Press release
European Work Hazards Network concerned over development in Austria
03 April 2000
The Steering Committee of the European Work Hazards Network, in its spring 2000 meeting 31 March – 02 April 2000 in Vienna, Austria, voiced serious concern over recents the developments in the Austrian system of health protection at workplaces. Particularly the fact that the Labour Inspection, the authority charged with inspection workplaces, is no longer part of the Ministry of Social Affairs, Health, but was incorporated into the Ministry of Economy, causes questions.
The Steering Committee expressed its solidarity with Austrian workers affected by a possible lowering of standards of inspection, as well as with the labour inspectors threatened by this move, and took part in the protest demonstration that took place in front of the Ministry of Social Affairs on 01 April 2000.
The European Work Hazards Network is made up by some 1200 experts (safety engineers, occupational doctors, scientists, labour inspectors) and trade unionists, shop stewards, and safety reps. Presently the secretary of the network is Jim SWAN of Edinburgh, Scotland. The Austrian contactperson is Gerhard Elsigan, Kaplanhofstr 1, 4020 Linz, 0732/782078/92, email: g.elsigan@ppm.at.
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