Posted By Philip McAleenan David, Hope these links get you the information you need, EKAS – Important Example of a Coordinating Body Switzerland’s federalistic structure asks for distinct coordinating efforts, and some are actually foreseen in the federal legislation. EKAS (Eidg. Koordinationskommission für Arbeitssicherheit = Swiss Coordination Committee for Occupational Safety) provides an example. It is subject to the Federal Council’s direct control and comprises the State Secretariat for Economic Affairs, the Cantons‘ Labour Inspectorates, the Swiss National Accident Insurance Fund (Suva), and professional organizations like SVTI (the Swiss Association of Technical Inspectors). Its main role is to coordinate the measures for preventing occupational accidents and diseases. In other words: it coordinates the implementation of two federal laws addressing this topic, the F.L. on Insurance Against Accidents and the F.L. on Work in Industry and Trade. Finally, an EKAS-subcommittee is responsible for specific chemical risks. http://ecb.jrc.it/natprof/swiss/newpage6.htm EKAS web-site in engish, http://www.ekas.ch/index-uk.php SUVA is an independent, non-profit company under public law. In 1918, Suva opened its doors as the Swiss Accident Insurance Fund. Suva's business activities are based on the accident insurance law. It mainly insures companies in the secondary business sector, i.e. industrial trading an commercial enterprises. SUVA web-site in english, http://www.suva.ch/en/home_en Philip