BELGIUM

ANPI-NVBB

Parc Scientifique,
1348 Louvain-la-Neuve, Belgium

Tel: 00 32 10 47 5211
Fax: 0032 10 47 5270

Information Contact: J Driessens

Status: National association

Principle functions and activities: ANPI-NVBB is the Belgian national fire and intrusion protection association. A team of inspectors examines fire detection, fire extinguishing and smoke exhaust installations for correct use, maintenance and modification. The Laboratories test and award certificates of accreditation for fire protection equipment. Organises seminars in the field of fire and intrusion protection and runs courses providing training to clients from industry, commerce and public bodies.

Major publications: The ANPI/NVBB magazine is published in French and Dutch. Edits other technical publications.



EUROPEAN CENTRE FOR ECOTOXICOLOGY AND TOXICOLOGY OF CHEMICALS (ECETOC)

Av. E. Van Nieuwenhuyse 4, bte 6,
B-1160, Brussels, Belgium

Tel: 00 32 2 675 3600 Fax: 00 32 2 675 3625

Secretary General: Dr F M Carpanini Publications Sales: Mrs M De Mesmaeker.

Status: Non-profit making international association established under Belgian law. Membership is open to all companies/organisations with a registered office in Europe.

Principal functions and activities: The association co-operates in a scientific context with intergovernmental agencies, governments, health authorities, other public and professional institutions with interests in ecotoxicological and toxicological issues relating to chemicals. The object of the association is to procure all types of information relevant to the protection of the health of any person who may come into contact with chemicals and the reduction of the ecological impact of the manufacture, processing and use of chemicals. The association endeavours to achieve its objectives by co-ordinating efforts of chemical manufacturers, processors and users to study and attempt to resolve the ecological and toxicological problems which may result from the manufacture, processing and use of chemicals.

Major publications: There are three major series: monographs, which address broad issues and review the topic; technical reports, which address narrow issues; joint assessment of commodity chemicals (JACC reports). A publication list is available.



EUROPEAN TRADE UNION TECHNICAL BUREAU FOR HEALTH AND SAFETY (TUTB)
(BUREAU TECHNIQUE SYNDICAL EUROPÉEN POUR LA SANTÉ ET LA SÉCURITÉ) (BTS)

155, Bd E. Jacqmain,
B1210 Brussels, Belgium

Tel: 00 32 2 224 0560
Fax: 00 32 2 224 0561

Director: M Sapir. Information Officer: Ms J Delahaut

Status: International association, under Belgian law.

Principal functions and activities: To fulfil its task of promoting a high level of health and safety in Europe and of contributing to the joint action of the trade unions in this field, the TUTB has set itself the following work orientations:

• to establish an information system on the community work in the field of health and safety;

• to provide technical support to the representatives of the workers involved in the standardisation work and to create with these representatives a European network of trade union experts;

• to contribute, in co-operation with the ETUC, the European Industry Committees and the Workers' Group of the Advisory Committee in Luxembourg, to the community work in the field of health and safety through studies, conferences, expert reports and training;

• to contribute as expert to the advisory duties of the ETUC on the Commission proposals, particularly in the fields of limit values, general product safety and machines. In the context of its objectives, the TUTB is entitled to undertake studies and research in the fields concerning health and safety at work. Some have taken the concrete form either of studies, in particular on occupational health and safety services in EEC and EFTA countries; or of conferences, including one on prevention in the workplace as the Community Framework Directive comes into force; or of speeches and training on the Community policy in the field of health and safety. The research programme is established parallel to the action programme of the Commission, which provides for the preparation of directives based on articles 100A and 118A of the Treaty concerning health and safety. The approach of the TUTB is intended to be multidisciplinary in order to cover the various fields of European legislation in the field of health and safety. The TUTB has at its disposal a team of multidisciplinary scientific personnel covering the following aspects.: monitoring and assessment of harmful agents (chemical and biological); design of mechanical and electromechanical equipment (including the ergonomic and safety aspects); ergonomics and quality of the work environment (working rate, physical and psychological factors, organisation of work). The TUTB is setting up a network of trade union experts to follow the work of CEN on the horizontal standards (those which concern several products). The scope of the TUTB in these subjects covers in particular the fields coming under the present standardisation mandates of the Commission of the EC, based on the directives adopted: machines, personal protective equipment, visual display units. The TUTB is introducing a documentary management system of documents from the Community institutions - the Commission, Parliament, Economic and Social Committee and Council - as well as of CEN/CENELEC and EFTA. The TUTB is also engaged in setting up a technical library gathering together the reference documents existing in its three working languages: English, French and German. This will have access to the principal computer data banks existing in the fields of standards and health and safety.