Background and justification

Adequate access to information is a basic tenet of occupational safety and health because the social partners and practitioners need technical information to recognise and control workplace hazards. Information is also needed to promote coordination and to avoid duplication, for example in the planning of research projects, and action for change.

Despite the need, the southern African region has inadequate access to information on many aspects of occupational safety and health. This inadequacy has been recognised by SADC and one partial solution was to establish an occupational health Clearing House at the NIOH to serve SADC member countries. The Clearing House was formally requested at a SADC Health Sector meeting in Johannesburg in 2000. The Clearing House is to collate and disseminate information on a) OSH legislation and policies in SADC member nations; b) OSH training in the region; c) OSH research in the region; d) OSH projects and programmes supported by international agencies or in collaboration with countries outside the region; and e) practical solutions to regional OSH issues with particular emphasis on pesticides, informal enterprises and the elimination of silicosis. One mechanism to support the collation and distribution of information is a network of professionals active in OSH in the public and private sectors and in organisations supporting the social partners and communities. One objective of the Clearing House is to maintain such a network of OSH professionals.

The Clearing House has been established but several changes and amerioration is needed to correspond to the demands.

Objective

Comprehensive OSH information available from the NIOH Clearing House on professional training, research programmes, international development programmes and relevant laws and policies in all SADC countries by the end of year three.

Indicators for objectives attainment

- By end of year one, recommendations for improving the NIOH Clearing House are established
- By end of year three improvements are implemented, and comprehensive information is available in all SADC countries

Activities

- An audit of the NIOH Clearing House will be conducted by the Regional programme director and an expert from the NIWL or SNIPH
- Recommendations to improve the Clearing House will be developed by the audit team together with the NIOH, SADC, clients of the Clearing House and international agencies supporting the Clearing House, including ILO and WHO
- A follow-up audit will be conducted by mid year three by the Regional programme director and an expert from the NIWL or SNIPH

Target groups

Target groups are the Director of NIOH and its staff, the clients of the Clearing House (OSH professionals and institutions, enterprises, trade unions and governmental agencies) and international agencies supporting the Clearing House, including ILO and WHO.