RULES OF PROCEDURE - PUBLIC AREA

PUBLIC AREA- Rules of procedure (Extract)

Complete Rules of Procedure

1	Objectives and main features of EUROSHNET
1.1	EUROSHNET is a network intended for occupational health and safety experts of European OSH institutions involved in standardization, testing, certification and/or applied research. It is an informal network without legal status. The function of EUROSHNET is first and foremost to facilitate contact between European OSH experts and thereby to promote the discussion of issues of common interest. The work of the network is supported by a Steering Committee.
1.2	The operation of the network relies mainly on an English language communication platform at www.euroshnet.eu. The EUROSHNET internet platform is divided into an information area, a public area and a restricted-access area. Other means of communication are also used as and when necessary (e.g. meetings, publications).
1.3	The information area, accessible to everyone, contains general information on the network and gives an overview of the topics discussed in EUROSHNET.
1.4	The public area offers several fora where topical subjects can be discussed. The fora are freely accessible to everyone interested in the subjects discussed. Registration is however required in order to be able to make a contribution to the discussion.
1.5	The restricted-access area contains a database of experts, discussion fora, internal documents and an internal information area. Access to the restricted-access area is reserved exclusively for representatives of OSH institutions in EEA countries who are active in European standardization, testing, certification and/or applied research. The eligibility of applicants is decided by the Steering Committee according to defined criteria, with the assistance of Contact Points designated in each EEA country.
2	Participants in the public area of EUROSHNET
2.1	The public area including its discussion fora is freely accessible to everyone. Registration is however required in order to be able to make a contribution to a forum discussion. For registration, name (or nickname) e-mail address and country are mandatory; other details may be provided optionally. All data except for the e-mail address are publicly accessible. Upon receipt of their access data (user name and personal password) the participants may enter additional information about their fields of expertise. Registered participants will be informed of any news in the discussion fora by way of an automatic e-mail system. This function can be disabled by the participant.
2.2	The participants undertake not to divulge their access data (user name and personal password) to third parties.
2.3	The responsibility for the content of messages posted in the forum remains with their authors. The views expressed in EUROSHNET are personal opinions only and do not necessarily reflect the official opinion of the organisation an expert works for.
2.4	Attacks on the reputation of persons, companies or organisations are prohibited, as are defamatory messages of any kind. Offensive or discriminatory comments are not permitted and will be deleted.
2.5	It is prohibited to use the fora or any data obtained from EUROSHNET for commercial advertising purposes. Any participant offending against this rule will be banned from further active participation in EUROSHNET.
2.6	The uploading of documents under copyright or confidential documents (i.e. standards, draft standards) is only permitted with the consent of the copyright holder. Copyright and confidence rules shall be complied with.
2.7	EUROSHNET participants consent to the electronic storage of their personal data in EUROSHNET and to the accessibility of these data (except e-mail address) to other participants. Participants consent to the electronic storage of their personal data and forum contributions even after termination of their participation in EUROSHNET.
3	Forum coordinators for the public area of EUROSHNET
3.1	The discussion fora in the public area of EUROSHNET are assigned to a coordinator nominated by the Steering Committee.
3.2	Each coordinator is in charge of the supervision of his/her forum. This includes: following the discussions and transferring the results to the restricted-access area inserting and maintaining documents, texts and statements that can contribute to discussions looking for and deleting possible defamatory messages at regular intervals.
4	Steering Committee
4.1	Composition
	The work of the network is supported by a Steering Committee comprising higher representatives of European OSH institutions. New members representing a European OSH institution may be admitted to the Steering Committee if proposed by a member of the Steering Committee. The admission of new members requires the unanimous approval of the Steering Committee.
4.2	Tasks and responsibilities
	The tasks and responsibilities of the Steering Committee are as follows: to formally and publicly represent EUROSHNET to decide on activities to promote EUROSHNET to take strategic decisions on appropriate means for exerting influence on European/international standardization, testing, certification and applied research, in particular through cooperation between different countries to establish general strategies and to support the work programme to decide on specific EUROSHNET activities to decide on the admission to membership of applicants belonging to institutions which are not yet represented in EUROSHNET to approve the contents of the information area of the EUROSHNET website to decide on the establishment of new discussion fora and nominate a coordinator for each discussion forum to decide on the transformation of a subforum into a forum, where necessary to decide on the closing of a discussion forum on the basis of the coordinator's recommendation to adopt positions in order to give support to the views expressed by OSH experts in the discussion fora of EUROSHNET to examine financial aspects to initiate a consortium intended to apply for funds.
4.3	Secretariat
	No permanent secretariat is set up. The functions of a secretariat are performed by a Working Group comprising members of the institutions represented in the Steering Committee.
4.4	Frequency of meetings
	The Steering Committee meets once a year or at the request of its members.
4.5	Chair
	The chair of the Steering Committee alternates every year between the institutions represented in the Steering Committee of EUROSHNET
5	Working Group
5.1	The tasks and responsibilities of the Working Group are as follows: Maintaining the EUROSHNET website and managing the registrations Supporting the EUROSHNET forum coordinators Preparing the meetings of the Steering Committee and implementing the decisions of such meetings. Reporting to the Steering Committee Ensuring that decisions can be taken by the Steering Committee between meetings
5.2	The Working Group meets as often as necessary.
	Annex: Admission criteria (restricted area)
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