New chairperson announces Agency plans to tackle noise at work
News release - 23.11.2004
Luis Lopes is the Portuguese workers’ representative on the Bureau of the Agency’s Board. He takes over from Christa Schweng, Austrian employers’ representative. It is Mr Lopes’ second term of office having previously held the position in 2002.
Meeting in Bilbao on 23 and 24 November 2004, the Administrative Board of the European Agency for Safety and Health at Work has elected Luis Lopes as its new chairperson and agreed the Agency’s work programme for 2005.
Luis Lopes is the Portuguese workers’ representative on the Bureau of the Agency’s Board. He takes over from Christa Schweng, Austrian employers’ representative. It is Mr Lopes’ second term of office having previously held the position in 2002.
Commenting on his appointment and the Agency’s 2005 work programme, Mr Lopes said: “Excessive noise is a growing problem in many workplaces – from factories and farms to call centres and schools. The European Week 2005 campaign aims to get the message across that noise can cost you more than your hearing. It can also play a significant role in workplace accidents and increasing stress levels. But it’s a problem for which solutions are available. One of the Agency’s key roles is to make available good practice information on this and other safety and health topics across the more than 30 countries of its network. As chairman of the Board for 2005, I am looking forward to supporting the Director and the staff of the Agency in the further development of its activities”.
Emerging risks, safety and health awareness in the new Member States, protecting young workers and the OSH implications of Europe’s ageing workforce – amongst the priorities for 2005
The Agency’s work programme for 2005 will focus on developing the Agency’s information services in line with the priorities set out in the Community Strategy for Health and Safety at Work. Major initiatives will include:
- A Europe-wide information campaign focusing on the risks of excessive noise at work culminating in the European Week for Safety and Health at Work, 24-28 October 2005;
- The launch of a new Risk Observatory to identify emerging risks and corresponding good preventive practices;
- An enlargement action plan aimed at raising awareness of safety and health at work in the EU’s 10 new Member States;
- An investigation into the relationship between occupational safety and health and economic performance;
- A study into the impact of Europe’s ageing workforce on OSH policies and practices;
- Preparation for an information campaign in 2006 on protecting young workers.
Commenting on the outcome of the Board meeting, the Director of the European Agency, Mr Hans-Horst Konkolewsky, said: “I am delighted to welcome back Luis Lopes as Chairperson of the Agency and look forward to working closely with him in promoting the Agency’s health and safety activities in 2005. Our new Risk Observatory will carry out Europe-wide surveillance activities to spot new and emerging risks and identify ways to combat them. Alongside our campaign on noise, we also hope to take a decisive step in promoting safety and health awareness in the new Member States through an enlargement action plan.”
Final confirmation of the Agency’s work programme will follow consultation of the European Commission’s Advisory Committee on Health and Safety at Work and the European Parliament’s decision on its budget allocation to the Agency for 2005.
- ENDS –
Further information
Press contacts:
Andrew Smith, European Agency for Safety and Health at Work, Tel: +34 944795733 email: smith@osha.europa.eu
Other enquiries:
European Agency for Safety and Health at Work, Gran Via 33, E-48009 Bilbao, Spain, email: information@osha.europa.eu, fax: +34 94 479 4383
Notes for editors
- The European Agency for Safety and Health at Work was set up by the European Union to help meet the information needs in the field of occupational safety and health. Based in Bilbao, Spain, the Agency aims to improve the lives of people at work by stimulating the flow of technical, scientific and economic information between all those involved in occupational safety and health issues.
- Luis Lopes is Vice-General Secretary of the Portuguese Teachers’ Union (SINDEP) and a member of the Board of UGT Portugal. He is also a member of the Portuguese National Council for Health and Safety at the Workplace.
