IIW History 1990-2015

that industry and associated academic establishments could meet, free of special interest pressures, to share their knowledge and experience. There they could be tasked to consider new technological developments, debate the validity and conclusions of scientific reports on health and safety risks on these and established processes, to seek a consensus view and advise everyone in the industry on their best assessment of levels of risk and how these might be managed most effectively and efficiently.’ 18 This statement encapsulated the ethical andmotivational considerations of the work undertaken by C-VIII in its entirety. This group consisted of leading experts from around the world, with growing numbers coming from developing countries, including academicians or experts prominent in health and safety. In addition to members already mentioned, and although too many to list here, the group included Prof. Peter J. Hewitt of the Metal Fume Research Unit, University of Bradford (UK); Prof. Yoshihiro Yamaguchi (Japan); Mr Ken Brown, The Lincoln Electric Company (USA); Mr Steve Hedrick (USA), as well as standardisation expert Mr Mathias Lundin (Sweden), and Mr Daniel Beaufils (France) who later would become CEO of the IIW Secretariat. Dr Vilia Elena Spiegel-Ciobanu (Germany), originally from Romania, was also another productive member of the Commission and often presented results of research work into health issues caused by hazardous fume substances in welding. 19 On finishing his first term as Chair of C-VIII in 2000, McMillan announced his resignation from the group indicating that changes in his new work assignment made it difficult to fulfil his duties as Chair. Beaufils fulfilled this role in the meantime as Acting Chair but indicated that his new appointment as CEO of the IIW Secretariat would also preclude him from future involvement as a Chair of C-VIII. McMillan then agreed to continue the duties of the Chair of C-VIII at its meeting in Copenhagen in June 2002. At this meeting it was announced that ‘Dr Kohyama from Japan was to take over as delegate at the end of the meeting from our long-serving and esteemed colleague, Professor Yamaguchi’. 20 Yamaguchi had chaired a working group, mainly Japan-based, on optical radiation that produced a number of documents on hazards and preventative equipment for ultraviolet, visible and infrared radiation in welding. Yamaguchi, as a young medical technician, was one of the very first persons to enter radioactive areas in Japan to assist victims of the blast after the atomic bomb was dropped on Japan in 1945. 21 With respect to a parallel initiative in health and safety, discussions did take place at a Board of Directors meeting in San Francisco in July 1997 to identify aspects associated with IIW’s objectives towards achieving a sustainable environment. Mr Bertil Pekkari (Sweden) was to champion the cause of the environment. Following a further meeting of the Board

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