EU report marks ten years of progress in safety and health at work
News release - 16.07.2007
The central role of the ‘European Agency for Safety and Health at Work’ in promoting healthier, safer and more productive workplaces was underlined today in its 2006 annual report. It shines a spotlight on last year’s impact on young workers and small businesses and shows how the Agency continues to improve the quality of working life in an expanding European Union.
Ten years after its creation, the Agency consolidates its role in providing workers and employers with first-hand information and examples of good practice in the field of occupational safety and health. It promotes a culture of risk prevention and continues to strengthen cooperation with accession and candidate countries and organisations throughout the world.
Agency Director Jukka Takala says that “occupational safety and health issues across national borders can only be tackled successfully through close cooperation between Member States.
The Agency has set up a unique network in all EU countries and beyond to promote safer jobs, healthier people and stronger businesses.”
European policymakers need to recognise the importance of good occupational safety and health to productivity and to people's quality of life – a concern in the line with the Lisbon strategy.
Key achievements in 2006
The ‘Safe Start campaign’ was dedicated to improving the health and safety of the EU's 75 million young workers. As well as making employers and young people more aware of risk, the campaign involved teachers and emphasised the importance of preparing young people for the work while they are still at college.
Eight organisations from across Europe were recognised by prestigious Good Practice Awards and the video competition boasted an excellent participation of young people who produced short documentaries of impressive quality.
The ‘Healthy Workplace Initiative’ for small businesses was launched in the newest EU Member States and candidate countries*. Under the motto ‘Good safety and health is good for business’, the Agency organised 36 seminars addressing its key target group: small businesses. 3,000 company representatives welcomed the opportunity to assess risks, involve workers in prevention plans and share good practice.
Protection of workers from new threats like avian flu is at the heart of the work of the ‘European Risk Observatory’. The Agency responded quickly to this new biological risk by releasing up to date information on the web portal. Good practice solutions and advice were made available to front-line workers such as flight attendants, nurses or veterinarians.
The Agency also started work on developing material for specific sectors such as hotels, restaurants and catering.
* Bulgaria, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Poland, Romania, Slovak Republic, Slovenia
Further reading:
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Annual report 2006: http://osha.europa.eu/publications/annual_report/2007
Safe Start campaign:http://ew2006.osha.europa.eu/ Healthy Workplace Initiative: http://hwi.osha.europa.eu/ European Risk Observatory: http://riskobservatory.osha.europa.eu/ |
Ends
Press enquiries:
| International press: Birgit Müller, Press Officer European Agency for Safety and Health at Work, Bilbao, tel. +34 94 479 35 52  |
Bilbao and Spanish press: Marta Urrutia, Project Manager European Agency for Safety and Health at Work, Bilbao tel. +34 94 479 57 46  |
Other enquiries:
European Agency for Safety and Health at Work,
Gran Via 33,
E-48009 Bilbao,
Spain
fax: +34 94 479 4383
Email:
Notes to editors:
1. 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.
