Efforts to improve the safety and health conditions of over 200 million workers in Latin America and the Caribbean have taken a major step forward with the agreement of the Inter-American Agency for Cooperation and Development (IACD), of the Organization of American States (OAS), to join the on-line information network of the European Agency for Safety and Health at Work.

The joint Web site will serve as a portal for occupational safety and health information and activities in the region and provide direct access to the Agency’s European and international information network. At the same time the two organizations have agreed to look at how horizontal cooperation projects could be developed and implemented in the future.

Commenting on the arrangement, the Director of the European Agency, Hans-Horst Konkolewsky, said: "Workplace safety and health is a matter of global concern and geographical barriers should not stand in the way of the flow of information that can raise safety and health standards in workplaces across the world. Through this cooperation arrangement, businesses, workers and experts in Europe and the Americas will be better informed in the future about regulatory demands, new research findings and best practices on both sides of the Atlantic. And therefore be in a better position to meet the safety and health challenges of globalization."

IACD Director General Ronald Scheman, commented: "An exploding labour force, high levels of unemployment and the growing number of workers in the informal sector in many OAS's member countries has seriously affected occupational safety and health conditions. The IACD in coordination with the OAS's Unit for Social Development and Education is committed to assisting member countries to develop good workplace safety and health practices and legislation by identifying successful consolidated programs and transferring experiences and know-how. Our link up with the European Agency provides access to one of the world’s largest repositories of occupational safety and health information."

Press release from the European Agency at http://agency.osha.eu.int/news/press_releases/en/20_11_2003/index.htm.