제 목 : Online database for Health and Safety Coming Soon
일 자 : 1998년 01월
제공처 : Safety + Health(Global Update)
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The European Commission's Health and Safety Agency in Bilbao, Spain,
now has a home page on the Internet at Alan Jones, an
agency press representative, says the organization is in the early stages of
building a health and safety information database that the European
Union will be able to access through the Internet, free of charge. The
network will include EU legal requirements and information on the
health and safety efforts of other member states.
"This will allow users to compare practical workplace solutions
from one country to another, if you know the language," says Jones. 'For
small- and medium-sized enterprises, people need to have informa-
tion in their own language.'
Each member state also will have a "focal point," or national in-
formation center that provides the public with information about state
laws and practices. National focal points will collaborate with the
agency to build up a source of "quality assured" information, says
Jones.
Rather than carry out research, the agency will focus upon improved
methods for organizing information, Jones adds. "It's all about accessibil-
ity," he says. "That's why we chose the Internet."
The controversial nature of the agency's role led to several years of
debate and delays. Some members of the European Parliament felt the
agency should be more involved in making sure member states have
properly applied EU laws. Critics say information regarding good
health and safety practice as well known, but not well practiced.
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