Safe maintenance goes to top of the agenda in European Week

EU-OSHA’s Director Dr. Jukka Takala said with up to 20% of maintenance related workplace accidents, it is clear that Safe Maintenance is a vital component in the Healthy Workplaces Campaign. “Scientific studies also show that maintenance workers are more prone to occupational diseases and work-related health problems such as asbestosis, cancer, hearing problems, and musculoskeletal disorders,” he said. “For the sake of the health and safety of all workers everywhere, it is essential that we make the most of each opportunity to raise awareness about the importance of safe maintenance throughout Europe.”

The events will equip stakeholders with relevant knowledge on how to get maintenance right – the healthy and safe way. By bringing together government, business and the general public, the importance of safe maintenance will be cemented across sectors and national borders.

Key in this European Week will be the 30 new Official campaign partners - a wide range of companies and associations from the private and public sector, including some of Europe’s most well known companies who have joined forces with the Agency and started to promote good practices in safe maintenance through a variety of activities.

“With such a large range of events being held throughout Europe, everyone is bound to get the message that safe maintenance is key to Healthy Workplaces from the workshop floor to the boardroom,” Dr Takala said.

For more information about the European Week and the activities visit the Healthy Workplaces Campaign website at: http://hw.osha.europa.eu

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Notes to editors

1. The mission of the European Agency for Safety and Health at Work (EU-OSHA) is to make Europe a safer, healthier and more productive place to work. EU-OSHA 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, EU-OSHA 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. http://osha.europa.eu

2. The Healthy Workplaces Campaign 2010-2011, which is co-ordinated by the European Agency for Safety and Health at Work and its partners in the 27 EU Member States, supports a wide range of activities at the national and European level that promote safe maintenance. It will highlight the importance of maintenance (of plants, equipment, machines and workplaces) to eliminate workplace hazards, and to provide safer and healthier working conditions in workplaces throughout Europe. It is backed by the EU Presidencies of Spain and Belgium in 2010 and of Hungary and Poland in 2011, by the European Parliament and the European Commission, and by the European Social Partners. http://hw.osha.europa.eu

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