Taking care of health and the environment at the workplace – training in Arusha

Arusha, Tanzania – Trade unionists from Ethiopia, Ghana, Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda came together to advance toward the sound management of chemicals. The event which took place from January 18 – 19, 2010 was organized by ITUC-Africa part of the joint UNEP-Sustainlabour programme on Labour and Environment.From March 8-9, 2010 in Accra, Ghana, a similar workshop will be held, this time for participants in francophone countries in Africa. Stay tuned for upcoming information.The workshop aimed to build a network of trade unionists in charge of management of chemical risk. The training session carried out focused on strengthening awareness of the health and environmental impacts of chemicals, and providing tools for addressing and reducing chemical risks at the workplace, ranging from practical information such as how to read a label, to how to include related provisions in collective agreements, or how to demand for the right to be informed and for the application of precautionary principle at the workplace.The seminar also aimed to improve knowledge on national legislations and references to international tools, ILO conventions, Stockholm, Basel and Rotterdam Conventions and SAICM (Strategic Approach to Chemicals Management).