European Good Practice Awards

The 2007 award scheme will recognise companies or organisations that have made outstanding and innovative contributions to promote an integrated management approach to tackle musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) embracing prevention of MSDs, and the retention, rehabilitation and reintegration of workers who already suffer from MSDs.

One of the principal activities to support the European campaign on musculoskeletal disorders is the European Good Practice Awards scheme that is organised specifically to identify examples of good practice related to MSDs.

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What are the awards?

The awards aim to demonstrate, by example, the benefits of following good safety and health practices to all European employers and workers, and to intermediaries including the social partners, OSH professionals and practitioners, and others providing assistance and information at workplace level.

Those selected will be recognised for their role in improving working conditions in Europe. In addition:

• Representatives of the selected enterprises / organisations will be invited to the European Week for Safety and Health at Work 2007 closing event and award ceremony in Bilbao.
• The examples will be presented in an Agency booklet to be widely distributed across Europe and presented on the Agency's website.

What types of good practice can be entered?

The Lighten the load campaign aims to promote an integrated management approach to tackle musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) embracing prevention of MSDs, and the retention, rehabilitation and reintegration of workers who already suffer from MSDs.

Good practice examples are implemented solutions - not theoretical or hypothetical - to promote the effective management of occupational safety and health risks in the workplace, and prevention measures to reduce the incidence MSDs, and to support those who have suffered MSDs.

Such examples might include identification and implementation of an action programme which takes a holistic approach to the risks causing MSDs, modification of tasks to eliminate or reduce prolonged periods of standing or sitting, and procurement plans to provide, in consultation with workers,  'user friendly' machines and equipment.

The intervention should:

• Have been implemented following a proper assessment of the hazards and risks
• Improve working conditions in general, and be effective in promoting health, safety and efficiency
• Focus on preventing the identified risk at source
• Be identifiable as the action that caused the reduction in risk
• Achieve an identifiable and permanent benefit
• Meet the relevant legislative requirements of the Member State in which it has been implemented and preferably go beyond those minimum standards
• Include a participatory approach between employers and workers

All entries should therefore show good management practice, particularly the effective use of risk assessment and implementation of its findings, and should be focused on the successful prevention of risks from musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs).

What should the examples demonstrate?

The good practice examples should demonstrate, where appropriate:

• Relevance to the theme of MSDs
• Interventions aimed at the workplace
• Risks tackled at source through good management practice, particularly the effective use of risk assessment and the implementation of its findings
• Initiatives to retain, rehabilitate and reintegrate workers who already suffer from MSDs
• Successful implementation
• Real improvements
• Effective participation of the workforce, and their representatives
• Consultation between management and the workforce, and their representatives
• Sustainability over time
• Going beyond simple compliance with all relevant legislative requirements
• Possibility of transfer to other workplaces, including those in other Member States and to SMEs, and
• Innovative, so that the example is recent or not widely publicised.

Good practice examples should not have been developed solely for commercial profit. This particularly relates to products, tools or services that are or could be marketed. Examples focused on the individual, such as training, should also demonstrate how they are part of a wider risk-management approach.

Examples of awarded good practice from previous years are shown on the Agency's website at:

• http://osha.europa.eu/publications/reports/6905812 (2005)
• http://osha.europa.eu/publications/reports/108 (2004)
• http://osha.europa.eu/publications/reports/106 (2003)
• http://osha.europa.eu/publications/reports/104 (2002)
• http://osha.europa.eu/publications/reports/103 (2001)
• http://osha.europa.eu/publications/reports/101 (2000)

Who can take part?

Good practice examples will be accepted from enterprises or organisations in EU Member States, including:

• Individual enterprises (from whom entries are particularly welcomed) where actions have been taken
• Enterprises or organisations within the product, equipment or personnel supply chain
• Training providers and the education community
• Employer organisations, trade associations, trade unions, and non-governmental organisations
• Regional or local occupational health and safety prevention services, insurance services, and other intermediary organisations.

How to enter

The Agency's network partner responsible for organising the European Week in your country has more detailed information available and will inform you about the closing date for receipt of nominations.

[Focal Point contact details and closing date will be added soon]