The Machinery Directive demands from manufacturers, amongst other things, that health risks from machinery emissions (noise, vibrations, radiation and hazardous substances) must be kept to a minimum. The fact that such hazards may be considerable is illustrated by the example of noise-induced hearing loss.

Noise-induced hearing loss is the occupational disease which again accounted for the highest number of acknowledged insurance claims in 19981. There is a need for action to be taken in the standards sector. Amongst other things, the Machinery Directive demands from manufacturers that health risks from machinery emissions must be minimized. The user must be informed of any residual risks.

The basic standard for machinery EN 292 is currently being revised. In this process, there are plans to include the requirement that parameters for emissions classified as significant must be provided in machinery standards.

Interview with Jean-Paul Lacore and Jean R. Jacques, INRS

The KANBRIEF (1/99 and 2/99) has already dealt exhaustively with the discussion of the principles of European standardization policy from the point of view of OH&S. The main positions on OH&S have been formulated, and some of these have been included in the recently adopted Council Resolution.

In order to promote the removal of technical barriers to trade worldwide, it is important to adopt international standards directly and unchanged into the European set of standards. However, the special significance of European Standards for the single European market results in basic conditions which do not apply to international standards.

The number of representatives delegated by German OH&S institutions to standardization bodies is currently on the decline. One of the main reasons for this trend is doubts whether the costs of participation are outweighed by the benefits to OH&S.

The English-language information system EISOSH (European Information System for Occupational Safety and Health) supplies free information on occupational health & safety at www.eisosh.org, specializing in Personal Protective Equipment (PPE). The system was created under the overall supervision of FIOH (Finnish Institute of Occupational Health) together with the BIA (central research and testing institute of the German accident insurance institutions), the INRS (Institut National de Recherche et de Sécurité) and the Safety Technology Centre of the accident insurance institution for the construction industry in the Rhineland and Westphalia.

Neu! www.kan.de

On 1st January 2000 there was a change in management at the KAN secretariat.