Facilitating project document

FACILITATING PROJECTS FOR OBJECTIVE 4

FACILITING PROJECT (administrative) Work plan project number	GPA 4.1: Encourage practical research on emerging issues, including nanomaterials and climate change. Climate change projects are included in this Facilitating Project
Facilitating Project title	Climate change and Workers Health
GPA Objective	Objective 4: To provide and communicate evidence for action and practice
GPA Action	4.21 Research on workers’ health needs to be further strengthened, in particular by framing special research agendas, giving it priority in national research programmes and grant schemes, and fostering practical and participatory research.
Priority Area	Priority 4.1b: Encourage practical research on emerging issues, including climate change.
Purpose of facilitating project	To collate and summarise current evidence of the potential effects of climate change on workers health to help inform future research on this important emerging topic area.
GPA Managers	Jo Harris-Roberts, Ed Robinson
CC Initiative Leaders and contact information	Jo Harris-Roberts ([e-mail]) Ed Robinson ([e-mail]) (HSL, UK)
WHO responsible person	Ivan Ivanov
Collaborating centre partners with separate contributing PROJECTS (List CC, project title, project number, project leader, and email)	Emerging Area 2: Climate change Federal Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (BAuA), Germany IGNIS - Income generation and climate by valorising municipal solid wastes in a sustainable way in emerging megacities (GPA4.21s) Daniela Bleck [e-mail] Safe Work Australia Emerging OHS issues associated with climate change (GPA4.21ap) Dr Peta Miller [e-mail] Health and Safety Laboratory, UK The impact of climate change on workers health (GPA4.21ak) Dr Jo Harris-Roberts [e-mail] IRSST, Canada Impact of climate change on occupational health and safety (4.21ar) Mr. Joseph Zayed SGU (St. George's University), Grenada Energy for Sustainable Development in the Caribbean Dr. H. Sealy [e-mail] Note: JNIOSH (Japan, [e-mail]) is due to submit a climate change related project template for inclusion in due course. Details to follow in next project compendium updates.
WHO Regional offices actively involved in this project (name and email)	EURO
Summary of the facilitating project (max 100 words)	Climate change represents a key emerging issue that will have implications on global health and safety. The programmes of work within this facilitating project will contribute to the identification, colleciton and summary of current evidence of the potential effects of climate change on workers health, identify needs and gaps to help inform future research on this important emerging topic area.
Anticipated deliverables by 2012 from contributing projects	GPA4.21s: In the competence and training centre the compiled results are spread and used. Special transfer studies will try to find out how aspects of IGNIS can be transferred to other Megacities and introduce, if necessary, a transfer of technology and information. The utilization of (part) aspects is held in an utilization plan. Flyer: http://www.emerging-megacities.org/(S(wibgz245hoxn5smduubwynn4))/download/flyer-hauptphase/flyer_future_megacities_addis_ababa.pdf GPA4.21ap: Raised awareness of the emerging OHS issues associated with climate change among Australian and South Pacific workers and persons conducting business undertakings, and the development of Australia OHS Regulations on the management of heat as a hazard. Our research also aims to assist OHS policy makers within Safe Work Australia and internationally to identify and implement climate change mitigation and adaptation measures and priorities for workers. GPA4.21aq: A clearer picture of the research needs on the topic with a focus on both developed and developing countries GPA4.21ar: Greater scientific knowledge of the impacts of climate change on OHS. Suggested avenues for future research. IRSST to become a reference centre for Climate Change research GPA4.21au: Energy for Sustainable Development in the Caribbean. Feasibility assessment for renewable energy (solar, wind, etc.) and energy efficient buildings in the region. Job satisfaction and work environment evaluations in office and public buildings after implementation of the project are planned for 2012. Reduce carbon footprint in the region. Other outcomes may arise from new contributing projects that may also provide valuable input into this theme.
Critical Gaps to be filled by 2012 in order to fulfil GPA priorities (these lead to deliverables desired by 2012)	Clear understanding of the issues facing workers of both developed and developing countries Knowledge of the previous and current research in the topic area
Examples of deliverables desired by 2012 to adequately assist developing countries. It is these deliverables for which we will seek projects from CCs	A position paper on the current situation regarding climate change and workers health. Guidelines for countries to take forwards that will provide a summary of potential hazards, examples of how this is being addressed elsewhere and recommendations for action to implement own strategies for addressing the issue of climate change.
Barriers to success that must be addressed	Raising the profile of this topic and gaining the support of government departments, industry and academia to ensure the findings are acted upon