Approaches to sharing occupational safety and health information on a global scale

Background The global burden of occupational morbidity and mortality is staggering. Information sharing has been identified as a major way of reducing this burden. Past and current approaches to such sharing and application are worth examining in order to guide future efforts. Methods Recent literature from international agencies and others was examined to identify examples of information sharing and to determine the status of such sharing and related issues. Literature was included from the areas of surveillance, priority setting, research, dissemination, and risk management. Results Examples of global information sharing were identified and lessons were drawn from the issues attendant to them. Conclusions Results indicate that a broad range of efforts actively promote the global distribution of occupational safety and health information. To advance global approaches to the sharing of occupational and safety and health information, it is critical to improve the opportunity and capacity to access information. Important objectives in achieving this goal are developing coherent and transparent information policies, conducting research on dissemination, adaptation, and utilization of information, and overcoming barriers to information and training. Am. J. Ind. Med. 41:210–216, 2002. Published 2002 Wiley-Liss, Inc.