Developments in European information issues: Networks and relays – Services – Products, April 2002

EU and ILO co-operation on health and safety

The International Labour Organization and the EU, through the European Agency for Safety and Health at Work (EASHW), are co-operating in the provision of occupational health and safety information through the launch of a new joint web site at http://www.ilo.org/public/english/protection/euportal/. The EASHW has also set up a new initiative to educate workers and employers on safe procedures by establishing an online good practice guide on its own web site at http://europe.osha.eu.int. Click on the good practice heading in the menu on the left and select one of the sub-sections which include an online forum, awards, information by type of risk or by sector, and a country approach covering individual EU member states, the EFTA countries, Australia, Canada and the United States. Further links are provided to sources of practical information worldwide.

Enlargement web site for translators

The linguistic impact of enlargement cannot be underestimated. With the imminent addition of a possible ten new member countries, the number of language permutations rockets. A new web site has been launched aimed in particular at recruiting translators in the applicant states. It explains the need for additional translators, how to apply, the work of freelance staff and the requirements of the different institutions. Visit http://europa.eu.int/translation_enlargement/index_en.htm for full details.

Eurobarometer's new address

The Eurobarometer public opinion polls have moved from their outdated DG10 address and can now be found at http://europa.eu.int/comm/public_opinion. The site offers the full electronic text of the standard Eurobarometer reports dating, in the archives, from no.44, 1995 as well as the special reports series, the candidate countries report (only one for Autumn 2001 to date), the flash reports and the qualitative studies series. The flash reports are telephone surveys on themes chosen by the Commission or one of the other institutions. They can be conducted quickly - in fact you may have been at the receiving end of one! - and they make it possible to target specific groups. The qualitative studies are much more in-depth surveys about people's feelings and reactions where the data may be gathered in focus or discussion groups. These may be very substantial reports but often summary versions are also available. As well as access to information on the site by report series and number, there is also a search facility where subject terms can be entered.