EU-Agency targets improvement of the quality of working life in an enlarged European Union

Many small businesses in the EU have already discovered that good safety and health is fundamental for company success. An effective health and safety policy is not only essential for the well-being of workers, but it also ensures that enterprises and economies thrive in the long term. Companies that engage in risk prevention minimise production losses resulting from injuries or diseases, increase their productivity and at the same time reduce costs.

To spread this message more widely, the European Agency for Safety and Health at Work is working with its national network and the Euro Info Centres on the second round of the 2007 ‘Healthy Workplace Initiative’. Under the slogan ‘Good safety and health is good for business’, the campaign gives small companies easy access to quality information on how to make their workplaces safer, healthier and more productive.

During the upcoming seminars workers and employers will get the opportunity to meet professionals from the occupational safety and health sector and companies that already benefit from improved safety and health at work. Company representatives can assess risks, develop prevention plans and share good practices. Useful material such as risk assessment checklists and tools to enhance the safety culture are made available. They enable employers and employees to analyse and assess their work environment according to specific sector or hazard needs and provide advice and support for change and improvement.

Jukka Takala, the Agency’s Director, comments on the campaign:
”The latest evaluation has shown that there is real interest amongst Europe’s small businesses to improve levels of safety and health, and a real need for simple tools for them to start assessing risks in the workplace. The success of the campaign has also shown that by pooling the resources and expertise of the Euro Info Centres and the Agency’s focal point network including the business and worker contacts and relations, we can make real headway in addressing their practical needs.”

Heinz Zourek, Director General, DG Enterprise and Industry commented:
”We strongly believe that Croatia, Turkey as well as the old Member States will benefit from this experience. A close collaboration between EICs and focal points is essential if we want to better address SMEs needs in the field of occupational safety and health”.

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.

2.    The Healthy Workplace Initiative (HWI) is a targeted campaign aimed at providing both SMEs employers and workers with easy access to information about how to improve their business environment by becoming healthier and more productive.  In 2007 it will run in Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Poland, Romania, Slovak Republic, Slovenia, and Turkey.

3.    More information is available at  http://hwi.osha.europa.eu
 

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