Petr Markl, AIHCE 2001 New Orleans, LA

Internet Connectivity Internet Connectivity Among Czech Among Czech Occupational Health and Occupational Health and Safety CommunitySafety Community

ConclusionConclusion

The Czech OHS community is ready The Czech OHS community is ready to use the Internet to exchange to use the Internet to exchange current occupational health and current occupational health and safety informationsafety information

Czech Republic - Basic Czech Republic - Basic DataData

• A small country - in the Heart of EuropeA small country - in the Heart of Europe

• More than 10 million inhabitantsMore than 10 million inhabitants

• Workforce of 5.5 million peopleWorkforce of 5.5 million people

• About 10,000 OHS practitionersAbout 10,000 OHS practitioners

• European Union (EU) membership European Union (EU) membership candidatecandidate

Czech Occupational Czech Occupational Health and Safety Health and Safety AuthoritiesAuthorities

• Ministry of Labor and Social AffairsMinistry of Labor and Social Affairs

• Ministry of HealthMinistry of Health

• Ministry of the InteriorMinistry of the Interior

• Ministry of the EnvironmentMinistry of the Environment

Main Occupational Health Main Occupational Health and Safety Regulationsand Safety Regulations

• The Labor codeThe Labor code

• The Fire Prevention codeThe Fire Prevention code

• The Public Health Prevention codeThe Public Health Prevention code

• The Chemical Substances and Mixtures The Chemical Substances and Mixtures codecode

• Harmonization with EU directivesHarmonization with EU directives

Czech Internet todayCzech Internet today

• About 25% of population have accessAbout 25% of population have access

• Usual speeds vary from 28.8 to 256 Usual speeds vary from 28.8 to 256 kb/seckb/sec

• Fast growing wireless technologyFast growing wireless technology

• Huge investments in telecommunicationsHuge investments in telecommunications

• 'Internet in every school' program'Internet in every school' program

Who and What Is on the Who and What Is on the Web?Web?

• Czech Office of Work Safety - no Czech Office of Work Safety - no pages!pages!

• Ministry of the Interior - regulationsMinistry of the Interior - regulations

• Ministry of Health - focuses on hygieneMinistry of Health - focuses on hygiene

• Limited information on chemicalsLimited information on chemicals

• No norms or standards available onlineNo norms or standards available online

CZSAFETY - mailing listCZSAFETY - mailing list

• Established in Fall 1996Established in Fall 1996

• Started with 4 membersStarted with 4 members

• Promoted via OHS magazines in 2000Promoted via OHS magazines in 2000

• 4 to 5 new members monthly4 to 5 new members monthly

• Now a total of 96 membersNow a total of 96 members

• 86 members are from the Czech 86 members are from the Czech RepublicRepublic

““Safety News“ NewsletterSafety News“ Newsletter

• Established in Summer 1999Established in Summer 1999

• Provides free safety info by e-mailProvides free safety info by e-mail

• Promoted via OHS magazines in 2000Promoted via OHS magazines in 2000

• 15 to 20 new members monthly15 to 20 new members monthly

• Now a total of 398 membersNow a total of 398 members

Who are members of Who are members of CZSAFETY List?CZSAFETY List?

• 70% local OHS practitioners70% local OHS practitioners

• 10% members of local OHS 10% members of local OHS authoritiesauthorities

• 4% OHS practitioners from abroad4% OHS practitioners from abroad

• 8% are actively participating8% are actively participating

• 20% are OHS consultants20% are OHS consultants

CZSAFETY List CZSAFETY List membershipmembership

1624

31

48

72

96

0

20

40

60

80

100

120

1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001

CZSAFETY membership CZSAFETY membership expectationsexpectations

• Accommodate 200 members by Accommodate 200 members by 20032003

• Become a premier tool for Become a premier tool for exchanging OHS informationexchanging OHS information

'Safety News' 'Safety News' membership structuremembership structure

• 60% OHS practitioners nationwide60% OHS practitioners nationwide

• 20% small and middle sized 20% small and middle sized companiescompanies

• 20% other interested parties20% other interested parties

• 'Safety News' is a good alternative'Safety News' is a good alternative

'Safety News' 'Safety News' membershipmembership

050

100150200250300350400450

III/ 99 IV/ 99 I/ 00 II/ 00 III/ 00 IV/ 00 I/ 01 II/ 01

'Safety News' 'Safety News' expectationsexpectations

• 600 members by the year 2003600 members by the year 2003

• Change to web-based electronic Change to web-based electronic newsletternewsletter

• Start a new web-based safety magazine Start a new web-based safety magazine in 2002in 2002

• Be an alternative choice to paper OHS Be an alternative choice to paper OHS magazinesmagazines

Internet questionnaireInternet questionnaire

• Standard electronic formStandard electronic form

• Filled upon requestFilled upon request

• Filled while subscribing to 'Safety Filled while subscribing to 'Safety News' News'

• A total of 132 responses receivedA total of 132 responses received

Questionnaire results ...Questionnaire results ...

What information is missing?What information is missing?

• Concise OHS informationConcise OHS information

• Easy access to safety regulationsEasy access to safety regulations

• Basic hazard summaries for chemicalsBasic hazard summaries for chemicals

• Risk assessment methodsRisk assessment methods

Questionnaire results … Questionnaire results …

What information is needed most?What information is needed most?

• Risk assessment in workplacesRisk assessment in workplaces

• OHS program managementOHS program management

• Confined space entriesConfined space entries

• Selection of the PPESelection of the PPE

• ErgonomicsErgonomics

Questionnaire results …Questionnaire results …

• Most have difficulties with searchesMost have difficulties with searches

• 95% are unable to read English95% are unable to read English

• 30% dislike long waiting-times30% dislike long waiting-times

Questionnaire results …Questionnaire results …

• 25% use Internet to search for OHS 25% use Internet to search for OHS infoinfo

• 80% is willing to share OHS 80% is willing to share OHS experienceexperience

OHS on-line experienceOHS on-line experience

• e-business is growing fast but:e-business is growing fast but:

• the OHS audience is smallthe OHS audience is small

ConclusionConclusion

The Czech OHS community is ready The Czech OHS community is ready to use the Internet to exchange to use the Internet to exchange current occupational health and current occupational health and safety informationsafety information