Good Practice in Health Environment and Safety Management in Enterprise GP HESME

Implementation of GP HESME in City of Lodz and in the Lodz Region

In response to the invitation of the Member States in section 36 of the London Declaration the WHO Regional Office for Europe has undertaken an international programme on “Health, environment and safety management in enterprises” (HESME). The programme uses the holistic and participatory approach as presented in the 1999 London Ministerial Conference document “Towards good practice in health, environment and safety management (GPHESM) in industrial and other enterprises" (www.who.nl).The proposed health, environment and safety management system in enterprises is expected to enable the employer in collaboration with its employees to:

• reduce the rate of injuries, diseases and illnesses caused or aggravated in the working population by occupational, environmental, life style and social health determinants,
• maintain work ability and employability of employees
• ensure effective use of natural resources with prevention of environmental pollution.

Technical support provided to enterprises by the occupational health services is one of the essential prerequisites for implementation of GP HESME to follow, in general, recommendations in: the ILO Convention No. 161 on Occupational Health Services, the WHO Global Strategy for Occupational Health for All, and the EU Council Directive (89/391/EEC).

To ensure the implementation of GP HESME on the local level in the Lodz region the following activities have been undertaken in year 2000:

• Thanks to Prof. Baranski (WHO/EURO) initiative on September 8^th 2000, the seminar was organized in Lodz to discuss the needs and possibilities of GP HESME implementation in the City. The meeting was organized by WHO, Club of Professional Managers (NGO), NIOM, TNOiK with active participation of City Authorities (City Council Member Dr Panas), representatives of state inspections (sanitary, labor and environment inspectors). More than 40 managers actively participated in the seminar. The consensus on the general idea of GP HESME in Lodz region was achieved and active support of the participants was declared.
• Referring to WHO collaborating Centers meeting on GP HESME criteria and indicators which took place in Lodz September 11-13^th, the results of the seminar would be of importance during implementation GP HESME in the region,
• The School of Public Health (NIOM) – postgraduate courses, has prepared educational program for managerial staff on GP HESME.

The mentioned activities are planned for three years. The first year will be devoted to implementing GP HESME on local level in the city of Lodz and establishing selected research projects that would enable to help in practical activities. NIOM would be the center for research and training. During second year – irrespectively from continuation of previous activities – postgraduate training institution – based on NIOM School of Public Health – will launch its activities. Also the national level initiatives would be developed. The third year – will be the year of evaluation and continuation those selected activities which would be proven as the most effective ones.