Factsheet 41 - Biological agents
The theme for the European Week for Safety and Health at Work 2003 is the prevention of risks from dangerous substances. The Agency is producing a series of factsheets focusing on the communication of occupational safety and health-related information on dangerous substances including biological agents. Biological agents are found in many sectors. As they are rarely visible, the risks they pose are not always appreciated. They include bacteria, viruses, fungi (yeasts and moulds) and parasites.
:
European Agency for Safety and Health at Work
:
18.06.2003
:
TEAE03S41END
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Organisations deal with OSH in different ways: some organisations have little expertise in OSH and react to problems such as occupational accidents, work-related diseases and absenteeism in an ad hoc way, while others strive to manage OSH more systematically, and even proactively, by implementing OSH into the organisation’s overall management. This report aims to provide evidence and information on how OSH can be incorporated into general management and business, thereby achieving safer and healthier working environments, and better general organisational performance.
This report comprises three main parts, each with a different specific focus: (1) a literature review, (2) an overview of related policies, and (3) a report of case studies and good practice. Readers should refer to the appropriate sections of the report for more detailed discussions and further information about each area.
Around 6% of workers are involved in maintenance activities on a daily basis. Because they carry out a wide range of different activities, they are exposed to many and varied hazards at work. There are physical hazards (e.g., noise, vibration, excessive heat and cold, radiation, high physical workload), chemical hazards (work with asbestos, welding, exposure to dangerous substances when working in confined spaces), biological hazards (legionella), and psychosocial hazards (poor work organisation). Maintenance workers are also at risk of all types of accidents. Figures from EUROSTAT indicate that around 10-15% of all fatal accidents are related to maintenance operations.
Musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) remain the most common occupational disease in the European Union and workers in all sectors and occupations can be affected. Recent figures, for example from Austria, Germany or France, also demonstrate an increasing impact of musculoskeletal disorders on costs. This latest report, following on from the Agency’s previous research, aims to give an updated overview of the current European situation as regards musculoskeletal disorders, the trends over the years since the first campaign in 2000, and a detailed insight into the causes and circumstances behind MSDs. The report highlights the main issues and aims to provide a well-founded evidence base, helping policy makers, actors at enterprise and sector level, as well as researchers and those who record, prevent and compensate occupational diseases in the European Union to set the agenda for the next years.
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- Upcoming Events
- 3. Gesundheitsgipfel mit dem Thema: Führung und die vielfältigen Potenziale der Beschäftigten DE Grainau, 08.08.2010
- T2010, the tri-annual meeting of the International Council on Alcohol, Drugs and Traffic Safety NO Oslo, 22.08.2010
- PREMUS 2010. 7th International Conference on Prevention of Work-related Musculoskeletal Disorders FR Angers, 28.08.2010
- 5th China International Forum on Work Safety CN Beijing, 01.09.2010
- Nationale Tagung für betriebliche Gesundheitsförderung 2010 Freiburg - Schweiz, 02.09.2010
