NIOSH, European Agency Launch Joint Web Site as Global Portal

Contact: Fred Blosser (202) 401-3749

The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), and the Bilbao-based European Agency for Safety and Health at Work have launched a new joint Web site.

The site follows the structure and presentation of the European Agency's Web site network and represents a significant contribution to the creation of a global portal to workplace safety and health information. As well as linking directly to European Union (EU) information, the site is a rich source of occupational safety and health information in the United States.

The common Web site will provide the occupational safety and health community with improved access and sharing of the vast pool of European and American OSH expertise and research. "In today's global economy such cooperation and partnership is not only a need, it is a must," said Dr. Max Lum, Director of the Office of Health Communication, NIOSH.

The Director of the European Agency, Hans-Horst Konkolewsky, added: "The Agency's online network already includes health and safety organisations from Australia, Canada, USA and Japan. With such a significant new partner as NIOSH, the expanded network will be a leading international hub for safety and health information."

The EU/NIOSH Web site is available at: http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/usnetwork/.

Press contacts:

The contact for media inquiries in Europe is Marek Kosarczyn, Press Officer, European Agency for Safety and Health at Work, email: kosarczyn@osha.eu.int, tel: +34 94 479 43 86. Other inquiries may be directed to the European Agency for Safety and Health at Work, Gran Via 33, E-48009 Bilbao, Spain, email: information@osha.eu.int, fax: +34 94 479 4383.

The European Agency for Safety and Health at Work was set up by the European Union to help meet information needs in the field of occupational safety and health. Based in Bilbao, Spain, the Agency aims to improve the lives of people at work by stimulating the flow of technical, scientific and economic information between all those involved in occupational safety and health issues.

The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), is the federal agency in the U.S. responsible for conducting research and making recommendations for the prevention of work-related injury and illness. NIOSH is part of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

The European Agency's Web site acts as a gateway to an ever-increasing amount of safety and health information for such as workers, employers, practitioners and experts. Starting at the Agency's home page http://agency.osha.eu.int links connect to 25 national Web sites maintained by the Agency's Focal Points, 3 EFTA countries, 2 Candidate countries and 2 international organizations plus, 4 trade partners.