View source for WHO collaborating centres in occupational health

The '''WHO collaborating centres in occupational health''' constitute a network of institutions put in place by the [[World Health Organization]] to extend availability of [[occupational health]] coverage in both developed and undeveloped countries.<ref>[http://www.who.int/occupational_health/network/en/ Network of WHO Collaborating Centres in occupational health]. World Health Organization. Accessed September 15, 2009.</ref> The effort includes 64 collaborating centres that have been designated as such by the WHO director-general.<ref name=progport>[http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/programs/global/collaborations.html Activities: NIOSH Collaborations with Global Partners]. National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health. November 4, 2008. Accessed September 15, 2009.</ref> The centres in the network meet triennially to develop work plans for advancing occupational health in key areas. The 2009-2012 work plan includes 220 projects, which relate to 5 objectives and 14 priorities as outlined by a [[WHO global action plan|global plan of action for workers' health]].<ref name=nickels>Nickels, Leslie. "WHO Network of Collaborating Centers &ndash; A Partnership for Protecting Workers' Health and Safety Globally." [http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/CCC/CCCnewsV1N9.html Collaborating Centre Connection newsletter, volume 1, number 9, July 2009]. </ref> 

==Leadership structure==
As director of the U.S. [[National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health]], [[John Howard (public health administrator)|John Howard]] is the chairman of the WHO Global Network of Collaborating Centres in Occupational Health. Within the network, activity area managers plan day-to-day activities within projects adopted by the network. Deputy managers monitor activities and evaluate progress of the involved centres.<ref>[http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/CCC/CCCnewsV1N1.html Collaborating Centre Connection, volume 1, number 1, March 2007].</ref>

==2009-2012 Work Plan==
The global plan of action sets forth five major objectives:<ref name=nickels /><ref>"Workers' health: global plan of action." SIXTIETH WORLD HEALTH ASSEMBLY, [http://apps.who.int/gb/ebwha/pdf_files/WHA60/A60_R26-en.pdf WHA60.26, agenda item 12.13]. May 23, 2007. World Health Organization.</ref>
* to devise and implement policy instruments on workers' health
* to protect and promote health at the workplace
* to improve the performance of and access to occupational health services
* to provide and communicate evidence for action and practice
* to incorporate workers' health into non-health policies and projects
Using these key goals, the activity area managers have set priorities for specific areas of occupational health.

==Participating centres==
Centres in the network are designated by the WHO director-general.<ref>[http://www.who.int/collaboratingcentres/cc_historical/en/index1.html Collaborating Centres, Definition]. World Health Organization. Accessed September 14, 2009.</ref> Seven organizations constitute the network's advisory committee:<ref>[http://www.nioh.ac.za/site.php?main=3&sub=33&item=331&itemSub=0 NIOH is a WHO Collaborating Centre in Occupational Health]. National Institute for Occupational Health (NIOH), South Africa. Accessed September 15, 2009.</ref>
* [http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/ National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health] (NIOSH), USA
* National Institute for Working Life (NIWL), Sweden
* [http://www.ttl.fi/internet/english/ Finnish Institute for Occupational Health] (FIOH), Finland
* Institute for Pesticide Safety and Health Risk Prevention, Italy
* [[National University of Singapore]]
* [http://www.fundacentro.gov.br/ FUNDACENTRO], Brazil
* [http://www.nioh.ac.za/ National Institute for Occupational Health] (NIOH), South Africa

Other participants working with the centres include the [[International Labor Organization]] (ILO), the [[International Commission on Occupational Health]] (ICOH), the [[International Occupational Hygiene Association]] (IOHA), and the [[International Ergonomics Association]] (IEA).<ref name=progport />

==Key projects and activities==
The collaborating centres have participated in a number of conferences, provided research on occupational safety and health topics, and engaged in varied campaigns and activities such as an inititiative promoting [[global road safety for workers]].<ref>[http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/programs/twu/global/ Global Collaborations in Transportation, Warehousing and Utilities]. National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health.</ref>

==References==
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[[Category:World Health Organization]]
[[Category:Global health]]
[[Category:Occupational safety and health]]
[[Category:2Fix]]