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About the campaign

INTRODUCTION

Construction is one of Europe’s largest industries, with an annual turnover in excess of €900 billion and more than 12 million employees in the EU-15 alone. Unfortunately, it also has one of the worst occupational safety and health (OSH) records in the region, a problem that is estimated to cost businesses and tax payers nearly €75 billion a year, not to mention the human suffering. Although significant progress has been made in improving the industry’s OSH standards over the years, thanks to closer cooperation between employers, workers and other parties, there are still big opportunities to lift these standards even further.  
This year’s European Week for Safety and Health at Work, which will focus on construction, is designed to help all stakeholders in the industry realise this potential and build a safer, healthier and more productive working environment. Run by the European Agency for Safety and Health at Work, which is funded by the EU, the campaign will incorporate a range of activities to raise awareness of both the key problems and the solutions. This information pack provides background to these issues, plus details on how you can get involved in the campaign.  

THE AGENCY’S CAMPAIGN – ‘BUILDING IN SAFETY’

This year’s European Week for Safety and Health at Work – the largest OSH event of its kind in Europe – will focus on the construction sector.  
The European Agency for Safety and Health at Work launched its campaign in Dublin on 30 April 2004, as part of the Agency's annual European Week for Safety and Health at Work. Under the slogan ‘Building in Safety’, the campaign is backed by all Member States, EU acceding, candidate and EFTA countries, the Irish and Dutch EU Presidencies, the European Commission and Parliament, trade unions and employers' federations.  
The campaign includes: 

  • information packs in all official EU Member State and acceding country languages;

  • awareness-raising posters and leaflets;

  • a multilingual website (http://ew2004.osha.europa.eu , including examples of good practice);

  • an online campaign charter;

  • European Good Practice Awards for organisations that have most successfully dealt with health and safety in construction;

  • special events across Europe to bring the campaign's key messages to life in all organisations, large and small, public and private. In previous campaigns, there have been thousands of EU-wide events, many coordinated by the Agency's network of national focal points in the EU 25 Member States.

The campaign will culminate with the European Week for Safety and Health at Work during 18-22 October 2004. All safety and health institutions and organisations, trade unions, companies, managers, employees and safety representatives are invited to take part and organise their own events during this week. These activities can include special audits and risk assessments in the workplace; training; distribution of information about the risk and solutions in the construction industry; and schemes that encourage employees and their representatives to participate in the event, including linking up with other organisations.  

HOW TO GET INVOLVED IN THE CAMPAIGN

Taking part in the campaign isn’t just easy, it can help cut your organisation’s safety and health costs. Sign up today! 

  • Go to the Agency's special European week 2004 website at http://ew2004.osha.europa.eu , available in 20 European languages.

  • Sign up to our online charter to demonstrate to your clients and staff your commitment to the campaign and the highest standards of safety and health.

  • On the website you will also find valuable information on health and safety in construction, including examples of good practice, studies, regulatory requirements and other details, plus links to hundreds of related sites.

  • Contact your local focal point for information about European week activities in your country, as well as to find out about additional support they can offer you. Focal point contact details can be found at the end of this document.

  • Above all, spread the word. The Agency is very grateful for the support of the social partners in this campaign – their networks are invaluable in spreading the word and getting the safety and health message across to workplaces.