Being a world class health and safety laboratory is at the heart
of HSL's vision. To enhance and promote HSL's reputation and
capabilities we are continually strengthening our links with
scientific and technical organisations both nationally and
internationally. We currently have formal collaborative agreements
with 20 scientific organisations in the UK and overseas and
extensive informal networks throughout the world.
Some examples of HSL's collaborating arrangements are described
below:
World Health Organisation (WHO)
InterLab Forum
Partnership for European Research in Occupational
Safety and Health (PEROSH)
Healthy Work Matters Group
World Health Organisation (WHO)
HSL is
designated as a World Health Organisation (WHO) Collaborating
Centre for Occupational Health and Safety Research. One area of
HSL's work had been afforded collaborating status for a number of
years, and in 2003 this was extended to incorporate all of HSL's
activities.
This allows HSL to:
• Provide advisory services to WHO.
• Assist WHO in the development of educational material.
• Undertake research of interest to WHO.
• Assist the WHO European Office on issues relating to workers'
health.
• Participate in the network of WHO Collaborating Centres.
In particular, this status greatly increases our networking
capability and should provide reassurance on the quality of HSL
scientific advice.
World Health
Organisation website
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InterLab Forum
The Interlab Forum was established in 2006 as the vehicle
through which six key public sector research establishments could
develop and enhance the nation's capability in emergency response
and disease control through sharing knowledge. They are:
The laboratories share a common objective of providing science
and technology-based research and advice to policy makers in
Government, to other public and private sector organisations and in
some cases direct to the public. Between them they can bring to
bear the expertise of over 9,000 scientists, technologists and
engineers, many with international reputations as leaders in their
field.
Forum members use their extensive partnering networks to
maximise the opportunities that exist for knowledge transfer and
exploitation of intellectual property. In all cases they are
committed to scientific excellence and ensuring best value in the
work they do.
Areas of common interest include:
- Emergency response - covering response modes to emergency
situations, capabilities and surge capacity.
- Modelling and simulation - of disease control, climatic change
and resource management.
- Detection, decontamination and remediation - of hazardous
materials, dangerous pathogens and ionising radiation.
- Animal health research facilities and telemetry.
Examples of high profile collaborative projects have
included:
- The 2009 Swine Flu Pandemic. HPA led the UK
response to the pandemic supported on the veterinary side by VLA.
Emergency response support was provided by Cefas and Dstl.
- Highly pathogenic avian flu outbreak in a Suffolk
turkey farm in February 2007. VLA led on the emergency
response with back-up investigation and high containment facilities
provided by Fera and the HPA.
- Exposure/contamination of polonium 210 following the
poisoning of Alexander Litvinenko in November 2006. HPA
led on the health implications of the poisoning, with an emergency
testing capacity provided by Cefas and VLA.
- The Buncefield fire in 2005. HPA and HSL
provided large scale sampling of air quality, which confirmed
minimal risk to public health and surrounding communities and Dstl
provided gas modelling.
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Partnership for European Research in Occupational Safety and
Health (PEROSH)
HSL is a
founder member of the Partnership for European Research in
Occupational Safety and Health (PEROSH) which is a network of
twelve occupational safety and health research institutes from
across Europe. The partnership aims to strengthen collaboration by
sharing research results and pooling expertise, to promote
knowledge transfer between institutes and beyond, and to strengthen
the social dialogue in occupational health matters in Europe.
PEROSH will operate via 'scientific pillars'. The initial three
pillars are: work organisation, risk perception and management, and
emerging issues.
PEROSH
website
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Healthy Work Matters Group
The Healthy Work Matters Group (formerly known as
the Sheffield Occupational Health Development Group - SOHDG) is a
partnership between the Sheffield Health Authority, local
industries, the Health and Safety Executive (HSE), the Health and
Safety Laboratory (HSL), Primary Care Groups (GPs), Universities,
the NHS and Trade Unions.
The aim of the group is to raise awareness about the effects of
work on health, and the effects of health on fitness to work for
employees, employers, safety representatives and health
professionals through network meetings, newsletters and the Healthy
Work Matters website. This website aims to provide support,
help and advice to employers, employees and employee
representatives from small to medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).
Healthy Work Matters website