or work patterns to make them as safe as possible. It's also important to make sure a person is suited for a particular task and is safely able to do it.
What physical changes occur, in general, as a person ages and how can this affect
their work?
Our bodies change as we age. People reach full physical maturity or development at
around the age of 25 years. Then after a period of relative stability, our bodies
begin to show signs of ageing. Most of these changes are first noticed at ages 40 or
50, but changes can occur (or start) as early as 20 or 25. These changes include:
- Maximum muscular strength and range of joint movement:
- In general, people lose 15 to 20% of their strength from the ages of 20 to 60.
- However, every person is different and there is a large range between
- Individuals and most jobs do not require a person to use all their strength. Older Employees may be able to perform the same tasks as a younger worker, but they may be working closer to their maximum level. Keep in mind that, for example, highly repetitive motions - doing the same thing, over and over again - can cause physical problems at any age.
Regulation of posture and balance:
In general, people may find it harder to maintain good posture and balance. When
seated or standing still, this may not be a problem. However, accidents that happen
because someone loses their balance do happen more often with age. Work that requires
precise adjustments, strong muscular effort (including lifting and carrying), joint
movements at extreme angles, or those done on a slippery or unstable surface, will be
affected by poorer posture. Unexpected bumps or shocks may cause a more serious
problem than with a younger worker.
Sleep Regulation:
Older people can't regulate sleep as well as they used to. How long a person sleeps,
and how well they sleep, can be disrupted by changing work hours or by light and
noise. The impact on employees is especially a concern for older shift or night
workers. They might need more recovery time between shifts or extended workdays.
Thermoregulation (Body Temperature):
Our bodies are less able to maintain internal temperatures as well as less able to
adjust to changes in external temperature or due to physical activity. This change
means that older workers may find heat or cold more difficult to deal with than when
they were younger. It also means that if they are doing hard manual labour, they may
get overheated more easily.
Vision:
Vision changes with age. Older people will notice they cannot see or read from certain
distances as well as they used to. This reduction in the "amplitude of accommodation"
(the ability to see or adjust focus in certain distance ranges) is normally corrected
with prescription glasses. Changes also occur in the peripheral visual field (how well
you can see in the areas to the side of you, that you're not directly looking at),
visual acuity (how exact, clear, and "unfuzzy" things appear), depth perception (how
far away things seem), and resistance to glare, and light transmission. These changes
are normally not noticed by a person unless there is poor lighting or there are
sources of glare. Someone might also notice that they can't see as well when they're
reading something when text size is small, or when there is poor contrast between the
text and the background. Brighter lighting (that is suitable for the task) and well
laid-out documents which avoid small print are important.
Auditory (Hearing):
Hearing also changes. Older people may not be able to hear as well at higher
frequencies (high pitch sounds). Most often, this change is noticed as the inability
to listen to a particular voice or sound in a noisy environment. As well, people who
work with a lot of background or noise may have difficulty hearing verbal instructions.
(Taken from: OSH Answers: Ageing Workers, CCOHS, July 2002)
(Adapted from: Laville, A., et al. "Elderly Workers." In the Encyclopaedia of Occupational Health and Safety 4th edition, International Labour Office, 1998.)
* Resources for: Ageing Workers
Ageing Workers: OSH Answers
Source: Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety (CCOHS)
www.ccohs.ca/oshanswers/psychosocial/aging_workers.html
Ageing workforce
Source: Human Resources Development Canada (HRDC)
http://labour-travail.hrdc-drhc.gc.ca/worklife/aging-workforce-en.cfm
Collective agreements and older workers in Canada
Source: Human Resources Development Canada (HRDC)
http://labour.hrdc-drhc.gc.ca/worklife/caowc-dftaccc/tm.cfm
KOSHA Fall 2003 Newsletter: a quarterly Newsletter from Korea
The Contents of KOSHA Safety & Health Newsletter which can be found in Full text at www.kosha.or.kr
OSH Statistics OSH Statistics
Accident rate increased by 0.08% during the first half of the year
Main OSH Policy
Prevention of musculoskeletal disorder made compulsory for employers
Update in KOREA
Accident at coal mine in Samcheok City, 18 casualties
Safety manuals for schools
Introduction of an engineman licensing system and other railroad safety measures 15th
Triennial Congress of the International Ergonomics Association held
Update in KOSHA
KOSHA plans to provide support for industrial sites damaged by typhoon
Strengthening of international cooperation among Asian countries regarding industrial
safety and health Technical support provided to prevent accidents involving tower
crane at construction sites
Technical training on the prevention of musculoskeletal conducted for the owners of
workplaces where musculoskeletal diseases have occurred or are likely to occur
Safety and health experts gathered to discuss recent trends of safety and health
Explosion-proof inspection to be conducted locally instead of from Japan
China Coal Information Institute website
www.coalinfo.net.cn Coal news, coalmarket, coal price, coal law and safety law, coal information research, coal science and technology, coal mining safety and health, coal book and audio-video publishing, China coal industry, China coal journal.
Address: 35, Shaoyaoju, Chaoyang District, Beijing 100029, P.R. China | Tel. 0086-10-84657940 | Fax. 0086-10-84612550 | Email: zhaojialian@hotmail.com | zhaojialian@tom.com
The NEBOSH International General Certificate in Occupational Safety and Health (pilot)
The National Examination Board in Occupational Safety and Health (NEBOSH) is dedicated to raising the standard of practice, Dr Stephen Vickers, Chief Executive of NEBOSH explains.
The NEBOSH National General Certificate has been recognised for many years in the UK as the basis for a sound, broad introduction to the fundamentals of occupational health and safety. NEBOSH is in the process of establishing an international version of the award. Courses leading to the new award are being piloted by a small number of approved NEBOSH centres, from late 2003 to March 2004. An evaluation of the pilot will follow and, guided by that evaluation, NEBOSH will develop the award as one that will achieve recognition around the globe.
The key difference between the National Certificate and the proposed International Certificate is in the applicability of legal requirements. While health and safety in the UK is underpinned by an established and well-structured set of legislative requirements, which cannot be excluded from a national award, this is less relevant in an international context. The proposed syllabus therefore omits reference to any particular national legal requirements. In common with the national award, however, the syllabus is structured according to a management framework. The framework used for the National General Certificate is the health and safety management model described in the UK Health and Safety Executive's publication 'Successful Health and Safety Management' (HSG65). The International Certificate, on the other hand, makes reference to the model proposed in the ILO's 'Guidelines on Occupational Safety and Health Management Systems' (ILO-OSH 2001). This broadly follows that set out in the British Standards Group's 'Occupational Health and Safety Management Systems' (OHSAS 18001), part of the 'Occupational Health and Safety Assessment Series'. While this has not yet been adopted as a British Standard, it is achieving increasing international acceptance and recognition.
The principles of achieving high standards of health and safety are the same regardless of any local legal requirements. It is these principles, and the practices that follow them, that form the basis of the International Certificate. Where international technical and other standards (ILO Codes of Practice, for instance) exist and are relevant, these are emphasised in the syllabus. In other cases, UK requirements and practices may be assumed to represent 'good practice' and reference made in this respect to UK Approved Codes of Practice and relevant guidance. Where particular local requirements apply, then these should form part of course material, but will not be examined.
The NEBOSH International General Certificate has been designed for managers, supervisors, worker representatives and others who require a basic knowledge and understanding of health and safety principles and practices. The qualification will not, as a general rule, be offered in the UK, but multinational companies and others who consider that they have good reason for offering the course there may make a special case to the Board of NEBOSH. It is anticipated that candidates are likely to be employees of large organisations operating outside the UK or of multinational companies already working to international standards but needing to adapt these to accord with local needs and practice.
With this background, the NEBOSH International General Certificate aims to provide those making day-to-day decisions at work with a broad knowledge of health and safety in order to ensure that the health and safety implications of their decisions are properly taken into account. The vast majority of occupational injuries and incidents of ill-health are avoidable by good health and safety management; and good health and safety management should be recognised as an essential element of good overall management. With increasing globalisation comes the need for a common and consistent standard for achieving the health and safety of workers in all parts of the world. The NEBOSH International General Certificate will play a significant part in ensuring that this standard is a high one.
Dr Stephen Vickers, Chief Executive, National Examination Board for Occupational Safety and Health ( NEBOSH), Chief Executive, Dominus Way, Meridian Business Park, LEICESTER LE19 1QW, UK | Tel: +44 (0) 116 263 4717 | Fax: +44 (0) 116 282 3300 | Email: sv@nebosh.org.uk | www.nebosh.org.uk
New Research work
On October 28, NIOSH signed an agreement with the American Society of Safety Engineers (ASSE) to collaborate on strategic research for preventing work-related deaths and injuries. Under the new agreement, which will continue until December 31, 2004, NIOSH and ASSE will partner on projects to reduce work-related injuries by developing and disseminating information on worker safety and health, participating in occupational safety and health conferences and events, advancing the effectiveness of occupational safety and health research, and promoting and facilitating the transfer and workplace implementation of research results on effective occupational injury prevention strategies and technologies. To learn more about ASSE, visit www.asse.org.
OSHE Web sites to explore
The following will be of use to those seeking authoritative and validated chemical information
Biological Agents LUXEMBOURG
http://ec.europa.eu/social/main.jsp?catId=716&langId=en&intPageId=226
The European Commission information on biological agents. Gives legal base,
objectives, progress report and other information, publications, projects and links to
other EU legislation.
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.
Biological Diseases and Agents USA
www.cdc.gov/niosh/unp-intrecppe.htm
The US National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health interim recommendations
for the selection and use of protective clothing and respirators against biological
agents.
Biological Hazards UK
www.hse.gov.uk/biosafety/information.htm
UK Health and Safety Executive Health Directorate Biological Hazards index. Worth
looking at give activities and also biological agents publications.
Chemical safety BELGIUM
www.cefic.be
European Chemical Industry Council covers activities, long-range research, useful
links, products, press information, diary of events, health, safety and environment
information.
Chemical safety BELGIUM
www.ecetoc.org
European Centre for Ecotoxicology and Toxicology of Chemicals was established in 1978
as a scientific non-commercial association by 50 top companies with interests in the
manufacturer and use of chemicals. ECETOC acts as an independent, peer-reviewed
technical resource to all concerned with identification of research needs and
provision of scientific rational for the assessment of the health effects and
environment impact. Partner to organisations such as the World Health Organisation -
WHO, the International Programme on Chemical Safety-IPCS, and the European Commission.
ECETOC works closely with its partners to establish a scientific foundation for the
development of legislation in chemicals.
Chemical safety SWITZERLAND
www.who.int/ifcs
Intergovernmental Forum on Chemical Safety IFCS is concerned with chemical safety
issues and has information about national focal points, meetings including regional
meetings. It also has links to other worldwide organisations in industry and non
governmental organisations.
Chemical safety SWITZERLAND
www.who.int/ipcs
International Programme on Chemical Safety programme of three co-operating
organisations, UNEP, ILO and WHO implementing activities relating to chemical safety.
The main role of International Programme on Chemical Safety is to establish the
scientific basis for the safe use of chemicals and to strengthen national capabilities
and capacities for chemical safety. Links to other information.
Chemical safety SWITZERLAND
www.who.int/iomc
Inter-Organization Programme for the Sound Management of Chemicals consists of a
number of major organisations such as the UNEP, FAI, ILO, WHO, UNIDO, UNITAR and OECD
committed to improving knowledge about chemicals. There are also links to all the
major organisations sites and information.
Chemical safety SWITZERLAND
http://irptc.unep.ch
United Nations Environment Chemicals and the Global Environmental Epidemiology Network
Projects includes the Pollutant Release and Transfer register PRTR, Persistent Organic
Pollutants POPS and International Register on Biosafety IRB amongst other data. Useful
site.
Chemical safety UK
www.intute.ac.uk/chemistry
Edinburgh Engineering Virtual Library provides an excellent gateway to quality
chemical and chemical engineering information websites and links.
Chemical safety UK
http://msds.chem.ox.ac.uk
University of Oxford Material Safety Datasheets MSDS Service extensive site covering
carcinogens, Chemical Abstracts Service CAS numbers, flash points low, highly toxic
compounds, Hazard Codes UN, gases, glove materials, maximum exposure limits, foreign
languages databases, MSDS, peroxides, risk and safety phrases, shock sensitive
materials, chemical synonyms, teratogens, toxicity abbreviations.
Chemical safety UK
www.chemdex.org
University of Sheffield extensive chemical source containing CHEMDEX, a well organised
list of chemistry sites.
Chemical safety USA
www.jtbaker.com
J T Baker organisation has a range of chemical information, material safety data
sheets MSDS, news, events, technical advice and guidance
Chemical safety USA
www.chemsafety.gov
Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation Board is dedicated to industrial chemical
safety and protecting workers, the public and the environment. Contains News, reports,
investigations, CSB five-year strategic plan, conferences and meetings, details of the
Chemical Incident Reports Centre and links to other chemical sites.
Chemical safety USA
www.ilpi.com/msds
Material Safety Datasheets information, includes 'What is a MSDS', glossary, software,
links to other governmental agencies and useful sites.
Chemical safety USA
www.chemweb.com
Chemical information from MDL covers many services including discussion groups,
journals etc.
Chemical safety USA
www.cdc.gov/niosh/topics/chemical-safety
National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health Chemical Collection contains an
extensive collection of prior published documents which acts as a convenient pointer
to various materials available on the NIOSH website. These include e.g. Alerts,
Criteria Documents, Current Intelligence Bulletins, Hazard Reviews, International
Chemical Safety Cards and many other links.
Chemicals: Internet guide SWITZERLAND
www.chem.unep.ch/irptc/iguide/coverpg.html
United Nations Environment Programme Internet Guide finding information on chemicals.
Diary of Events
27-28 January 2004 - Flame Retardants 2004 tackles legislative pressures
21st Anniversary organised by The British Plastics Federation (BPF) and Interscience
Communication
Queen Elizabeth Conference Centre, London
Contact: Doreen Greenaway, The British Plastics Federation, 6 Bath Place, Rivington
St, London, EC2A 3JE, UK | Tel: +44 (0)20 7457 5047 | Email:
conferences@bpf.co.uk
| www.bpf.co.uk
30-31 January 2004 - Joint OSH Strategy for the enlarged Europe Conference
Organised by the European Trade Union Confederation (ETUC) in co-operation with the
European Trade Union Technical Bureau for Health and Safety (TUTB)
ITUH Building, Bd du Roi Albert II, 5 B-1210 Brussels, Belgium.
Contact: Viktor Kema, TUTB, Bd du Roi Albert II, 5 B-1210 Brussels, Belgium | Tel: +32
2 224 04 49 | Fax: +32 2 224 05 61 | Email:
vkempa@etuc.org
20-22 May 2004 - International Non-ionizing Radiation Workshop and Symposium
Sevilla, Spain
Organised by the International Commission on Non-Ionizing Radiation Protection.
Contact: Karin Chabrel, ICNIRP - R. Matthes, c/o Bundesamt fuer Strahlenschutz,
Ingolstaedter Landstrasse 1, 85764 Oberschleissheim, Germany | Tel: +49 18888 333 2156
/ 89 31 603 21 56 | Fax: +49 1888 333 2155 / 89 31 603 21 55 | Email:
info@icnirp.org | www.icnirp.org
9 November 2004 - Food Safety in Europe 2004
Royal National Hotel, Russell Square, London, UK
Contact: Mary Meadows, Office and Logistics Manager, European Occupational Health and
Safety Magazine (EurOhs), Angel Business Communications Ltd 34 Warwick Road,
Kenilworth CV8 1HE, Warwickshire, UK | Tel: +44 (0)1926 512424 | Fax: + 44 (0)1926
512948 | Email: mary@angelbc.co.uk
10 - 11 November 2004 - EurOhse2004
Royal National Hotel, Russell Square, London, UK
Contact: Mary Meadows, Office and Logistics Manager, European Occupational Health and
Safety Magazine (EurOhs), Angel Business Communications Ltd 34 Warwick Road,
Kenilworth CV8 1HE, Warwickshire, UK | Tel: +44 (0)1926 512424 | Fax: + 44 (0)1926
512948 | Email: mary@angelbc.co.uk