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At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1983

[The Permanent Safety and Health Commission for Coal Mines and other Extraction Industries].

After having congratulated the C.C.R. on the 25th anniversary of its foundation, the secretary of the Safety and Health Commission for the Mining and Other Extractive Industries, which also celebrates its silver jubilee, briefly exposes its history, composition and modus operandi. In essence the duties of the Safety and Health Commission are to propose measures to the governments to increase safety, firstly in mines and subsequently in all the extractive industries. Its working is based on eleven working parties where the best safety experts of the European extractive industries collaborate. The Commission is also empowered to make proposals for research, to promote safety campaigns and to organize information sessions for the industrial circles concerned. The positive appreciation and the active collaboration of these circles help the Safety and Health Commission to fulfill its task.

Accident Prevention↗
PubMed1997

Monitoring distant fallout: the role of the Atomic Energy Commission Health and Safety Laboratory during the Pacific tests, with special attention to the events following BRAVO.

The fallout from test BRAVO in March 1954 has had scientific, political, and social implications that have continued for more than 40 years. The test resulted in serious injury to the people of the Marshall Islands and 23 men on a nearby Japanese fishing boat. Prior to BRAVO there was insufficient appreciation of the dangers of fallout to people living downwind from surface or near-surface explosions of megaton weapons. In the absence of sufficient preplanning for fallout monitoring beyond the test-sites of earlier smaller yield tests, and as a result of the concern of the photographic film manufacturers, the Atomic Energy Commission Health and Safety Laboratory, now the Department of Energy Environmental Measurements Laboratory, was requested to develop a program of fallout surveillance. Beginning with Operation IVY in 1952, these surveys included aerial monitoring of the islands of the mid and western Pacific, as well as establishment of fallout monitoring stations in the United States and abroad. The first evidence of the post-BRAVO fallout was detected by a Atomic Energy Commission Health and Safety Laboratory instrument installed on the atoll of Rongerik, where 28 military personnel were stationed. The results of radiation surveys conducted immediately after BRAVO, as well as the reports of medical investigations, radioecological studies, and dose reconstruction that have been conducted by many laboratories over the years have been available from the beginning in unclassified form. However, from the time of the fallout, and continuing to the present, there have been many unanswered questions about what happened during the hours immediately after the fallout was reported. No formal investigation of the circumstances of the fallout was ever conducted, and there were serious misrepresentations of the facts in the official statements made at the time.

Humans↗
PubMed2003

Regulation of veterinary antibiotics in Australia.

The Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority (APVMA)* registers veterinary antibiotic products before they can be supplied, distributed or sold in Australia. Extensive scientific assessment on all new veterinary antibiotic products is undertaken for the APVMA by experts in other government agencies including the Therapeutic Goods Administration (toxicology), the National Occupational Health and Safety Commission (occupational health and safety), Environment Australia (environmental hazards) and state departments of agriculture or primary industry (efficacy and safety) as well as APVMA assessments on food residues, trade and manufacturing. The National Health and Medical Research Council Expert Advisory Group on Antimicrobial Resistance provides advice to the APVMA on the potential transfer of antibiotic resistance from the use of antibiotics in animals to humans, and the impact transfer may have on public health. Food Standards Australia New Zealand (previously Australia New Zealand Food Authority) set maximum residue levels for human foods. The APVMA monitors registered product use through compliance activities and an adverse experience reporting program, and reviews registered products as necessary. The import, manufacture, supply and use of veterinary antibiotics are regulated by Commonwealth and State governments in Australia.

Animals↗
PubMed1998

Occupational health in Australia.

Australia is a developed country in the Asia-Pacific Region with a large land area but a small population. Its main economic activities are mining, agriculture and manufacturing, with its service and high-technology industries being the fastest growing sectors in recent years. The regulation and enforcement of Occupational Health and Safety policies are mainly administered by the Industrial Relations Departments of eight State and Territory jurisdictions in the country. A National Occupational Health and Safety Commission coordinates occupational health and safety at the Commonwealth level. In 1987 the six occupational health and safety priorities in Australia were listed as occupational back pain, management of chemicals used at work, occupational noise-induced hearing loss, occupational skin disorders, occupational cancer and mechanical equipment injury. Australia has probably the highest incidence of malignant mesothelioma in the world, although the use of asbestos has been largely phased out. There was an almost explosive "epidemic" of repetition strain injury in the 1980s. Approximately 500 work-related fatalities and 10,000 work-related injuries are notified for workers' compensation every year. In addition, it is estimated that there are several thousand cases of work-related diseases every year, many of which go unreported. Occupational physicians undergo 4 years of specialisation training. Occupational hygienists, nurses and ergonomists receive training supervised by their respective professional organisations.

Australia↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Occupational health. Manual handling: proposed regulations.

Injuries associated with manual handling operations account for most workplace injuries reported to the Health and Safety Executive and local authorities. In the health care services, they account for almost 50 per cent of all injuries reported under the Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations (RlDDOR) of 1985 (1). This article examines how proposed legislation may be applied to make the industry safer, drawing on work being carried out by some health authorities and organisations such as the Back Pain Association and WING (The Work-Injured Nurses Group of the Royal College of Nursing). The author draws on EC directives, and on consultative documents on the proposed regulations issued by the Health and Safety Executive (2), as well as draft guidance issued by the Working Party of the Health and Safety Commission's Health Services Advisory Committee (1).

Accidents, Occupational↗
PubMed1997

Health and safety (consultation with employees) regulations 1996.

The Health and Safety Commission (HSC) introduced the Health and Safety (Consultation with Employees) Regulations 1996 (HSCER) on 1st October, 1996. The HSCER 'top up' the existing Safety Representatives and Safety Committees Regulations 1997 (SRSCR). The HSCER require employers to consult with all employees, not just those covered by representatives appointed by recognised trade unions, on matters relating to health and safety. Employers have the choice of consulting whether directly with employees or via elected representatives.

Communication↗
PubMed1989

Dealing with verbal abuse.

In the recent report by the Health and Safety Commission (HSC 1987) into violence in the Health Service, the group of staff who were identified as being most at risk, were student nurses. The highest incidence of aggression reported was verbal abuse, and in a 12-month-period 4 out of 10 students who responded to the study had experienced such abuse. Student nurses are in a very vulnerable position and are likely to be the recipients of verbal attack, such as anger, hostility or abuse. This vulnerability may be due to their front line position, their lack of skill and experience, or more often the lack of any training in handling such situations.

Adaptation, Psychological↗
PubMed2000

Occupational health strategy for Great Britain.

The Health and Safety Commission (HSC) recently launched a long term occupational health strategy for England, Scotland, and Wales. Set out in a document entitled Securing health together and on a dedicated website the ten year strategy aims to reduced occupational ill health by a series of five work programmes. This article looks at the background to the document, its content, and likely impact at work.

Health Policy↗
PubMed2001

Occupational injuries of physiotherapists in North and Central Queensland.

The National Occupational Health and Safety Commission of Australia has identified musculoskeletal injuries in the health industry as a key area of concern. There is little data available on injuries to physiotherapists. This study aimed to investigate the nature, prevalence, job risk factors and consequences of occupational injuries, with particular focus on musculoskeletal injuries, experienced by physiotherapists in North and Central Queensland. A work-related musculoskeletal injury was defined as pain lasting more than three days that the respondent felt was cause by their work as a physiotherapist. Fifty-five per cent of respondents had experienced a work-related injury and 40% had experienced injury in the previous year. The most injured body areas were the low back, hands and neck. Over half (56%) of the initial episodes of injury occurred within five years of graduation. The job risk factors of most concern to injured respondents were sustained demanding postures, manual therapy techniques, repetition, working while injured and excessive workloads. Injured respondents chose to work while injured and not to take time off on workers' compensation or have surgery. Following injury, 38 of respondents changed work settings. Most injured physiotherapists modified their techniques to continue working. Further research is needed to develop effective preventative strategies.

Adult↗
PubMed1998

Cleaning and disinfection of equipment for gastrointestinal endoscopy. Report of a Working Party of the British Society of Gastroenterology Endoscopy Committee.

Two per cent glutaraldehyde is the most commonly used disinfectant in endoscopy units within the UK. Unfortunately adverse reactions to glutaraldehyde are common among endoscopy personnel and the Health and Safety Commission has recommended substantial reductions in atmospheric levels of glutaraldehyde in order to comply with the Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations, 1994. The Working Party addressed ways of eliminating or minimising exposure to glutaraldehyde in endoscopy units by reviewing alternative disinfectants and the use of automated washer/disinfectors. Alternatives to glutaraldehyde must be at least as microbicidal as glutaraldehyde, non-irritating and compatible with endoscope components and decontamination equipment. Peracetic acid is a highly effective disinfectant and may be a suitable alternative to glutaraldehyde. Peracetic acid has a vinegary-like odour and is claimed to be less irritating than glutaraldehyde. Experience with this agent remains relatively limited and the Working Party recommends that peracetic acid should be used in sealed or exhaust ventilated facilities until further experience is obtained. It is considerably more expensive than glutaraldehyde, is less stable and large volumes have to be stored. It causes cosmetic (but not functional) damage to endoscopes and is not compatible with some washer/ disinfectors. Chlorine dioxide is a powerful oxidising agent and highly effective as a disinfectant. Once activated it must be stored in sealed containers with little head space. Fumes cause irritation and sealed or exhaust ventilated facilities are necessary. The agent may damage some metallic and polymer components of endoscopes and automated washer/disinfectors and compatibility should be established with equipment manufacturers before the agent is used. Other disinfectants such as peroxygen compounds and quaternary ammonium derivatives are less suitable because of unsatisfactory mycobactericidal and/or virucidal activity, or incompatibility with endoscopes and automated washer/disinfectors. Alcohol is effective but, on prolonged contact, is damaging to lens cements. It is also flammable and therefore unsuitable for use in large quantities in automated systems. Superoxidised water (Sterilox) is an electrochemical solution (anolyte) containing a mixture of radicals with strong oxidising properties. It is highly microbicidal when freshly generated, provided items are thoroughly clean and strict generation criteria are met--that is, current, pH, redox potential. It seems to be safe for users and provided field trials substantiate laboratory efficacy tests, and the agent is non-damaging, it too may become an alternative to glutaraldehyde. When 2% glutaraldehyde is used for manual and automated disinfection, 10 minutes' immersion is recommended for endoscopes before the session and between patients. This will destroy vegetative bacteria and viruses (including hepatitis B virus (HBV) and HIV). A five minute contact period is recommended for 0.35% peracetic acid and for chlorine dioxide (1100 ppm av ClO2), but if immersed for 10 minutes sporicidal activity will also be achieved. At the end of each session 20 minutes' immersion in glutaraldehyde or five minutes in peracetic acid or chlorine dioxide is recommended. Microbiological studies show that 20 minutes of exposure to 2% glutaraldehyde destroys most organisms, including Mycobacterium tuberculosis. The Working Party concludes therefore that immersion of the endoscope in 2% glutaraldehyde for 20 minutes is sufficient for endoscopy involving patients with AIDS and other immunodeficiency states or pulmonary tuberculosis. Similarly, 20 minutes' immersion is recommended at the start of the list and between cases for endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) when high level disinfection is required. Cleaning and disinfection of endoscopes should be undertaken by trained staff in a dedicated room. Thorough cleaning with detergent

Disinfectants↗
PubMed2001

The current hiatus in occupational injury research in Australia.

OBJECTIVE: In late 1999, the Safety Institute of Australia (SIA) noted the difficulty of accessing and reviewing Australian research into occupational injuries and asked for a register of research in this field to be created. It offered the use of its website as a continuing location for a possible register. The creation of the initial database was the primary objective of this work. METHOD: Data collection was by survey form, which was distributed by mail to relevant organisations and individuals and was also downloadable from the SIA website. Responses were accepted by mail, fax and e-mail. RESULTS: By April 2000, responses which included publications in peer-reviewed journals since 1995 totalled just 154. This seemed to support the Institute's opinion that the amount of research in progress was inadequate to reduce the incidence of workplace injuries in Australia. CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS: The small number of responses was partly due to the 1996 restructuring of the National Occupational Health and Safety Commission. Additionally, present arrangements give no role for investigator-initiated and investigator-driven research which has been the essential prerequisite for success in other areas of public health. The Australian workforce is now disadvantaged in contrast to overseas competitors who have national occupational injuries research organisations. To remedy this situation, a new science-based research grant organisation, with annual funds of about $25 million, administered by a new Occupational Injuries Research Council is proposed.

Accidents, Occupational↗
PubMed2002

Occupational exposure limits: options for change.

The Health and Safety Commission's (HSC) Advisory Committee on Toxic Substances has produced a discussion document on the future of occupational exposure limits for hazardous chemicals. The HSC wish to see changes made in the way standards which determine the amount of substance allowable in workplace air are implemented. The objective of the review and change is to ensure that protection of workers' health is continually improved as new and changing standards are announced. This article looks at the problems associated with the implementation of the current standards and the options proposed for change.

Guidelines as Topic↗
PubMed2001

Occupational exposure limits for chemicals.

Occupational exposure limits (OELs) are tools to help employers protect the health of those who may be exposed to chemicals in their workplace. Under the United Kingdom Control of Substances Hazardous to Health (COSHH) Regulations they define adequate control by inhalation. OELs are set by the Health and Safety Commission (HSC) on advice from its Advisory Committee on Toxic Substances (ACTS) and after public consultation. Thus they are consensus limits which have the support of both sides of industry. COSHH uses two types of occupational exposure limit-the occupational exposure standard (OES) and the maximum exposure limit (MEL). OESs are set for substances for which it is possible to identify a concentration at which there is no significant risk to health. Employers are required to meet the limit, there is no requirement to go below it, and it can be exceeded provided steps are taken to meet it as soon as reasonably practicable. MELs are set for substances which have serious health implications and for which an OES cannot be set. Most of the substances with MELs are either carcinogens or causes of occupational asthma. Employers must not exceed an MEL and must reduce exposure as far below it as is reasonably practicable. MELs are set at concentrations achievable by good occupational hygiene practice such that risks to workers are judged to be reduced to a tolerable level. The HSC consider that this approach is preferable to the use of mathematical models to generate risk estimates, which inevitably gives a spurious appearance of accuracy. The MEL/OES system is poorly understand by many employers who use chemicals, is not comprehensive as some substances meet neither the OES nor MEL criteria, and does not mesh well with indicative occupational exposure limit values which will increasingly be set under the European Union Chemical Agents Directive. COSHH essentials: easy steps to control chemicals provides the practical help that firms need to control chemicals. It takes users straight from hazard and exposure considerations to benchmark standards of good practice. The problems with the current system have prompted ACTS to set up a subgroup to review the OEL framework.

Chemical Industry↗
PubMed1994

Summary of the workshop on issues in risk assessment: quantitative methods for developmental toxicology.

This report summarizes the proceedings of a conference on quantitative methods for assessing the risks of developmental toxicants. The conference was planned by a subcommittee of the National Research Council's Committee on Risk Assessment Methodology in conjunction with staff from several federal agencies, including the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, U.S. Food and Drug Administration, U.S. Consumer Products Safety Commission, and Health and Welfare Canada. Issues discussed at the workshop included computerized techniques for hazard identification, use of human and animal data for defining risks in a clinical setting, relationships between end points in developmental toxicity testing, reference dose calculations for developmental toxicology, analysis of quantitative dose-response data, mechanisms of developmental toxicity, physiologically based pharmacokinetic models, and structure-activity relationships. Although a formal consensus was not sought, many participants favored the evolution of quantitative techniques for developmental toxicology risk assessment, including the replacement of lowest observed adverse effect levels (LOAELs) and no observed adverse effect levels (NOAELs) with the benchmark dose methodology.

Animals↗
PubMed1992

How pregnant workers see their work, its risks and the right to precautionary leave in Québec.

In 1981, the Québec government passed a law providing "precautionary leave" or reassignment to other jobs for pregnant workers exposed to a risk for their health or that of their fetus. This measure was much more popular than expected, with about 30% of pregnant workers taking leave in 1987. Uncertainty about what constitutes a risk for pregnancy, conflicts between views of pregnancy as a social or private act, and differing ideas on employers' responsibility for protection of pregnant workers have combined with worries about cost to stimulate debate on this law. Since 1986, there has been pressure on the government to restrict access to precautionary leave. This article describes research designed to answer some of the questions raised during the debate. Data banks of the Health and Safety Commission and responses of 2500 women workers were examined to characterize the jobs of women who did and those who did not take leave. Leave was usually taken by those who worked in sectors traditionally associated with risks, and women who applied for precautionary leave more often reported their working conditions to be difficult. Women taking leave accorded more importance to their maternal and domestic roles, but equal value to their roles in the workplace. The article concludes that the popularity of the measure is not due to laziness or lack of responsibility on the part of women workers, but to poor conditions in women's traditional jobs. It is suggested that more emphasis be placed on improving conditions rather than on early leave from work.

Civil Rights↗