EU conference debates the implementation of the new Community Strategy for improving safety and health at work
News release - 07.11.2007
On 6 November 2007, leading policy makers and key EU and national stakeholders met in Lisbon, Portugal, to discuss how best to achieve the objectives set out in the new ‘Community Strategy for Health and Safety at Work, 2007-2012’. The new five-year scheme aims at cutting work-related accidents by a quarter across the EU and to move forward the positive trends of the previous programme.
At the conference, which was coorganised by the Portuguese EU Presidency and the European Commission, representatives from the Commission, European Parliament and Council as well as high ranking employers’ and workers’ representatives discussed the strategic challenges and different experiences in establishing and implementing national strategies, a key element of the new Community strategy. Particular emphasis was placed on partnership at European and national level as a lever for increasing quality and efficiency in labour markets and competitiveness in our economies.
EU workers still at risk
Mr Nikolaus van der Pas, the European Commission's Director-General for Employment, Social Affairs and Equal Opportunities, underlined that "although the EU has seen a significant fall in occupational accidents during the period of the previous Community Strategy (2002 - 2006), results of the latest ‘European survey of working conditions’ show that many workers believe that their jobs negatively influence their health or safety".
Innovation and transformation of work patterns have had a significant impact on occupational hazards and new risks are constantly appearing. And what is more, a sad reality remains unchanged: some workers’ groups, companies and sectors are still more at risk than others. For example, 18 to 24-year-olds are at least 50% more likely to be hurt at work. Small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs) have fewer resources to put complex systems of worker protection in place and some sectors such as construction and transport present more danger to people.
"These new and ongoing challenges mean that although we have achieved some good results, we must continue to work hard to improve health and safety across the European Union: this is the main driver behind the new Community Strategy 2007-2012", concluded Mr Van der Pas.
The New Community Strategy
The main challenge within the framework of the new Community Strategy 2007-2012 is to reduce the total incidence rate of accidents at work by 25% in the EU27. In order to achieve this ambitious goal, the Commission focuses strongly on the development and implementation of national strategies. Proper risk assessment should be encouraged, continuously monitoring the progress. All measures should guarantee a high level of compliance with the legislation in force, in particular in SMEs and high-risk sectors and a health-focused approach should be adopted.
The role of EU-OSHA
The European Agency for Safety and Health at Work (EU-OSHA) remains a key player within this strategy. It is to develop awareness-raising campaigns targeted in particular at SMEs, and to promote health and safety management in enterprises through the exchange of experience and good practices.
Furthermore, it reviews the extent to which health and safety aspects have been incorporated into Member States' vocational and occupational training policies. The European Risk Observatory, integral part of EU-OSHA, anticipates risks associated with new technologies, biological hazards, complex human-machine interfaces and the impact of demographic trends.
The commitment to increase employment and productivity through greater competitiveness requires an additional effort from all those involved in the field of occupational safety and health. An integrated and strategic response is needed to reduce the high cost of occupational accidents and diseases and to make well-being at work a tangible reality for European citizens.
Further reading:
Community strategy 2007-2012 on health and safety at work
http://eur-lex.europa.eu/LexUriServ/site/en/com/2007/com2007_0062en01.pdf
Community strategy 2007-2012: a summary
http://osha.europa.eu/new_eustrategy
Fourth European Working Conditions Survey
http://www.eurofound.europa.eu/ewco/surveys/EWCS2005/index.htm
Portuguese Presidency of the EU
http://www.eu2007.pt
Ministry of Labour and Social Security - events during the Portuguese Presidency of the EU
www.mtss.gov.pt/eu2007pt
Working Conditions Authority
www.act.gov.pt
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.
EU workers still at risk
Mr Nikolaus van der Pas, the European Commission's Director-General for Employment, Social Affairs and Equal Opportunities, underlined that "although the EU has seen a significant fall in occupational accidents during the period of the previous Community Strategy (2002 - 2006), results of the latest ‘European survey of working conditions’ show that many workers believe that their jobs negatively influence their health or safety".
Innovation and transformation of work patterns have had a significant impact on occupational hazards and new risks are constantly appearing. And what is more, a sad reality remains unchanged: some workers’ groups, companies and sectors are still more at risk than others. For example, 18 to 24-year-olds are at least 50% more likely to be hurt at work. Small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs) have fewer resources to put complex systems of worker protection in place and some sectors such as construction and transport present more danger to people.
"These new and ongoing challenges mean that although we have achieved some good results, we must continue to work hard to improve health and safety across the European Union: this is the main driver behind the new Community Strategy 2007-2012", concluded Mr Van der Pas.
The New Community Strategy
The main challenge within the framework of the new Community Strategy 2007-2012 is to reduce the total incidence rate of accidents at work by 25% in the EU27. In order to achieve this ambitious goal, the Commission focuses strongly on the development and implementation of national strategies. Proper risk assessment should be encouraged, continuously monitoring the progress. All measures should guarantee a high level of compliance with the legislation in force, in particular in SMEs and high-risk sectors and a health-focused approach should be adopted.
The role of EU-OSHA
The European Agency for Safety and Health at Work (EU-OSHA) remains a key player within this strategy. It is to develop awareness-raising campaigns targeted in particular at SMEs, and to promote health and safety management in enterprises through the exchange of experience and good practices.
Furthermore, it reviews the extent to which health and safety aspects have been incorporated into Member States' vocational and occupational training policies. The European Risk Observatory, integral part of EU-OSHA, anticipates risks associated with new technologies, biological hazards, complex human-machine interfaces and the impact of demographic trends.
The commitment to increase employment and productivity through greater competitiveness requires an additional effort from all those involved in the field of occupational safety and health. An integrated and strategic response is needed to reduce the high cost of occupational accidents and diseases and to make well-being at work a tangible reality for European citizens.
Ends
Further reading:
Community strategy 2007-2012 on health and safety at work
http://eur-lex.europa.eu/LexUriServ/site/en/com/2007/com2007_0062en01.pdf
Community strategy 2007-2012: a summary
http://osha.europa.eu/new_eustrategy
Fourth European Working Conditions Survey
http://www.eurofound.europa.eu/ewco/surveys/EWCS2005/index.htm
Portuguese Presidency of the EU
http://www.eu2007.pt
Ministry of Labour and Social Security - events during the Portuguese Presidency of the EU
www.mtss.gov.pt/eu2007pt
Working Conditions Authority
www.act.gov.pt
| International press: Birgit Müller, Press Officer European Agency for Safety and Health at Work tel. +34 94 479 35 52  |
Brussels: Brenda O'Brien, Brussels Liaison Officer NCI Business Centre, Rue Wiertz 50, B-1050 Brussels Tel. +32 2 401 68 59  |
Other enquiries: European Agency for Safety and Health at Work, Gran Via 33, E-48009 Bilbao Fax: +34 94 479 4383  |
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.
