First online
Status of the
5th edition of the Encyclopaedia of
Occupational Health and Safety
PD Dr.sc.nat. Michael Riediker
Head research group particles and health at IST
(and Encyclopaedia chapter editor “nanotechnology”)
Geneva, joint WHO-CC and ILO-Meeting, 2009-10-21
The First Edition of 1930
At the Dawn of the Great Depression,
A small cluster of doctors, lawyers, industrial hygienists and governmental
professionals…
– collected the best thinking reflecting the state of the art of their time in
2 volumes
– for anyone who could read
– In global economic depression they saved lives
– Physician, ask your patient first: “What is your work?” (Ramazzini, 18th Century)
Based on slide provided by Ilise Feitshans
The current 4th Edition
– Produced with the
collaboration of thousands
of recognized experts
– from over 50 countries;
– the private and public
sectors,
– academia and industry,
– labour and management
– 1,000 articles,
complemented by over
1,000 tables
Based on slide provided by Ilise Feitshans
Goal for 5th Edition: Completely web based
– The 5th edition of the Encyclopaedia
will be electronic.
– located on the ILO web site
– Additionally, CD-ROMs and servers
outside the ILO (subject to agreement with outside
information providers).
– The 5th edition will feature natural
language search terms, such as:
“Research to practice”
Based on slide provided by Ilise Feitshans
2008-2009 Achievements 5th edition preparation
– Without budget or staff, building on good will among
established professionals
– Recruitment of Steering committee members and
International Advisory Committees
– 3 Sample Chapters in progress: Emergency
Response, Lighting and Nanotechnology
– Funds raised, sponsors on board
– Two new CIS Centres inspired by interaction with
5th edition staff
– MoU with ASSE will exchange of experts and allow
expert meetings during their conferences at no cost
to ILO
Based on slide provided by Ilise Feitshans
6
Basic idea for the web-based edition
Goal
– Web-based
collaboration
– Distributed work
– Modules that link to
each other
– Volunteer-effort
-> Open-source
community as a
functioning model
Workflow
Define
goals for
next
version
Publish
new,
archive
old
version
Work on
next
version
Review
and
finalize
7
Proposed* concept to create a chapter (content)
*) Concept proposed by Michael Riediker and agreed by Ilise Feitshans, Mark Hoover and Roger Rosa in Feb. 2009
Write articles
• Eds. review
input, develops
Draft
task list and
chapter
revise input
• Recruitment of • Authors write
Define
authors
sub-chapter,
chapter
• Sub-chapter
joint glossary &
links
• Chapter editor authors write
briefs,
glossary
proposes
Identify chapter outline & links
chapter • Approval by
ILO
• Propose
Encyclopaedia
chapter
Steering
• Recruit
Committee
editor
Complete
chapter
• Eds. review
and suggest
revisions
• Approval by
ILO
Encyclopedia
Steering
Committee
8
Example: Chapter Nanotechnology (ed. = MR)
Properties of nanomaterials and –objects
• Physico-chemical properties of nanomaterials and –objects
Sub-chapter author: Expert with background in chemistry and physics
This sub-chapter provides an overview on the physico-chemical characteristics
of nanomaterials and objects. Specifically, it describes which properties change
with smaller size (or only appear at this size-range), and it explains how this
affects their potential use for various physical, chemical, optical, electrical, and
mechanical applications. It provides background information for several other
chapters.
•…
…
•…
Use of web-based tools
Authors
• Create brief
• Define glossary
(important terms)
• Define links
(from where, to where)
Editor
• Review briefs
(together with all authors)
• Define tasks
• Joint glossary
• Up- &down-links
Authors
• Write article
• Work off tasks
• With other authors
- Glossary
- Links
9
Challenges and open questions
Procedures
– How to speed up process of describing the current state of
knowledge (presentation of facts => review instead of approval?)
– How to identify, develop and present policy implications resulting
from scientific facts (tripartite discussions needed -> could this be
a separate ILO project?)
– How to best integrate results from ongoing CC-projects (e.g.
“automatic” update of chapters with most relevant output)
Process
– Editorial web-tools (with support) not yet available
– Proposed concept needs to be approved by ILO
– Commitment from ILO / WHO is now needed
Merci pour votre attention
Pour toute information complémentaire:
michael.riediker@hospvd.ch ou ilise@prodigy.net
www.i-s-t.ch
Disclosure of interests: My research group receives funding from public sources.
European Commission
7th Framework Programme