Good practices will ‘Lighten the load’
News release - 23.04.2007
The European Agency for Safety and Health at Work invites nominations for the eighth European Good Practice Awards in occupational health and safety.
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.
'Musculoskeletal disorders are the most common work-related health problem in Europe; across the EU, 25% of workers suffer from backache and 23% have muscular pains’, explains Jukka Takala, Director of the European Agency for Safety and Health at Work. ‘Many problems can be prevented or greatly reduced through employers complying with existing safety and health law and following good practice. Through our Lighten the load campaign and the Good Practice Awards competition we will demonstrate that there are specific actions that can be taken if MSDs are to be tackled effectively.’
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.
Good practice examples are implemented solutions to promote the effective management of occupational safety and health risks in the workplace, and prevention measures to reduce the incidence of 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, rehabilitation and sickness schemes, and procurement plans to provide, in consultation with workers, ‘user friendly’ machines and equipment.
Good practice examples are invited from all EU Member States. They can be submitted by individual enterprises or by intermediary organisations such as chambers of commerce, trade and professional organisations, trade unions, and by others providing assistance, support and information at workplace level.
The Agency will announce the winners at the campaign's closing event in March 2008 in Bilbao. The awards will provide the winners with European recognition for their role in improving working conditions in Europe, and the awarded examples will be presented in an Agency booklet to be distributed across Europe.
Further information about the awards and national contact details are available online at http://ew2007.osha.europa.eu/.
Press enquiries:
Andrew Smith, Head of Communication and Promotion Unit, European Agency for Safety and Health at Work, email:
tel: +34 94 479 43 60, or
Marta Urrutia, Communication and Promotion Unit,
email:
tel: +34 94 479 4376
Other enquiries:
European Agency for Safety and Health at Work, Gran Via 33, E-48009 Bilbao, Spain, email:
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.
2. Good Practice Awards are part of an annual European campaign which culminates in the European Week for Safety and Health at Work from 22 to 26 October 2007. Lighten the Load is the European Agency for Safety and Health at Work's 2007 campaign to tackle MSDs in the workplace.
3. The campaign follows a decentralised model: the Agency coordinates campaign activities, provides information in 22 languages and via the campaign website, organises Good Practice Awards, and the Closing Event; national Focal Points in each of the 27 EU Member Sates promote, stimulate and organise activities at national level. The dual objectives of the Week are to increase awareness of risks and to promote good practice solutions.
4. The 'Lighten the load' campaign will be officially launched in June 2007 in the European Commission, Berlaymont building, Brussels. The European Week itself will take place from 22 - 26 October 2007. The campaign's closing event will take place in March 2008 in Bilbao.
5. Updated information about Good Practice Awards 2007, the campaign as well as national contact points are available at http://ew2007.osha.europa.eu/.
'Musculoskeletal disorders are the most common work-related health problem in Europe; across the EU, 25% of workers suffer from backache and 23% have muscular pains’, explains Jukka Takala, Director of the European Agency for Safety and Health at Work. ‘Many problems can be prevented or greatly reduced through employers complying with existing safety and health law and following good practice. Through our Lighten the load campaign and the Good Practice Awards competition we will demonstrate that there are specific actions that can be taken if MSDs are to be tackled effectively.’
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.
Good practice examples are implemented solutions to promote the effective management of occupational safety and health risks in the workplace, and prevention measures to reduce the incidence of 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, rehabilitation and sickness schemes, and procurement plans to provide, in consultation with workers, ‘user friendly’ machines and equipment.
Good practice examples are invited from all EU Member States. They can be submitted by individual enterprises or by intermediary organisations such as chambers of commerce, trade and professional organisations, trade unions, and by others providing assistance, support and information at workplace level.
The Agency will announce the winners at the campaign's closing event in March 2008 in Bilbao. The awards will provide the winners with European recognition for their role in improving working conditions in Europe, and the awarded examples will be presented in an Agency booklet to be distributed across Europe.
Further information about the awards and national contact details are available online at http://ew2007.osha.europa.eu/.
Ends
Press enquiries:
Andrew Smith, Head of Communication and Promotion Unit, European Agency for Safety and Health at Work, email:
tel: +34 94 479 43 60, or
Marta Urrutia, Communication and Promotion Unit,
email:
tel: +34 94 479 4376
Other enquiries:
European Agency for Safety and Health at Work, Gran Via 33, E-48009 Bilbao, Spain, email:
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.
2. Good Practice Awards are part of an annual European campaign which culminates in the European Week for Safety and Health at Work from 22 to 26 October 2007. Lighten the Load is the European Agency for Safety and Health at Work's 2007 campaign to tackle MSDs in the workplace.
3. The campaign follows a decentralised model: the Agency coordinates campaign activities, provides information in 22 languages and via the campaign website, organises Good Practice Awards, and the Closing Event; national Focal Points in each of the 27 EU Member Sates promote, stimulate and organise activities at national level. The dual objectives of the Week are to increase awareness of risks and to promote good practice solutions.
4. The 'Lighten the load' campaign will be officially launched in June 2007 in the European Commission, Berlaymont building, Brussels. The European Week itself will take place from 22 - 26 October 2007. The campaign's closing event will take place in March 2008 in Bilbao.
5. Updated information about Good Practice Awards 2007, the campaign as well as national contact points are available at http://ew2007.osha.europa.eu/.
