From: harelb@math.cornell.edu (Harel Barzilai)
Subject: LABOR: Hazards Networker no. 92-05 
Followup-To: alt.activism.d
Originator: daemon@pencil.cs.missouri.edu
Organization: ?
Date: Thu, 3 Sep 1992 01:32:33 GMT


[Via misc.activism.progressive from LaborNet's labor.toxics]
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Topic 86        Hazards Networker no. 92-05 
gn:lhazards     Resources for labor re:toxics    7:57 pm  Aug 25, 1992 
[try lhazards@gn.apc.org --HB]
================================================================= 
Hazards Networker 
(Electronic mail edition)                    No 92/05 - July 1992 
================================================================= 
Current information on workplace and community health and safety 
================================================================= 

Hazards Networker aims to provide a means for labour, community 
and resource organisations to share health and safety 
information. 

Hazards Networker describes health and safety documents by or for 
trade unionists and community campaigners, including local 
agreements, site reports and other unpublished material. Plus a 
selection from official publications, academic studies, 
management magazines and the press. 

The entries are from the library database at the London Hazards 
Centre, a resource centre providing advice, information and 
training for workplace and community groups. 

If you have a piece of information you think other people could 
use, send it to the Networker. Either send us a copy of the 
document with your comments on it, or ask us for some cataloguing 
forms. 

We would like to find volunteer translators who could make 
English summaries for the Networker, and who might also make 
translations of complete documents which users requested. German, 
French, Italian, Spanish are the main languages we might need, 
but not the only ones. 

Hazards Networker is run cheaply for the benefit of people who 
can't afford expensive commercial or official health and safety 
information. We get no grant support for its production, so 
please support us by helping get new subscriptions to the paper 
version. 

BACK-UP:            see separate posting 'Hazards Networker Back-up' 
                    for information on: 

DOCUMENT REQUESTS -      How to get copies of the documents listed. 
INFORMATION SEARCHES -   Requesting searches on the LHC database. 
SUBSCRIPTIONS -          To the printed version of Hazards Networker. 
OTHER LHC ACTIVITIES -   Publications, advice, training, research. 


===================================================================== 
London Hazards Centre    308 Grays Inn Road, London WC1X 8DS, UK 
Tel: 44-(0)71-837 5605                         Fax: 44-(0)71-833 9956 
             E-Mail: MCR1:LONDON-HAZARDS / gn:lhazards, 
     London Hazards Centre Trust is registered charity no 293677 
===================================================================== 
<PAGE> 
===================================================================== 
LISTINGS: 
===================================================================== 

Arrangement: 
        Trade unions -/- Labour & community organisations -/- 
           UK government -/- Other official documents -/- 
                    Press, academic, and the rest 

Prices: PSt (Pounds sterling) unless specified. 

===================================================================== 
TRADE UNIONS 
===================================================================== 


                                                         REF: 9205001 
FIET for better conditions in hairdressing and beauty care.     News 
item.   FIET info n4/5 p7-8 --MAY92 
COMMENT:  First international conference on FIET's Hair and Beauty 
Care Trade Section: expressed concerns over chemical hazards, but 
praised EC directives on cosmetics. 
SUBJECTS: COSMETICS/ HAIRDRESSING/ 

                                                         REF: 9205002 
Justice for janitors: Apple campaign bears fruit.     News item. 
FIET info n4/5 p1-2. --MAY92 Supplier: FIET, 15 avenue de Baxelert, 
1219 Chatelaine-Geneva, Switzerland; 022-796-2733. 
COMMENT:  Contractor cleaning Apple Computers California HQ has been 
forced to recognise Service Employees Union (SEIU)  representation by 
the well-organised Justice for Janitors Campaign. The campaign has 
forced recognition from a number of other anti-union computer firms 
including IBM. Hazards, including sexual harassment, are on the 
campaign's agenda. 
SUBJECTS: APPLE COMPUTERS/ CLEANING/ ELECTRONICS/ UNION-BUSTING/ USA/ 

                                                         REF: 9205003 
Submission by the National Communications Union to the Health and 
Safety Executive in respect of the proposals for regulation and 
guidance on the EC directive on work with display screen equipment 
(90/270/EEC).     Sapper, Simon; NCU (National Communications Union). 
Typescript, 7pp. --MAY92 Supplier: NCU, 150 Brunswick Road, London W5 
1AW; 081-998 2981. 
COMMENT:  Punchy criticism of the UK's proposed implementation of the 
EC 'VDU Directive'. The draft regulations seek to minimise the impact 
of the directive and evade the requirements for work-station 
standards and eye testing. Sapper was a union representative on the 
HSC committee which drew up the proposals, from which the union side 
dissented strongly. 
SUBJECTS: EUROPEAN COMMUNITY LAW/ VDUS/ 

                                                         REF: 9205004 
More comments and news from West Midlands.     News item.   WEA 
Walsall monthly bulletin n155 --JUN92 
COMMENT:  News of anti-pollution campaigns in West Midlands. 
Successful protest against incinerator in Warwick. Resistance to 
proposed incinerator at Foxyards former sewage works. 
SUBJECTS: CAMPAIGNS/ INCINERATORS/ POLLUTION/ WEST MIDLANDS/ 

                                                         REF: 9205005 
Health, safety and welfare report to Walsall Trades Union Council, 
June 1992.     WEA Walsall monthly bulletin n155 --JUN92 
COMMENT:  Current concerns include the very high dioxin pollution 
levels, and the handling of waste (flytipping, incinerators). Recalls 
recent convictions of companies Leigh and Shanks/McEwan. 
SUBJECTS: CONVICTIONS/ DIOXIN/ WASTE/ 

                                                         REF: 9205006 
OCAW comments on pesticide law: statement ... before the US Senate 
committee on Agriculture...     Wages, Robert E; Oil, Chemical and 
Atomic Workers International Union (OCAW). 20MAY92 Supplier: E-mail: 
GEO2:HAZARDS-BBS; igc:labornet. 
COMMENT:  US chemical workers' union comments on the 'Circle of 
Poison Prevention Act'. This act would ban manufacture of pesticides 
including chlordane and heptachlor. OCAW calls for measures to 
re-train workers for worthwhile jobs, and a medical monitoring 
programme. 
SUBJECTS: CHLORDANE/ CIRCLE OF POISON PREVENTION ACT/ HEPTACHLOR/ 
PESTICIDES BANS/ USA/ VELSICOL/ 

                                                         REF: 9205007 
It's time to ban those fishtails     Sinclair, Ross (UCATT North West 
Region).   Letter.   UCATT viewpoint --JUN92 
COMMENT:  Fishtail brick ties are a twisted metal strip with sharp 
slit ends that frequently cause serious cuts. Trade union pressure 
and successful compensation cases have now led to production of 
alternative designs. 
SUBJECTS: BRICKLAYING/ SUBSTITUTION/ 

                                                         REF: 9205008 
Weightwatching drive by UCATT.     News item.   UCATT viewpoint 
--JUN92 
COMMENT:  UCATT at Manchester council are negotiating the union's 
first comprehensive agreement on lifting heavy loads, based on the 
European Community directive. 
SUBJECTS: AGREEMENTS/ CONSTRUCTION/ LIFTING/ 

                                                         REF: 9205009 
All the hazards under the sun.     O'Neill, Rory (Sheffield 
Occupational Health Project).   Feature article   UCATT viewpoint 
--JUN92 
COMMENT:  Advice for outdoor workers on protection from excessive 
sunlight. Even before the hole in the ozone layer was detected, 
building workers had an above average rate of skin cancers. This 
article can be used as a factsheet on the subject. 
SUBJECTS: CONSTRUCTION/ SUNLIGHT/ 

                                                         REF: 9205010 
Safety directives watered down.     Feature article   Labour research 
v81 n6 p19-20 --JUN92 
COMMENT:  Trade unions criticise the HSE's dilution of European 
Community directives on health and safety as they draw up the UK 
implementation. Key issues are the right to refuse dangerous work, 
VDUs, noise, and enforcement resources. 
SUBJECTS: ENFORCEMENT/ EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES LAW/ NOISE/ STOP THE JOB/ 
VDUS - LAW/ 

                                                         REF: 9205011 
Accidents at work.     Feature article   Labour research v81 n6 p24 
--JUN92 
COMMENT:  Summary of reporting (RIDDOR) and inspection obligations 
and rights after an incident ('accident'). 
SUBJECTS: ACCIDENTS/ REPORTING/ 

                                                         REF: 9205012 
Organochlorine pesticides.     Gullestrup, Jorgen.   News item. 
Hazards: bulletin of the Queensland Workers Health Centre, n30 p10-11 
--MAR92 
COMMENT:  Australian building workers' union is campaigning for a 
total ban on organochlorine pesticides, having achieved a ban for 
building sites. 
SUBJECTS: AUSTRALIA/ CONSTRUCTION/ ORGANOCHLORINE PESTICIDES/ 
PESTICIDES BANS/ 

                                                         REF: 9205013 
Dealing with sexual harassment: guidelines for members and 
representatives.     TGWU   Booklet, 12pp. --MAR92 Supplier: TGWU, 
Transport House, Smith Square, London SW1P 3JB. 
COMMENT:  A good guide for trade unionists. Explains the problem and 
its politics, gives clear plan for addressing it. Covers harassment 
by members of the same union or another union. Model policy. TGWU 
regional contacts. 
SUBJECTS: SEXUAL HARASSMENT/ 

                                                         REF: 9205014 
Safety reps information and inspection rights.     Feature article 
Bargaining report n117 p6 --MAY92   Bargaining brief 
COMMENT:  Summarises rights in factsheet form. 
SUBJECTS: HEALTH AND SAFETY INSPECTIONS/ INFORMATION ACCESS/ 

                                                         REF: 9205015 
Smoking and alcohol policies at work.     Feature article 
Bargaining report n117 p14-15 --MAY92 
COMMENT:  Concern about productivity is leading employers to bring in 
total bans on smoking and alcohol. Unions want policies that provide 
facilities to encourage and enable workers to abide by policies. 
Summarises a number of union and employers' views and policies. 
Reproduces ACAS checklist for alcohol policy. 
SUBJECTS: AGREEMENTS/ ALCOHOLISM/ SMOKING/ 

                                                         REF: 9205016 
Competition, cuts and contractors: lessons for trade unionists from 
three flagship London boroughs.     NALGO; Centre for Public 
Services.   57pp. --MAR92 Supplier: CFPS, 1 Sidney St. Sheffield S1 
4RG. Price: 5.00 to trade unions and community groups. 
COMMENT:  Detailed report from NALGO Met District and three NALGO 
branches investigates extent and consequences of privatisation in 
London's Conservative flagship boroughs - Westminster, Wandsworth and 
Kensington and Chelsea. 
SUBJECTS: KENSINGTON AND CHELSEA/ PRIVATISATION/ WANDSWORTH/ 
WESTMINSTER/ 

                                                         REF: 9205017 
Workers' rights and 1992: LRD guide to the Social Charter and the 
Action Programme.     LRD (Labour Research Department).   Booklet, 
38pp. --FEB90 Supplier: LRD, 78 Blackfriars Road, London SE1. Price: 
1.40 ISBN: 0-946-898-316 
SUBJECTS: EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES LAW/ 

                                                         REF: 9205018 
Out at work: lesbian and gay workers rights.     Labour Research 
Department.   Booklet 32pp. --JUL92 Supplier: LRD, 78 Blackfriars 
Road, London SE1 8YX. Price: PSt 1.50 labour movement, 10 others. 
COMMENT:  How unions should, can and sometimes do support gay and 
lesbian members against victimisation, harassment and suppression of 
their identity. Surveys workplace agreements, union structures and 
initiatives. 
SUBJECTS: AGREEMENTS/ LESBIANS AND GAYS/ 

                                                         REF: 9205019 
Silent injury: strain injuries and bus drivers in South Yorkshire.   
TGWU Central Committee South Yorkshire Transport; TGWU Region 9. 
Booklet 8pp. --JUN92 Supplier: TGWU Region 9, Blenheim Terrace, 
Leeds. Price: Free? 
COMMENT:  Survey conducted in summer 1991 shows high level of 
muscular/skeletal strain injuries among South Yorkshire bus drivers. 
Two thirds reported back pain, half reported neck or shoulder pain, 
leg problems were also reported. Seat design and long shifts were the 
main reasons given. Action and recommendations focused on cab and 
seat design, scheduling, compensation, awareness. 
SUBJECTS: BACK/ BUSWORKERS/ COMPENSATION/ DRIVING/ JOB DESIGN/ 
REPETITION STRAIN INJURIES/ SHIFTWORK/ 

                                                         REF: 9205020 
Work-related upper limb disorders: health and safety guide.   
USDAW.  Booklet 48pp. --APR92 Supplier: USDAW, 188 Wilmslow Road, 
Manchester M14 6LJ Price: 1.50 members, 10 others. 
COMMENT:  Shopworkers' union guide on RSI/WRULD. Looks clear and well 
laid out. Step-by-step explanation on organising to prevent it, 
including a security of employment agreement so victims aren't afraid 
to report RSI for fear of the sack. 
SUBJECTS: FRUSTRATION OF CONTRACT/ REPETITION STRAIN INJURIES/ 
SHOPWORK/ 

===================================================================== 
LABOUR / COMMUNITY / CAMPAIGN / RESOURCE 
===================================================================== 

                                                         REF: 9205021 
Unlocking the factory door: the community demands the right-to-know. 
Is industry working? Having the ability to act. Report to the Coode 
Island Review Panel.     HAZMAG (Hazardous Materials Action Group); 
Adams Paul; Ruchel, Matt.   56pp + appendices. --MAR92 Supplier: 
HAZMAG, PO Box 27, Yarraville, Victoria, Australia 3013. ISBN: 
0-646-09035-6 
COMMENT:  The Review Panel was set up after fires at chemical storage 
facilities at Coode Island in August 1991. This report reviews and 
evaluates local and international models of community right-to-know 
legislation; identifies issues and makes recommendations about the 
role of communities in monitoring the chemical industry. 
SUBJECTS: AUSTRALIA/ CHEMICAL INDUSTRY/ INFORMATION ACCESS/ 

                                                         REF: 9205022 
Accident at Mexican pesticide plant raises local and international 
health and safety issues.     PANUPS 23APR92 
COMMENT:  A major spill of hydrochloric acid occurred in Mexicali on 
12 January 1992. It showed hazards of pesticides plants to local 
community, and failures in government protection and information 
rules. Gives actions and contacts. 
SUBJECTS: DISASTERS/ HYDROCHLORIC ACID/ MEXICO/ PESTICIDES INDUSTRY/ 
USA/ 

                                                         REF: 9205023 
Ban sought on pesticide that destroys ozone layer.     Californians 
for Alternatives to Toxics (CATs).   9pp 16APR92 Supplier: CATs, 860 
1/2 11th St, Arcata, CA 95521, USA. 
COMMENT:  Methyl bromide, used as a pesticide in homes, is under 
attack from both environmentalists and health and safety campaigners. 
US EPA restricted its use after two people were killed by its 
domestic use. 
SUBJECTS: DEATHS/ METHYL BROMIDE/ PESTICIDES BANS/ USA/ 

                                                         REF: 9205024 
ANC press statement on toxic waste importation.     African National 
Congress (ANC). 31MAR92 Supplier: E-mail: posted in gn:labor.toxics 
by igc.africafund. 
COMMENT:  Denounces Thor Chemicals, a UK subsidiary which poisoned 
workers and community with mercury. 
SUBJECTS: EXPORTING HAZARDS/ MERCURY/ SOUTH AFRICA/ THOR CHEMICALS/ 
TOXIC WASTE/ 

                                                         REF: 9205025 
Oil on their faces: management at British Rail.     Merritt, Mike. 
News item. 04JUN92 
Supplier: E-mail BB MCR1:HAZARDS-NEWS from MCR1:MIKE.MERRITT. 
COMMENT:  Railway guards in Dorset were required to walk along 
electrified through track in order to inspect trains carrying waste 
gas from the Wych Farm oilfield. Management stonewalled attempts to 
negotiate on the hazard. Finally the trainmen refused to do the work. 
They won. Mike argues that HSWA section 7 gives the right (in fact 
the duty) to refuse unsafe work. 
SUBJECTS: INDUSTRIAL ACTION/ OIL DRILLING/ RAILWAYS/ STOP THE JOB/ 

                                                         REF: 9205026 
Annual report 1991/92.     Nottingham RSI Support Group.   Typescript 
4pp. --JUN92 
COMMENT:  Interesting account of a year's grass-roots campaigning and 
investigation on RSI. 
SUBJECTS: ORGANISING/ REPETITION STRAIN INJURIES/ 

                                                         REF: 9205027 
What happens when 'quality' programs come to the health care 
industry?    Colatosti, Camille   Feature article   Labor notes n159 
p3 & 9. --JUN92 
COMMENT:  Cost cutting 'quality' programmes in US health care 
industry create health problems of workload stress (burn-out) for 
workers. 
SUBJECTS: CONTROL OVER YOUR WORK/ CUTS/ HEALTH CARE/ JOB DESIGN/ 
STRESS/ USA/ 

                                                         REF: 9205029 
Guide to the Commonwealth Health and safety act.     Muir, Alan. 
Feature article   Hazards: bulletin of the Queensland Workers Health 
Centre, n30 p2-8 --MAR92 
COMMENT:  Detailed summary and assessment of new Australian health 
and safety law. 
SUBJECTS: AUSTRALIA/ LAW/ 

                                                         REF: 9205030 
Experts debate indoor environment: conference report.     McLoughlin, 
Deb   Feature article   Hazards: bulletin of the Queensland Workers 
Health Centre, n30 p12-15 --MAR92 
COMMENT:  Worker's health centre delegate's detailed account of the 
discussions on sick building syndrome at the Asia-Pacific Public 
Works Conference, September 1991. One report suggests that sump 
temperature is more important in controlling legionella than cooling 
tower hygiene or biocides. Another suggests that cleaning methods 
play a part: for example ordinary vacuum cleaners just throw up the 
finer dust to breathing level. 
SUBJECTS: DUST/ LEGIONNAIRES DISEASE/ SICK BUILDING SYNDROME/ 

                                                         REF: 9205031 
Halophen, halophane and dichlorophen.     London Hazards Centre. 
Factsheet.   Rev ed. --JUL91 
SUBJECTS: HALOPHEN/ 

                                                         REF: 9205032 
Fact sheet on farm worker health, working conditions and pestcicides. 
   Pesticides Action Network, North America. 24APR92 Supplier: 
igc/en-pesticides conference. 
COMMENT:  Review of current situation in North America. 
SUBJECTS: AGRICULTURE/ PESTICIDES/ USA/ 

                                                         REF: 9205033 
Report of third RSI conference, April 1992, Manchester College.   
8pp. --APR92 Supplier: NELASH, 7 Croydon Street, Blackburn, Lancs BB2 
6HF. 
COMMENT:  Conference of activists and support groups. Includes report 
from a workshop held on European Community directives. This report 
was submitted to the Health and Safety Executive in response to its 
consultative document on the VDU directive. 
SUBJECTS: EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES LAW/ REPETITION STRAIN INJURIES/ VDUS/ 

                                                         REF: 9205034 
International union rights     International Centre for Trade Union 
Rights (ICTUR); Trask, Roger (editor).   Journal, quarterly --APR92 
Supplier: ICTUR, 203 North Gower St., London NW1 2NL. 
COMMENT:  Political journal on union struggles, mainly focusing on 
right to organise and state repression. Occasional health and safety 
content. Spanish summaries provided from issue 2 onwards. LHC has all 
issues. ICTUR has UK and USA offices and the president is John Hendy, 
QC. 
SUBJECTS: RIGHTS AT WORK/ TRADE UNIONS/ VICTIMISATION/ 

                                                         REF: 9205035 
Feeling the heat: outdoor workers and exposure to sunlight.   
Sheffield Occupational Health Project (SOHP); Sheffield Trade Union 
Safety Committee.   Leaflet --JUN92 Supplier: 37 Exchange St., 
Sheffield S1 5TR. Price: Free? 
COMMENT:  Good practical workers' summary of hazards and prevention. 
SUBJECTS: HEAT/ OUTDOOR WORK/ SUNLIGHT/ 

                                                         REF: 9205036 
Do you have occupational asthma?     Sheffield Occupational Health 
Project (SOHP); Sheffield Trade Union Safety Committee.   Leaflet 
--JUN92 Supplier: 37 Exchange St., Sheffield S1 5TR. Price: Free? 
COMMENT:  Good practical workers' guide to DSS benefit for 
occupational asthma. 
SUBJECTS: ALLERGY/ ASTHMA/ INDUSTRIAL BENEFIT/ 

                                                         REF: 9205037 
Common interests: women organising in global electronics.     Women 
Working Worldwide.   Book 237pp. -----91 Supplier: WWW, Box 92, 190 
Upper Street, London N1 1RQ, UK. Price: PSt 6.99 ISBN: 0-9517075-0-7 
COMMENT:  First hand accounts of women workers' experiences and 
struggles in the worldwide micro-electronics industry. Chapters on: 
South Korea, USA, Scotland, Hong Kong, China, Taiwan, Thailand, 
Italy, Malaysia, Japan, India, Pakistan, Philippines. Contacts and 
resource list. 
SUBJECTS: CHINA/ ELECTRONICS/ HONG KONG/ INDIA/ ITALY/ JAPAN/ 
MALAYSIA/ PAKISTAN/ PHILIPPINES/ SCOTLAND/ SOUTH KOREA/ TAIWAN/ 
THAILAND/ USA/ WOMEN/ 
-- Hit <RETURN> or <ENTER> for more (51% read) -- 
Conf?  


[Continued] Topic 86    Hazards Networker no. 92-05 


===================================================================== 
UK GOVERNMENT 
===================================================================== 


                                                         REF: 9205038 
Personal protective equipment: a ceramics industry booklet.     HSC: 
Ceramics Industry Advisory Committee.   Booklet. --JUN92   IAC/L56 
Supplier: HSE. Price: Free. 
SUBJECTS: CERAMICS INDUSTRY/ PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT/ 

                                                         REF: 9205039 
Asbestos in kilns and driers: a ceramics industry booklet.     HSC: 
Ceramics Industry Advisory Committee.   Booklet. --JUN92   IAC/L57 
Supplier: HSE. Price: Free. 
SUBJECTS: ASBESTOS - WORKPLACE/ CERAMICS INDUSTRY/ 

                                                         REF: 9205040 
Noise: a ceramics industry booklet.     HSC: Ceramics Industry 
Advisory Committee.   Booklet. --JUN92   IAC/L54 Supplier: HSE. 
Price: Free. 
SUBJECTS: CERAMICS INDUSTRY/ NOISE/ 

                                                         REF: 9205041 
Workplace inspection: a ceramics industry booklet.     HSC: Ceramics 
Industry Advisory Committee.   Booklet. --JUN92   IAC/L55 Supplier: 
HSE. Price: Free. 
SUBJECTS: CERAMICS INDUSTRY/ HEALTH AND SAFETY INSPECTIONS/ 

                                                         REF: 9205042 
COSHH and peripatetic workers.     HSE   Booklet 16pp   HMSO 22JUN92 
HS(G)77  Price: 4.00 ISBN: 0-11-885733-9 
COMMENT:  Workers covered include cleaners, drivers, building trades, 
postworkers, engineers, salespeople, doctors, home helps, refuse 
collectors, surveyors and anyone else who doesn't work always at a 
fixed place. 
SUBJECTS: CLEANING/ CONSTRUCTION/ CONTROL OF SUBSTANCES HAZARDOUS TO 
HEALTH/ NON-EMPLOYEES/ PAINTING AND DECORATING/ PERIPATETIC WORKERS/ 
REFUSE COLLECTION/ VISITORS/ 

                                                         REF: 9205043 
Local authorities report on health and safety in service industries 
1990-91.     HSE: HELA (Health and Safety Enforcement Liaison 
Committee). Book 85pp.   HMSO 30JUN92  Price: 4.75 ISBN: 
0-11-885741-X 
COMMENT:  Important statistical source on shops, catering, garages, 
social care, leisure, etc. This year shows 2 per cent more major 
injuries and 8 per cent more incidents ('accidents'). Special 
chapters on: violence to shopworkers, mineral fibres, RSIs, 
dermatitis in hairdressers and florists, legionnaire's disease, sick 
building syndrome, warehouses, peripatetic workers. Explains 
enforcement responsibilities. 
SUBJECTS: DERMATITIS/ FLORISTS/ HAIRDRESSING/ LEGIONNAIRES DISEASE/ 
MANUFACTURED MINERAL FIBRES/ PERIPATETIC WORKERS/ REPETITION STRAIN 
INJURIES/ SERVICE INDUSTRIES/ SHOPWORK/ SICK BUILDING SYNDROME/ 
VIOLENCE/ WAREHOUSES/ 

                                                         REF: 9205044 
Asbestos: worker protection and further prohibitions: proposal for 
regulations and guidance.     HSC --JUN92 Supplier: Robert Jones 
Memorial Workshops, Units 3 & 5-9, Grain Industrial Estate, Harlow 
Street, Liverpool L8 4UH (tel 051-709 1354/5/6; fax 051-709 1478). 
Price: Free 
COMMENT:  Proposed regulations to implement EC directives in UK. 
Deadline for comments is 31 July 1992, although it was not issued 
until 8 June 1992. 
SUBJECTS: ASBESTOS - WORKPLACE/ EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES LAW/ 

===================================================================== 
OTHER OFFICIAL BODIES 
===================================================================== 


                                                         REF: 9205045 
List of pesticides banned and severely restricted in the United 
States.    USA: Environmental Protection Agency   PANNA 29MAY92 
COMMENT:  43 banned pesticides and 10 restricted ones. 
SUBJECTS: PESTICIDES BANS/ USA/ 

                                                         REF: 9205046 
Action plan to prevent musculoskeletal disorders.     Kilbom, Asa. 
News item.   Research news n1/92 -----92 Supplier: National Institute 
of Occupational Health, S1717 84 Solna, Sweden. 
COMMENT:  The Swedes are working on a national plan of preventive 
action on RSI. 
SUBJECTS: REPETITION STRAIN INJURIES/ SWEDEN/ 

                                                         REF: 9205047 
Proposal for a Council directive on the protection of young people at 
work.     European Commission   Law text   Official journal no C 84 
p7-12. 18MAR92  Price: 3.75 
COMMENT:  Specifies processes and exposures which young people would 
not be permitted to work with if exposure could be thought to damage 
their health (who decides?). Night work and working time covered. 
SUBJECTS: EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES LAW/ YOUNG PEOPLE/ 

                                                         REF: 9205048 
Environmental strategy.     London Borough of Barnet. --JAN91 
Supplier: LB Barnet, Chief Executive's Dept, Town Hall, Hendon, 
London NW4 4BG. 
COMMENT:  Papers relating to the development of an environmental 
protection strategy, notably paper on use of pesticides. Ban on 
atrazine and simazine decided and other moves made to reduce 
pesticide use. 
SUBJECTS: BARNET/ PESTICIDES BANS/ 

                                                         REF: 9205049 
Update on health and safety issues.     Hughes, Stephen (MEP) 
Typescript 01JUL92 
COMMENT:  Summary of negotiations on health & safety issues in the EC 
Social Affairs Council by the Socialist Group spokesperson. Mainly 
concerns working time and pregnancy proposals. Attaches leaked copy 
of UK government's negotiating position. 
SUBJECTS: EUROPEAN COMMUNITY LAW/ HOURS OF WORK/ PREGNANCY/ 

                                                         REF: 9205050 
Provincial/territorial governments provide interim funding to save 
CCOHS free inquiries service.     CCOHS (Canadian Centre for 
Occupational Health and Safety.   News release. 24MAR92 
COMMENT:  The CCOHS has been forced to suspend its newsletter and 
education activities because the government is forcing it to become 
self-funding. The Centre's commitment to supplying health and safety 
information freely or cheaply to those who need it was a good example 
to other government agencies and its elimination will be a loss. 
SUBJECTS: CANADA/ INFORMATION ACCESS/ PROFIT AND SAFETY/ 

===================================================================== 
PRESS / ACADEMIC / OTHER 
===================================================================== 


                                                         REF: 9205051 
Case control study of lung cancer in a cohort of workers potentially 
exposed to slag wool fibres.     Musselman, E G (USG Corporation). 
Letter.   BJIM v49 p454. --JUN92 
COMMENT:  Supports report that slag wool doesn't cause lung cancer; 
suggests that this is because it breaks up more quickly than other 
manufactured fibres. 
SUBJECTS: LUNG CANCER/ MANUFACTURED MINERAL FIBRES/ SLAG WOOL/ 

                                                         REF: 9205052 
Asbestos and cancer: history and public policy.     Morgan, W K C 
(University Hospital, London, Ontario).   Letter   BJIM v49 n6 p451. 
--JUN92 
COMMENT:  Continues the controversy over the date of the asbestos 
industry's guilty knowledge. Defends the manufacturers, vituperates 
correspondent Weller, and appears to allege bribery of the judiciary 
by claimants. 
SUBJECTS: ASBESTOS - INDUSTRY/ 

                                                         REF: 9205053 
Small airways dysfunction among non-smoking shipyard arc welders.   
Hjortsberg, Ulf, & others (Malmo General Hospital).   Research paper 
BJIM v49 n6 p441-444. --JUN92 
COMMENT:  Found small airways disease in 14 welders who were 
non-smokers and atopic (ie not subject to allergies). 
SUBJECTS: ALLERGY/ LUNG/ SMOKING/ WELDING/ 

                                                         REF: 9205054 
Diagnoses of alcohol abuse and other neuropsychiatric disorders among 
house painters compared with house carpenters.     Lundberg, Ivar, & 
others (Karolinska Hospital; Sweden: National Institute of 
Occupational Health) Research paper   BJIM v49 n6 p409-415. --JUN92 
COMMENT:  Shows that painters have an apparently higher rate of 
alcoholism than house carpenters who drink the same amounts: this 
apparent rate of alcoholism is probably due to paint solvents 
interacting with a typical alcohol intake. 
SUBJECTS: ALCOHOLISM/ PAINT/ SOLVENTS/ 

                                                         REF: 9205055 
Studying the effects of industrial emissions.     Safety and Health 
Practitioner v10 n6 p4-5. --JUN92 
COMMENT:  Debate around the validity of epidemiological studies of 
the effects of industrial emissions on the health of local 
communities. Professor Pocock of the London School of Hygiene and 
Tropical Medicine argues that exposure is difficult to determine and 
alleges that the objectivity of many studies is compromised by those 
involved being committed in advance to certain findings. Professor 
Bhopal of the University of Newcastle-upon-Tyne, who carried out a 
detailed study of the health effects of emissions from the Monkton 
Coking Works, takes an opposing view. Also reports on work of the 
Small Area Health Statistics Unit (based at the London School of 
Hygiene and Tropical Medicine), set up to investigate the incidence 
of disease near to industrial sites. 
SUBJECTS: AIR POLLUTION/ COMMUNITY HEALTH/ STATISTICS/ 

                                                         REF: 9205057 
Crown court to hear death case.     Prior, Grant.   News item. 
Construction news 30APR92 
COMMENT:  Magistrates ignored HSE inspector Bob Tunnicliffe's views 
and referred a construction death case to the Crown court. The death 
was that of John Rowland at a Demolition UK site at Ronan Point, East 
London. 
SUBJECTS: CONSTRUCTION/ DEATHS/ PROSECUTIONS/ 

                                                         REF: 9205058 
Crane driver slams HSE over site accident probe.     Prior, Grant. 
News item.   Construction news 23APR92 
COMMENT:  HSE admits that it often decides whether or not to 
investigate an accident solely on the basis of the employer's own 
report. As a result, in this case, it failed to investigate the 
disabling of a crane driver, Roger Beesley, employed by Rees Hough at 
Sevenoaks. 
SUBJECTS: CONSTRUCTION/ ENFORCEMENT/ HEALTH AND SAFETY EXECUTIVE/ 

                                                         REF: 9205059 
Many nurses 'ignorant and prejudiced about AIDS'.     Brindle, David 
News item.   Guardian 15MAY92 
COMMENT:  Royal College of Pathologists reports low risk of HIV to 
health workers: 60 cases worldwide, one being in Britain. Despite 
this many nurses are frightened of working with HIV/AIDS sufferers. 
SUBJECTS: ACQUIRED IMMUNE DEFICIENCY SYNDROME/ HEALTH SERVICES/ 
NURSING/ 

                                                         REF: 9205060 
Weedkiller ban follows breach of drinking water limit.   
Ehrlichman, James.   News item.   Guardian 13MAY92 
COMMENT:  Atrazine and simazine are banned for non-farm uses in the 
UK from 31 August 1992, and for aerial crop spraying. Non-farm users 
include local councils and British Rail. The ban results from 
detection of water contamination levels above European Community 
limits. 
SUBJECTS: ATRAZINE/ PARKS AND GARDENS/ PESTICIDES BANS/ RAILWAYS/ 
SIMAZINE/ 

                                                         REF: 9205061 
'Why are our babies dying?'     Allen, Robert.   Feature article. 
Independent 10MAY92 
COMMENT:  Women in the Donegal town of Carndonagh suffer a high rate 
of miscarriages and birth disorders since adhesives manufacturer 
Truloc started operations 5 years ago. Formaldehyde and cyanide are 
among the pollutants. Typical and accepted formaldehyde exposure 
symptoms of skin and lungs are experienced: the reproductive hazard 
is controversial. 
SUBJECTS: ADHESIVES/ AIR POLLUTION/ BIRTH DEFECTS/ CYANIDE/ 
FORMALDEHYDE/ IRELAND/ MISCARRIAGES/ 

                                                         REF: 9205062 
Hooked on IT.     Herman, Gary.   Feature article.   New statesman 
and society p26 01MAY92 
COMMENT:  Reports a conference on labour movement use of information 
technology and electronic communication, Manchester, April 1992. 
London Hazards Centre participated. Herman (like the participants who 
were drawn from 5 continents) sees electronic mail as a useful tool. 
SUBJECTS: ELECTRONIC MAIL/ INFORMATION FINDING/ INFORMATION HANDLING/ 

                                                         REF: 9205063 
Tenant-friendly pest control puts Lambeth ahead of schedule.     News 
item.   Env health news v7 n22 p3 05JUN92 
COMMENT:  Lambeth has set up a prioritised block treatment system to 
deal with cockroach and pharaoh's ants infestations. The programme is 
ahead of schedule the systematic approach has reduced the workload 
which used to result from dealing with infestations piecemeal. 
Success is partly attributed to the new insecticide hydramethlynon 
because it doesn't smell, and is quick to apply. No information about 
toxicity. This successful programme is threatened by poll tax 
capping. 
SUBJECTS: BLOCK TREATMENT/ COCKROACHES/ HYDRAMETHLYNON/ INSECTICIDES/ 
LAMBETH/ PEST CONTROL/ PHARAOHS ANTS/ TOWER BLOCKS/ 

                                                         REF: 9205064 
Peckham flats in legionella scare.     News item.   Environmental 
health news v7 n22 p5 05JUN92 
COMMENT:  Legionella found in showers used by workers servicing water 
heating boilers. Southwark runs 3-monthly checks on water supplies in 
council blocks. Council shut down all water supply, chlorinated, 
informed tenants and notified local hospital. Seems an example of 
good practice. 
SUBJECTS: HOUSING/ LEGIONNAIRES DISEASE/ MAINTENANCE/ SOUTHWARK/ 

                                                         REF: 9205065 
Farmworkers still at risk: federal report.     Asher, Julie. 
Feature article   San Francisco Bay Guardian 25MAR92 Supplier: PANUPS 
COMMENT:  A US governmental report finds that farmworkers' conditions 
haven't improved in 15 years. 300,000 illnesses and injuries a year, 
inadequate hazards information, inadequate protection, children 
exposed, etc. 
SUBJECTS: AGRICULTURE/ CHILDREN/ DEATHS/ PESTICIDES/ STATISTICS/ USA/ 

                                                         REF: 9205066 
SA to check mercury risks at Thor.     News item.   Guardian 04JUN92 
COMMENT:  'The uglier face of British capitalism is about to be 
exposed in South Africa once again'. Three workers for Thor 
Chemicals, subsidiary of a UK company, are dying of mercury 
poisoning. 
SUBJECTS: EXPORTING HAZARDS/ MERCURY/ POLLUTION/ SOUTH AFRICA/ THOR 
CHEMICALS/ 

                                                         REF: 9205067 
Hot-blooded busmen can show a leg.     News item.   South London 
press 29MAY92 
COMMENT:  TGWU members in 3 south London bus garages forced bosses to 
permit wearing of shorts in hot weather; management at first 
threatened to send home anyone wearing shorts. Modern bus design has 
poor ventilation. 
SUBJECTS: BUSWORKERS/ HOT WORKPLACES/ 

                                                         REF: 9205068 
Midwife Anita wins reinstatement fight.     News item.   Hackney 
Gazette 01MAY92 
COMMENT:  Midwife Anita Ceesay shouted at a hospital visitor who 
racially abused her and threatened violence. She was summarily 
sacked. Following support by other health workers she was 
re-instated. Her employer, the Royal London Hospital Trust is 
'considering' reintroducing a training programme for staff on dealing 
with violence. (LHC asks: why was the programme dropped?) 
SUBJECTS: DISMISSAL/ HEALTH SERVICE/ RACISM/ VIOLENCE/ 

                                                         REF: 9205069 
Gummer acts on sheep dip hazard.     News item.   Guardian 06JUN92 
COMMENT:  Compulsory dipping of sheep in insecticides and fungicides 
is to cease in UK. Twenty years of organophosphorous saturation have 
failed to eliminate scab and tick, have poisoned workers and animals, 
and have contaminated ground and water. 
SUBJECTS: ORGANOPHOSPHATES/ PESTICIDE BANS/ 

                                                         REF: 9205070 
Allergic contact dermatitis caused by epoxy resins.     Nixon, R; 
Frowen, K.   Research paper.   Journal of occupational health and 
safety: Australia and New Zealand). --MAR92 
COMMENT:  'In a recent Australian study of 234 workers using epoxy 
resins, a total of 52 were found to have an occupational skin 
disease, of which 24 were allergic in nature. Almost all affected 
workers continued working despite this, most took little time off, 
and many didn't see a doctor. The researchers concluded that 
occupational allergic contact dermatitis may be much more common than 
is estimated in studies based on either workers compensation 
statistics or from the records of specialised dermatology clinics. 
(Comment by Queensland Workers Health Centre in their bulletin 
'Hazards', n30, March 92. 
SUBJECTS: ALLERGY/ AUSTRALIA/ DERMATITIS/ EPOXY RESINS/ REPORTING/ 
STATISTICS/ 

                                                         REF: 9205071 
Computers and visual stress: how to enhance visual comfort while 
using computers.     Godnig, Edward; Hacunda, John.   Book, 108pp. 
-----90 Supplier: Seacoast Information Services, 4446 South County 
Trail, Charlestown, RI 02813, USA. ISBN: 0-9625708-5-0 
COMMENT:  Written by a software engineer and an optometrist. Partly 
on stress relief techniques and eye exercises but recognises problems 
associated with job design, lack of breaks etc. Gives labour contacts 
and mentions De Matteo's work. 
SUBJECTS: VDUS - EYES/ 

                                                         REF: 9205072 
Health and safety across Europe.     Feature article.   Environmental 
Health v100 n5 p112-114. --MAY92 
COMMENT:  Brief survey of legal framework and accident statistics in 
Germany, France, Italy and Spain. 
SUBJECTS: ACCIDENT STATISTICS/ EUROPE/ FRANCE/ GERMANY/ HEALTH AND 
SAFETY LAW/ ITALY/ SPAIN/ 

                                                         REF: 9205073 
European Safety Newsletter (ESN).     Journal. Supplier: ESN, Unit 3, 
St Georges Ind. Est. White Hart Lane, London N22 5QL. Tel: 
081-888-2734. Price: 65.00 p.a. 
COMMENT:  Began publishing May 1992. Monthly. Aimed at management and 
at this price not useful for labour movement. 
SUBJECTS: EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES LAW/ 

                                                         REF: 9205074 
Leader of the subway safety sect.     Balian, J; Osborne, Alan 
(London Underground).   Feature article   Safety and health 
practitioner v10 n7 p28-31. --JUL92 
COMMENT:  Interview with Director of Safety on London Underground 
about the situation as LUL cuts staff, introduces more contractors, 
and is criticised in the HSE 'Holden' report on signal-related 
accidents. LUL contests Holden's views  and is carrying out its own 
study on signalling: the method, quantified risk assessment, has been 
questioned by the HSE. Violence, noise, dust, fires are other issues. 
SUBJECTS: CUTS/ DUST/ NOISE/ PRIVATISATION/ RISK ASSESSMENT/ 
UNDERGROUND/ VIOLENCE/ 

                                                         REF: 9205075 
Substitution of organic solvents.     Sorensen, Frode; Petersen, 
Hans.  4pp. --SEP91 Supplier: The Authors, Dept. of Chemical 
Engineering, Building 229, Technical University of Denmark, DK-2800 
Lyngby, Denmark. 
COMMENT:  Lists possibilities of substitution of organic solvents in 
62 processes according to branch of industry. Translated from the 
Danish. 
SUBJECTS: SOLVENTS/ SUBSTITUTION/ 

                                                         REF: 9205076 
Process-based method for substitution of hazardous chemicals and its 
application to metal degreasing.     Sorensen, Frode; Petersen, Hans. 
Pamphlet, 14pp.   Hazardous Waste and Hazardous Materials v8 n1 
p69-84. -----91 Supplier: The Authors, Dept. of Chemical Engineering, 
Building 229, Technical University of Denmark, DK-2800 Lyngby, 
Denmark. 
COMMENT:  Main strategy is to use acqueous alkaline solutions in 
place of organic solvents. Phosphate solutions can be used instead of 
cyanide in electrodegreasing. Degreasing solutions can be 
recirculated reducing environmental problems. 
SUBJECTS: DEGREASING SOLVENTS/ SOLVENTS/ SUBSTITUTION/ 

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