GENEVA, October 2009 Presented by P.K. Abeytunga, MSc., PhD Vice-President and Director General www.ccohs.ca Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety The Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety (CCOHS) is an active long standing member of both the ILO’s CIS Centres Network and WHO’s Collaborating Centres Network. P.K. Abeytunga abey@ccohs.ca 1-800-668-4284 www.ccohs.ca Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety Today I have been asked to talk about: Benefits of networking Concrete opportunities for the ILO and WHO networks to work together A specific occupational health and safety issue that network members collaborated to make successful. P.K. Abeytunga abey@ccohs.ca 1-800-668-4284 www.ccohs.ca Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety Benefits of Networking P.K. Abeytunga abey@ccohs.ca 1-800-668-4284 www.ccohs.ca Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety Networks There are many types of networks. For example: •Business Networks •Social Networks •Biological Networks •Technological Networks, etc. P.K. Abeytunga abey@ccohs.ca 1-800-668-4284 www.ccohs.ca Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety WHO CC Network and CIS Centres Network The WHO CCs Network and the CIS Centres Network are both organizational networks. Specifically, they are both, “International Co-operative Networks” in which the membership consist of selected organizations on occupational health and safety. P.K. Abeytunga abey@ccohs.ca 1-800-668-4284 www.ccohs.ca Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety Purpose The overall purpose of both networks is to promote and advance workplace health, safety and well being globally. P.K. Abeytunga abey@ccohs.ca 1-800-668-4284 www.ccohs.ca Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety Benefits Facilitate: A more equitable distribution of relevant information Sharing of know how, expertise, resources, experiences among centres Working together to raise the profile of workplace health and safety collaborative research Bi-lateral, multi-lateral technical cooperation on projects among institutions from different countries Partnerships among institutions P.K. Abeytunga abey@ccohs.ca 1-800-668-4284 www.ccohs.ca Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety Benefits (cont’d) Promote: Technical cooperation among institutions Raising awareness on issues Mutual support among centres Sharing of education, training, resources and techniques Multi-centre projects Opportunities to learn from the work and experience of others A better understanding of issues, their impact, possible solutions, best practices. P.K. Abeytunga abey@ccohs.ca 1-800-668-4284 www.ccohs.ca Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety Opportunities Opportunities for the ILO and WHO Networks to work together P.K. Abeytunga abey@ccohs.ca 1-800-668-4284 www.ccohs.ca Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety Technology Technology plays a pivotal role in realizing optimum benefits from the Networks. ILO and WHO Networks, both centrally orchestrated are able to undertake a well planned, and carefully managed systematic programme toward achieving their objectives. P.K. Abeytunga abey@ccohs.ca 1-800-668-4284 www.ccohs.ca Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety Together Together, through close communication, joint undertakings, sharing, transparency and active collaboration there are huge opportunities to accomplish much more than what each network can achieve separately. P.K. Abeytunga abey@ccohs.ca 1-800-668-4284 www.ccohs.ca Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety Joint Undertakings For example, through joint undertakings: Raise the profile of workplace health, safety and well being globally Develop technological capabilities and instruments together for shared use Undertake joint projects and programs involving and benefiting from the competencies of members from both networks Avoid duplication Increase outreach and impact through regional efforts of both the ILO and WHO P.K. Abeytunga abey@ccohs.ca 1-800-668-4284 www.ccohs.ca Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety SUCCESS STORY Specific issue of success by a Network • Raising the profile of workplace health, safety and well being globally P.K. Abeytunga abey@ccohs.ca 1-800-668-4284 www.ccohs.ca Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety Role of WHO CCs The role played by the WHO Collaborating Centre Network in: Global Strategy on Occupational Health for All endorsed by the World Health Assembly in 1996 Global Plan of Action for Workers Health endorsed by the World Health Assembly in 2007, and The series of Work plans of the Global Network in advancing the profile and performance in workplace health, safety and well being globally. P.K. Abeytunga abey@ccohs.ca 1-800-668-4284 www.ccohs.ca Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety Thank You For further information contact Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety Hamilton, Ontario, Canada Phone: 905-572-2981 Ext. 4537 E-mail: abey@ccohs.ca P.K. Abeytunga abey@ccohs.ca 1-800-668-4284 www.ccohs.ca Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety Fax: 905-572-4419 Web Site: www.ccohs.ca