Documents electrical equipment 27 results

"L'objectif du document est de présenter des outils dirigeant le regard sur tous les aspects techniques, organisationnels et humains qui déterminent la problématique des risques électriques. Conformément à la stratégie SOBANE de gestion des risques professionnels, cette brochure décrit une méthode à quatre niveaux : dépistage, observation, analyse et expertise qui devrait permettre de remettre le problème des risques électriques dans le contexte général de la situation de travail. La brochure comprend une série de fiches d'aide.
Elle a été rédigée par le professeur Jacques Malchaire, chef de l'unité hygiène et physiologie du travail de l'UCL, qui a coordonné le projet SOBANE cofinancé par le SPF emploi, Travail et Concertation sociale et le Fonds social européen."

"Circular economy business models (CBMs) are identified as important levers in the transition to a circular economy (CE). In recent years, a growing body of research has examined the barriers and enablers to these models, however, the available empirical evidence is still limited while sector-specific assessments are lacking. Our study aims to enrich the research in this field by identifying barriers and enablers to the implementation of a variety of CBMs in the electrical and electronic equipment (EEE) sector. Based on this analysis, we provide several policy insights. The EEE sector has been chosen as the focus of this study as a sector with large untapped potential in implementing circularity practices. The study adopts a multi-case study approach and uses a sample of 31 cases developed through the CIRC4Life EU-funded project and the snowball sampling method. To our knowledge, this represents the largest case study sample used to examine CE approaches in the EEE sector. Our findings show that despite the various policy instruments in place to boost the CE transition in this sector, there exist gaps which require policy attention. These include lack of rules for transparency across supply chains, weak enforcement of EU waste legislation rules, limited use of circularity criteria in public tenders and lack of CE standards. Inconsistent requirements stemming from different policy domains can also pose challenges for companies adopting CE practices. Among the suggested actions that can facilitate CE practices include knowledge sharing platforms and business partnerships, R&D project grants, product CE labels, financial incentives and awareness-raising campaigns."

"Electrical and electronic waste (e-waste) is currently the largest growing waste stream. It is hazardous, complex and expensive to treat in an environmentally sound manner,and there is a general lack of legislation or enforcement surrounding it. Today, most e-waste is being discarded in the general waste stream.

Of the e-waste in developed countries that is sent for recycling, 80 per cent ends up being shipped (often illegally) to developing countries to be recycled by hundreds of thousands of informal workers. Such globalization of e-waste has adverse environmental and health implications.

This paper explores the volumes, sources and flows of e-waste, the risks it poses to e-waste workers and the environment, occupational safety and health issues, labour issues and regulatory frameworks, and links this growing global problem with the International Labour Organization's current and future work."

"Background
The population exposed to potentially hazardous substances through inappropriate and unsafe management practices related to disposal and recycling of end-of-life electrical and electronic equipment, collectively known as e-waste, is increasing. We aimed to summarise the evidence for the association between such exposures and adverse health outcomes.
Methods
We systematically searched five electronic databases (PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, PsycNET, and CINAHL) for studies assessing the association between exposure to e-waste and outcomes related to mental health and neurodevelopment, physical health, education, and violence and criminal behaviour, from Jan 1, 1965, to Dec 17, 2012, and yielded 2274 records. Of the 165 full-text articles assessed for eligibility, we excluded a further 142, resulting in the inclusion of 23 published epidemiological studies that met the predetermined criteria. All studies were from southeast China. We assessed evidence of a causal association between exposure to e-waste and health outcomes within the Bradford Hill framework.
Findings
We recorded plausible outcomes associated with exposure to e-waste including change in thyroid function, changes in cellular expression and function, adverse neonatal outcomes, changes in temperament and behaviour, and decreased lung function. Boys aged 8–9 years living in an e-waste recycling town had a lower forced vital capacity than did those living in a control town. Significant negative correlations between blood chromium concentrations and forced vital capacity in children aged 11 and 13 years were also reported. Findings from most studies showed increases in spontaneous abortions, stillbirths, and premature births, and reduced birthweights and birth lengths associated with exposure to e-waste. People living in e-waste recycling towns or working in e-waste recycling had evidence of greater DNA damage than did those living in control towns. Studies of the effects of exposure to e-waste on thyroid function were not consistent. One study related exposure to e-waste and waste electrical and electronic equipment to educational outcomes."

"Europe came close to become the first region to ban certain types of nano-materials for electrical and electronic equipment as part of the recast of the Directive on the Restriction of the Use of Certain Hazardous Substances in Electrical and Electronic Equipment (RoHS Directive) in the European Union. Although this attempt eventually failed in 2011, the preceding debate illuminates challenges posed to the regulation of nanomaterials, and in particular to the implementation of the precautionary principle in that context, when nanotechnology has the great potential to enable the development of novel products relevant to global efforts to counter various security threats such as energy security, resource security, counter-terrorism and counter-insurgency. This article will examine as a case study the recent debate over the ban on the use of certain nanomaterials in electric and electronic equipment in Europe for the purpose of highlighting those challenges confronting the application of the precautionary principle in the context of nanotechnology regulation when the regulatory decision-making may have broader security implications. This article will then set out an alternative regulatory approach by which a more balanced and targeted decision-making process concerning use of nanomaterials can be achieved to accommodate broader security concerns."

"The recent deaths of three hardwood floor finishers in the Boston area have highlighted the urgency of addressing hazards in this industry. Among other dangers to health and safety, fire is a constant threat in a work setting that combines highly flammable solvents, large quantities of airborne wood dust, electrical equipment, heat, and friction inside old homes. Immigrant workers, who perform a large proportion of this work, are at special risk. An Environmental Justice partnership of community-based organizations, community health centers, and environmental health researchers funded by the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (the "Dorchester Occupational Health Initiative") had been studying the occupational health of hardwood floor finishing when these workers died. This preparation enabled community, health, labor, business, and political leaders to mobilize a response and release recommendations within weeks of the second fatal fire. Their report, adapted below, contains important information for health and labor activists in all areas where wood flooring is common. Most notably, the use of less flammable (higher flash point) products can help reduce the risk of more fatal fires. For further information, please contact the Massachusetts Coalition for Occupational Safety and Health, masscosh.org. "