The Swiss Council for Accident Prevention (BFU) has honored seven Swiss municipalities for being particularly accident-free. The respective safety officers in all regions of Switzerland have now been honored for their particularly successful projects. A jury was responsible for the selection. The prizes were each endowed with 2000 Swiss francs for the winning municipalities.

• Luca Di Gianfrancesco, Paradiso TI (Video)
• Markus Feichtinger and Marco Graf, Basel (Video)
• Gerold Harder, Vaduz FL (Video)
• Philippe Hechenberger, Dübendorf ZH (Video)
• René Lorenz, Unterbäch VS (Video)
• Dusko Savkovic, Oberägeri ZG (Video)
• Carlos Tora, Neuchâtel (video)

The respective safety delegates work, for example, in work yards or in the municipal council and also provide support in the case of hidden dangers in children's playgrounds. This year, the BFU is awarding the regional safety prizes for the second time. In the future, the awards will be presented every two years.

Source: AAIB

Very high security standards apply at airports today. This also includes the screening of personnel working in the security area of an airport. The European Union (EU) has extended the requirements for this so-called background check: It is mandatory to obtain police and intelligence information.

The bilateral air transport agreement with the EU obliges Switzerland to adopt these new requirements. The necessary legal basis for this was created by the Federal Law on Police Measures to Combat Terrorism (PMT), which was approved by 56.6 percent of voters on June 13, 2021.

EU implementation deadline met

The corresponding articles do not have to be specified at ordinance level and can therefore enter into force early on January 1, 2022. In this way, Switzerland meets the EU deadline for the implementation of the extended safety check. The entire PMT Act and the associated ordinance are expected to enter into force in the first half of 2022.

Source: Federal Council

Suva's prevention TV spot "Life is Beautiful" received an award for best short film in the field of prevention at an international media festival in Toronto, Canada. With the content, Suva wanted to draw attention primarily to the dangers of work and leisure. André Meier, head of the occupational safety and health protection department, was quoted in a Suva press release as saying that advertising for Suva was less of a priority. The accident figures also confirm that Suva's prevention work is having an effect. Thus, the comparison of the years 2010 to 2019 with the previous ten years shows a pleasing picture. According to the report, the risk of accidents at work has decreased by 14 percent. Fatal accidents were also reduced by 35 percent, according to Suva.

A central role in accident prevention would be played by the vital rules which Suva has been developing with the social partners since 2010. If these few rules were implemented consistently, 75 percent of serious and fatal accidents could be prevented. Suva has succeeded in making these vital rules known on construction sites and in companies. However, it is not enough to know the rules. What is needed is a transfer from knowledge to action, the accident insurer emphasizes.

The Security Charter is a suitable instrument to promote this development.

Source: Suva 

If you want a safe home, you should also be concerned about fire protection. In doing so, one should also think about the fire extinguisher. The German Curatorship for Safety in Home and Leisure (DSH) advises two important fire extinguishers: a grease fire extinguisher should be ready to hand at the stove, while a larger foam extinguisher should be available in the apartment. The fire classes ABF should be printed on both extinguisher types.

However, the quality is decisive when buying. Cheap products often have too short a spraying range. That can be life-threatening in the case of fire, as the experts of the DSH write. On the following safety characteristics should be paid attention according to the Hamburg specialists:

• The extinguisher should have the imprint DIN EN 3.
• The CE quality mark is also important. The GS mark (tested safety) is also passable.
• The color RED (RAL 3000, "fire department red") is a sign of an approved extinguisher.

In principle, in the event of an apartment fire, people should first be brought to safety. The door should be closed immediately in the event of a fire, and the windows should also remain closed, as the supply of oxygen accelerates the fire.

On the 7th National Burglary Prevention Day, on Tuesday, November 2, 2021, the police and members of the Safe Living Switzerland (SWS) association, will be speaking in various cantons about burglary prevention measures. At the stand actions and other events, the Swiss population can inform themselves about burglary prevention.

As last year, the information day is organized by the association Sicheres Wohnen Schweiz (SWS) and supported by the Swiss Crime Prevention (SKP).

On the website of the association can be found an interactive map of the information campaigns carried out nationwide. The website is online and the overview of measures and events is continuously updated.

The Swiss Secure Housing Association (SWS) is made up of members of umbrella and industry organizations from the private sector and the police.

Source: Press release

According to the organizers of A&A, 94 percent of the exhibitors surveyed already confirmed that they would like to be represented again at A&A 2023. In total, the trade fair for occupational safety and health recorded more than 25,000 trade visitors.

Trends from the areas of occupational health and safety, occupational health management and safety management were central. The focus was also on a lot of innovative protective equipment. More than 90 percent of respondents said they had reached their trade show attendance line.

The presentations covered topics such as hazardous substances and musculoskeletal disorders. However, the audience's interest also focused on topics such as safe and healthy working in international supply chains, new work, mobile working and problems caused by digitalization in the workplace.

The start-ups at A+A 2021 enriched the range of the leading trade fair with topics relating to work and prevention using exoskeletons. These trends were communicated by exhibitors and the Fraunhofer IPA at the Robotics Park. At the hands-on stations, trade visitors were able to try out the supporting function of the exoskeletons for themselves.

The next A+A will take place from October 24 to 27, 2023.

Source: A&A 2021

The exhibition organizer MCH Group was targeted by cyber attackers on 20 October. Various attacks were carried out on the event platform using malware. According to the exhibition group, measures to limit the damage as much as possible were initiated immediately at this point. Now the MCH Group reports on their websitethat personal data of customers, partners and employees was also stolen during the cyber attack. The existing traces are currently being evaluated with cyber experts, according to a statement.

The fair organizers advise their customers and partners to change passwords immediately, especially if users use the same passwords for other services. The company continues to work on the detailed evaluation of the deducted data. The implementation of the planned events is still guaranteed, the website says.

Source: MCH Group

Dank der Separatsammlung und Verwertung von Altgeräten lassen sich wertvolle Materialien wie Gold, Kupfer, Aluminium, Eisen oder verwertbare Kunststoffanteile mit den entsprechenden Verwertungstechnologien zurückgewinnen. Die Revision der Verordnung trage dazu bei, das Recycling von Altgeräten zu stärken und so den Ressourcenkreislauf zu schliessen, schreibt der Bundesrat. Mit der revidierten VREG  sollen neu seltene Technologiemetalle wie Neodym oder Tantal zurückgewonnen werden, wenn die dafür notwendigen Verfahren existieren, heisst es.

Was fällt neu alles unter das Recycling?

Der Geltungsbereich der Verordnung über die VREG soll ab 1. Januar 2022 auf alle elektrischen und elektronischen Geräte ausgedehnt werden. Gemäss Angaben gehören insbesondere medizinische Geräte, Überwachungs- und Kontrollinstrumente, Ausgabeautomaten und Photovoltaikmodule dazu, die künftig unter die VREG fallen werden. Das Eidgenössische Departement für Umwelt, Verkehr, Energie und Kommunikation (Uvek) werde eine Liste veröffentlichen, auf der die betroffenen Geräte aufgeführt seien, heisst es in der Mitteilung des Bundesrates. Indem die Vorgaben der VREG nun auch für Geräte aus Fahrzeugen, Bauten und Gegenständen gelten, deren Ausbau mit verhältnismässigem Aufwand möglich sei, vergrössere sich zudem das Potenzial für die Rückgewinnung verwertbarer Bestandteile.

Im revidierten Vorordnungspaket heisst es, dass neu auf eine konkrete Aufteilung in Gerätekategorien in der VREG verzichtet werde. Begründet wird dies damit, dass im Rahmen des Entsorgungsprozesses die Geräte nicht nach Kategorien, sondern nach Bauteilen und darin enthaltenen Substanzen in verschiedenen Behandlungsströmen zusammengefasst werden. Behandlungsströme seien darauf ausgerichtet, Zielmaterialien – dies können Wertstoffe oder Schadstoffe sein – in möglichst reiner Form zu konzentrieren. So können sie besser verwertet (stofflich oder energetisch) oder beseitigt werden, wie das Bundesamt für Umwelt betont.

Finanzierungslösung zurückgestellt

Ferner wird mitgeteilt, dass aufgrund der laufenden Diskussionen zur parlamentarischen Initiative 20.433 «Schweizer Kreislaufwirtschaft stärken» die Aspekte zur künftigen Finanzierungslösung für die Sammlung und Entsorgung elektrischer und elektronischer Geräte im Rahmen der VREG zurückgestellt werden. Sobald die Arbeiten des Parlaments abgeschlossen seien, wird das Uvek analysieren, ob die VREG im Hinblick auf das künftige Finanzierungssystem erneut revidiert werden soll, wie es abschliessend heisst.

Quelle: der Bundesrat/rs

In many places in Switzerland there are numerous sculptures, obelisks and commemorative plaques commemorating battles at the time of the Old Confederation, European wars or the presence of the army. Only a few of them are well-known, such as the Forch Monument in Küsnacht or the Lion Monument in Lucerne. Most of the commemorative signs, however, stand inconspicuously on roadsides or hang on the walls of houses.

An inventory now compiles these monuments for the first time and gives them visibility in an overall view. Monuments that refer to battles of the old Swiss Confederation or to the active services of the army have been presented and categorized. But also memorials in memory of military units, personalities of military history or army accidents are listed. Almost 300 monuments also recall the presence of foreign troops in Switzerland.

The inventory is on the website of the Swiss Army published. The monuments are divided into categories and recorded photographically. A short report contextualizes and explains the inventory. The Federal Office of Topography Swisstopo has also transferred the monuments as a layer on the national map.

The inventory of army and war memorials is connected with the memorial place for the deceased of the army. This will be built in the next few years at the Army Training Center Lucerne (AAL). In this context, the inventory will also become a virtual space of remembrance and thanksgiving for the members of the armed forces who served in the service for the security and freedom of Switzerland.

Source: The Federal Council

There is a risk of oxygen leakage from a batch of high-pressure hoses connecting the pressure gauge to the regulator.

Which products are affected?

• Diving pressure gauge CD 300 bar with backlight. Product reference: 8397258, article number: 2354572
• Diving console with pressure gauge and depth gauge SCD, product reference: 8485008, article number: 2532535
• SCD 500 DIN 300 regulator set with octopus compensated piston. Product reference: 8399225, article number: 2364401

Only products purchased between January 01, 2020 and July 31, 2021 inclusive are affected. Batch affected: 854/19. Other batches are not affected by this recall.

What should affected consumers do?

Consumers who own one of these products are requested to stop using it. The submersible pressure gauge or the console should be dismantled (according to the instructions or taken to the nearest Décathlon store for dismantling). There, customers will receive a refund of the purchase price or - if desired and if in stock - a free replacement product.

Source: Federal Consumer Affairs Bureau

A few years ago, Intel, the world's leading supplier of PC microprocessors, introduced an innovation that promises greater data security: so-called Software Guard Extensions (SGX). These are hardware-based control mechanisms that ensure that data is safe even if a computer's operating system is incomplete or under attack.

"Operating systems have to perform a huge number of functions and are highly complex," explains Shweta Shinde, assistant professor at the Department of Computer Science at ETH Zurich. That's why it makes sense to shield applications with sensitive data from the operating system, so to speak. The Software Guard Extensions make this possible by means of so-called enclaves: certain areas serve to protect the program code of those applications that the operating system should not be able to access.

Shinde and her research colleagues at the National University of Singapore (NUS) and China's National University of Defense Technology (NUDT) have now discovered a vulnerability in this security architecture. Not only have they been able to pull data from these enclaves, but they have also been able to apply arbitrary code of their own within them. The researchers made the discovery in early May 2021, whereupon they immediately notified the two companies they knew were affected, Intel and Microsoft. This is the usual procedure in such cases. In mid-July, the two companies fixed the problem with software patches. The attack, programmed by the researchers in months of work, is called "SmashEx" and is documented in a paper that has already been published. published as preprint is. It will be presented at the ACM CC conference on November 15.

No reason to panic, but a lesson

The vulnerability is rated by Intel itself with a so-called CVSS score of 8.2 out of 10. This score indicates the severity of vulnerabilities based on various indicators. In this case, according to Shweta Shinde, it should be so high, among other things, because the problem affected new hardware and a potentially large number of corporate and private customers - Intel processors with the affected Software Guard Extensions are very widespread. Among other things, Google products were affected in this way. Intel SGX enclaves are also often used when IT infrastructure is shared between different parties or when sensitive data is involved - for example, in the banking or healthcare sectors.

"The fact that the vulnerability affected a technology specifically designed for sensitive data has to give us pause," Shinde says, "but it's not a reason to panic." The software patches have fixed the problem for now, he says. However, Shinde also advocates hardware adjustments for future processor generations to make them more secure in the long term.

(Source: ETH News) 

Early departures from the nursing profession could be prevented by improving working conditions. This is the conclusion of a study conducted by the ZHAW, which examined the professional careers of nurses. Three times in a row, around 600 nursing graduates from universities of applied sciences and universities of applied sciences who graduated from a university of applied sciences or a university of applied sciences in 2011/12 were surveyed.

High career exit rate

According to the survey, nine out of ten nurses could imagine continuing to work in the profession even after six years, provided working conditions were improved. However, the exit rate for nurses under the age of 35 is strikingly high at around one-third. The Swiss Health Observatory reports on the latter. The conditions are above all too stressful and contradict the central needs of nursing professionals, the study continues.

More pay and more transparency in management

For example, work, private and family life are not in harmony. Nursing staff are also concerned about the discrepancies between expectations and reality, for example in terms of pay or the possibility of realizing one's own potential in the profession. Nearly 90 percent cited better pay as a reason for more recognition of professional discipline. In a recent 2018/19 survey, 55 percent of nurses said they often feel tired and tense during work because of job-related stresses.

In terms of suggestions for better working conditions, more low-percentage part-time work models were mentioned as possible options, as well as more suitable childcare options. With regard to more support from management, participants suggested more transparent communication and higher visibility of management functions.

Source: ZHAW