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ENVIRONMENT TOBACCO SMOKE (ETS) & WORKER’S HEALTH OUTCOMES
Recently, there has been debate on the passive smoke in the hospitality industries where workers are exposed to it. The debate highlighted the detrimental effect of the 4,000 substances contained in the smoke and at least 40 are known carcinogens. Workers in the hospitality industry have requested for a ban of smoking at the workplaces. It is a hard decision especially in the bar as majority of the customers are smokers. Government needs to find a balance decision, which should avoid workers from being victimized at the expense of employer profit. Some countries in Europe have drafted the bill on banning smoking in bar and public areas such as Scottish smoking legislation. In order to achieve sustainable workplaces, worker should bring this up to the management and formulate a strategy to avoid the detrimental exposure to cigarette smoke.
http://www.nsc.org/ehc/indoor/ets.htm
UNEP & TRADE UNIONS DEVELOP COMMON PROGRAMME ON ENVIRONMENT & SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT
A
recently released document by the United Nations Environmental Programme (UNEP), summarizing the outcome of an international meeting of trade unions provides the basis for a new and broader platform for action by the global trade union movement on the environment and sustainable development. The UNEP document arising out of the first International World Trade Union Assembly on Labour and the Environment 15-17 January in Nairobi Kenya was welcomed by John Evans, General Secretary of the Trade Union Advisory Committee to the OECD (TUAC), who was the rapporteur for the drafting of the final trade union Resolution which was endorsed by the participants attending the meeting.
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NEW OECD DOCUMENT ADDS SPICETO UPCOMING TRADE UNION-BUSINESS ENVIRO MEETING
A
short six-page document issued by the Organisation of Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) today contains case studies that highlight trade union pathways for effective workplace actions to protect the environment and implement sustainable development. The discussion document was made public in advance of a 1st March first meeting the OECD is organizing in Paris with representative from its Business and Trade Union Advisory Committees to discuss possible workplace actions to protect the environment and implement its policies, nationally. The discussion document is available at:
http://www.tuac.org/Echanges/05MarsOECDdiscLMP-e.pdf
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WARNING UP VS. MERCURY IN MEDICAL TOOLS - TUCP
An
international coalition of health care systems and medical professionals warned over the weekend the Philippines and other developing countries against the “onslaught” of mercury-based medical devices shipped from the first world. Instruments such as thermometers, sphygmomanometers (used to measure blood pressure), and dilation and feeding tubes are steadily being phased out in the Unites States and some European countries owing to their hazardous mercury content, said Jamie Harvie, a director at the Health Care Without Harm (HCWH). Mercury is a neurotoxic, heavy metal linked to various health problems in wildlife and humans. Common manifestations are learning disabilities, hand tremors, blurred visions, and movement difficulties, Harvie said.
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Corporate
Social Responsibility
THE PUBLIC SECTOR'S ROLE IN
PROMOTING CSR
Weak institutions, lack of knowledge and understanding, lack of financial and human resources, and lack of capacity to maintain standards are some of the main impediments to stronger encouragement of the CSR agenda by the public sector in developing countries. In order to strengthen the CSR-related roles of public sector agencies in developing countries, some action such as building awareness within developing country agencies of the CSR agenda and its implications and engaging the private sector in public policy processes, among others.
http://www.eldis.org/static/DOC11468.htm
HIV-AIDS
PREVENTING OCCUPATIONAL HIV TRANSMISSION
TO HEALTH CARE PERSONNEL
Healthcare
personnel should assume that the blood and other body fluids from all patients are potentially infectious. They should therefore follow infection control precautions at all times. In order to prevent transmission of HIV to healthcare personnel in the workplace, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) offers some recommendations and precautions including the routine use of barriers (such as gloves and/or goggles) when anticipating contact with blood or body fluids.
http://www.cdc.gov/hiv/pubs/facts/hcwprev.htm
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OHSEI REGIONAL TRAIN THE TRAINER
(RTTT) 2006
The
Occupational Health, Safety and Environment Institute
joins all trade unions, workers and enterprises in
welcoming the New Year. For 2006, we hope that there
would be a decrease in all work-related accidents and
illnesses. OHSEI will double its efforts to promote
better health and safety in workplaces in Asia and other
parts of the world though improved collaboration with
workers and the trade unions in more responsive
undertakings. – Ng Wei Khiang
FNV-LO/FTF-OHSEI OHS PROFILE PROJECT
OHSEI completed the analysis of OHS situation in Nepal, Bangladesh, Philippines, Pakistan, India and Malaysia. Each profile contains valuable information on the country socio-demographic pattern, labor market, trade union movement, OHS legislation and implementation, accident profile and sectoral OHS scenario. OHSEI considers the profiles as the point of departure for their socialization and organizing activities of Asian trade unions, such as requesting the countries to revise the legislation and to improve on enforcement, among others.
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