Specific research programmes (EEC) to be implemented by the Joint Research Centre - Working environment -, 1992-1994

Part of the third Framework programme for Community activities in the field of research and technological development (1990 to 1994) under subactivity I.2.: "Industrial and materials technologies", this new JRC programme builds in part on previous research on human factors in the JRC's industrial hazards programmes.
To contribute to the Community's regulatory actions in areas such as health care and risk control, setting upper and lower limits (e.g. toxicology), standard evaluation methods and procedures for analysis, evaluation or risks to workers and evaluation of the working environment in relation to the introduction of new technologies.
Three research areas:

- Occupational exposure - chemicals (Environment Institute, Institute for Systems Engineering and Informatics and Institute for Safety Technology, Ispra):
. Occupational health and safety data:
Collection, validation, registration and distribution of data for the assessment of occupational hazards and risks arising from chemical exposures;
. Human toxicology:
Identification and prevention of possible causes of worker diseases arising from trace metal exposures;

- Accident prevention and management (Institute for Systems Engineering and Informatics, Ispra):
Performance and coordination of research activities in areas concerning occupational and organizational aspects of the work environment as well as prevention and management of accidents in complex plants;

- Ventilation and pollutant transport modelling (Institute for Systems Engineering and Informatics, Ispra):
Development of a numerical model for the prediction of the concentration distribution in a closed space of a pollutant which can be toxic or flammable, under turbulent free or forced convection conditions and in presence of obstacles.
The Commission, assisted by the Board of Governors of the Joint Research Centre (JRC), is responsible for carrying out the programme by means of the services of the JRC and in parallel with other relevant specific programmes of the third Framework programme (1990-1994).

The programme comprises research and technological development (RTD) projects and accompanying measures. The RTD projects are carried out in collaboration and in concert, whenever feasible, with national research bodies in the Member States, taking into account as far as possible regional development aspects of RTD activities and their potential socio-economic effects. Particular attention will be paid to associations with industry, notably with SMEs, in collaborative schemes around the projects.

The research is carried out at Ispra by the Institute for Systems Engineering and Informatics (ISEI), the Institute for Safety Technology (IST) and the Environment Institute (EI).

The Commission is authorized to negotiate international agreements with third country members of COST, in particular member countries of the European Free Trade Association (EFTA) and Central and Eastern European countries, with a view to associating them with the programme. However, no contracting body based outside the Community may benefit from the Community financing granted to the programme. Such a body shall contribute to the general administrative costs.

Research projects open to international cooperation shall include cooperation measures with international research laboratories and make provision for the exchange of researchers. Supplementary measures should allow cooperation with research laboratories and institutions located in the countries of Central and Eastern Europe.

The funds estimated as necessary for the execution of the programme amount to ECU 91.08 million, 6% of which may be used for exploratory research. A sum representing 1% of the total JRC budget for 1992-1994 is reserved as a contribution from the JRC's specific programmes to the centralized action on dissemination and exploitation of results (VALUE II).

Knowledge gained through the realization of the projects will be disseminated by the programme itself as well as by the centralized action.

The Commission shall each year before 31 March present to the European Parliament, the Council and the Economic and Social Committee a report on the implementation of the programme, together with the observations of the Board of Governors. At the end of the programme an evaluation of the research shall be conducted by a group of independent external experts and a report on the evaluation, accompanied by the opinion of the Board of Governors, shall be forwarded to these same bodies.