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OHSE Institute has a new Director
Phil Drew was appointed as Director, OHSE Institute on 1 March 2002. He succeeds Ernst
Bliesmann, who arrived in Bangkok to establish The Asian Workers’ Occupational
Health, Safety and Environment Institute on 1 February 2000.
Phil was formerly employed by the Australian Trade Union Training Authority
(TUTA) being, Director of Clyde Cameron College for twelve years,. While there he
developed the long-term
regional training program through which Asian and Pacific union
activists received training in Australia. He also conducted and evaluated projects in the
region. At TUTA’s close Phil did consultancy work for the ILO in Mongolia,
Cambodia, Vietnam, Laos and China; and for
CFMEU’s Comet Training. For the past year
was OHSE Institute Education Officer.
OHSE Institute is now two years old OHSE Institute was created by ICFTU-APRO
and regional Global Unions in co-operation
with the Danish trade union’s LO/FTF Council. It is funded by DANCED (Danish
environmental aid agency) and by contributions from ICFTU-APRO and the
five global unions (EI, IFBWW, ITGLWF, PSI and UNI) which are affiliates.
OHSE Institute is based in Bangkok. The
Management Committee of OHSE Institute
includes ICFTU-APRO and each of the
affiliated Global Unions. It is hoped that the
remaining Global Unions will affiliate in the
near future. The focus of OHSE Institute work to date has
been on:
• Developing and conducting projects with trade unions in Thailand.
• Developing and conducting trainer training courses and producing
training materials (in Thailand and the region).
• Providing advice to unions on occupational health, safety and
environment.
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Since its inception, OHSE Institute has
conducted training in its own facilities gaining increased
recognition from regional unions, especially in Thailand,
Nepal and Bangladesh. Lars Thiesson, our Research Officer, has been with the
Institute since May 2000. Prior to joining OHSE Institute Lars worked with the
Danish Nurses as OSH expert.
The Future Improving occupational health, safety and environment in Asia is an important task for trade
unions. Deaths from injury in the region are estimated to be at least 200,000 per year. Deaths
from occupational disease are poorly quantified. One objective of OHSE Institute is to ensure that
unions see occupational health and safety as an organising issue. Workers often have more rights
in occupational health and safety than in trade
unions. By developing worker awareness of
occupational health and safety issues unions can
use the laws for prevention.
Many countries now encourage joint consultation on occupational health and safety. Our training
helps unionists to be effective on these committees thus impacting directly on
occupational health and safety. One way OHSE Institute can make an impact is
through providing columns in union journals. See the March issue of Hazards
(www.hazards.org) for some contributions from us. We would be
pleased to provide material for your publications.
Visit our Web page (www.ohseinstitute.org) and make contact. Let’s work together to make a
change.
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