BEIJING - September 13, 2007 - This month, the China Center for Labor and Environment announces the establishment of new partnerships in the field of worker health and safety. Joining its existing panel of experts is Professor Liu Tiemin, President of the China Academy of Safety Science and Technology and one of the top experts in China in this field. The Workers' Health Centre, an NGO actively involved in worker health and safety projects in mainland China as well as Hong Kong, joins the China Center's roster of supporting organizations.

The inclusion of new leading stakeholders benefits the China Center's membership of businesses as it continues to strengthen the industry platform's ability in contributing to the development, successful implementation and continuous education processes of safe manufacturing practices across China's mainstream supply chain.

"It is very important to have an accessible community that businesses can come to for guidance where key government figures and non-profit groups participate as active stakeholders" says Carlos Flores, leader of the China Center's knowledge and local capacity building network. "In addition to providing guidance from the most authoritative and well-rounded group of sources available, the other effect our work is having is the standardization of nuts-and-bolts information and approaches for managing responsibility practices for at-risk groups. This has the potential for creating a lot more clarity for local enterprises who are engaged in this manner by their overseas business partners."

In cooperation with its new partners, the China Center will be increasing both its online and offline resources for the business community in the field of production safety over the coming months.

Prof. Liu Tiemin is the President of the China Academy of Safety Science and Technology, and recognized as one of China's foremost authorities on worker health and safety. He has been in charge of 26 important national occupational safety and health projects, and has led many international cooperation projects. He participated in the legislation of China’s Production Safety Law and subsidiary regulations and standards, and organized and developed the implementation of OSHMS in China. He remains in charge of 6 national key projects under the Ministry of Science and Technology and State Committee of Planning and Development. He also holds the positions of deputy director of the China Enterprise Association, deputy director of the Committee of Mining Safety and Health under the China Committee for Labor Protection, member of International Committee of Occupational Health, and is a university professor. He has published 7 monographs including Modern Occupational Safety and Health and has drafted numerous technical project theses.

The Hong Kong Workers' Health Centre (WHC) was formed by specialist doctors, rehabilitation therapists, occupational health and safety professionals and social workers in 1984. They have been instrumental in promoting the importance of occupational health, preventing work injury, protecting workers' health, encouraging workers to return to work and facilitating community reintegration. WHC's comprehensive approach of advocating 'education and precaution' has led to a decrease in consistent accidents and work-related illness. They are dedicated to ensuring workers' health and are working with the China Center to promote occupational health practice.

About the China Center for Labor and Environment

The China Center for Labor and Environment is a local inclusive industry initiative which aims to contribute to the development and successful implementation of sustainable manufacturing practices across manufacturing enterprises operating in greater China. This work is accomplished by building business-government-non-profit networks, compiling the best knowledge on sustainable and continuous improvement implementation practices available and conducting and initiating training, capacity building, and research programs.

More information on how you can work with the China Center's network can be found at www.csrlaws.com

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Intertek

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