The World Health Organization (WHO) is turning to the Internet to help distribute occupational health and safety information around the world.

This is just one of several hundred projects detailed in the Compendium of Activities of the WHO Collaborating Centres in Occupational Health released in September 2003.

All of the projects support the priorities of the WHO's Global Strategy on Occupational Health for All, the framework for the WHO’s work in occupational safety and health.

The WHO's Global Strategy lists eight major priorities to combat traditional and emerging health issues and boost prevention:

1. Promoting healthy work environments
2. Strengthening international and national policies for health at work
3. Establishment of appropriate support services for occupational health
4. Developing occupational health standards based on scientific risk assessment
5. Developing human resources
6. Establishing registration and data systems and information support
7. Strengthening research
8. Strengthening occupational health services

More than 300 projects, pursued by 62 of the WHO’s 70 collaborating partners, are to deliver on this strategy over the next three years.

Key projects include:

* Fostering new, intensive partnerships in Africa
* Monitoring and implementing an International Labour Organization Convention to eliminate the worst forms of child labour, including slavery
* Eliminating silicosis
* Improving working conditions of health care workers
* Tackling psychosocial factors at work, such as violence and stress
* Promoting OH&S in small and informal enterprises
* Enhancing preventative technologies

You are invited to review the global strategy and the collaborator projects and consider how you too may participate in this global mission.