Recent news
Accidents can kill and maim. They affect all sectors of the economy, but the problem is particularly acute in small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).
As well as the cost in terms of lost lives and suffering to workers and their families, accidents affect business and society as a whole. Fewer accidents means less sick leave, which results in lower costs and less disruption to the production process. It also saves employers the expense of recruiting and training new staff, and can cut the cost of early retirement and insurance pay-outs.
Slips, trips and falls are the largest cause of accidents in all sectors from heavy manufacturing to office work. Other hazards include falling objects, thermal and chemical burns, fires and explosions, dangerous substances and stress. To prevent accidents occurring in the workplace, employers should establish a safety management system that incorporates risk assessment and monitoring procedures.
- Read the key facts
- Agency publications on accident prevention
- Carrying out a risk assessment
- Significant hazards and risks
- Slips, trips and falls
- Construction — an accident black spot
- Accident prevention checklist
- Consultation, information and training
- Employing workers who may be at increased risk
- European legislation
What do I have to do? Advice for employers
How do I keep safe? Advice for employees
Occupational Risks Insurance in the United States - Organization and 2008-2009 statistical data ()This document presents a descriptive overview of the occupational risks insurance in the United States. It deals with its history and its operating modes. |
US- Home healthcare workers – updated guidance documents ()Home healthcare workers can be vulnerable as they face an unprotected and unpredictable environment each time they enter a client's community and home. |
UK, HSE, Vehicles at work - Interactive case studies ()The UK Health and Safety Executive has put together some ‘before-and-after’ interactive case studies to help you think and talk about vehicle safety in the workplace. They are all based on events that their inspectors have reported. |
Innovative solutions to safety and health risks in the construction, healthcare and HORECA sectors ()
One conclusion from the EU-OSHA economic incentives project is that incentives schemes should not only reward past results of good OSH management (such as accident numbers in experience rating), but should also reward specific prevention efforts that aim to reduce future accidents and ill-health. Experts from the economic incentives project therefore suggested the development of compilations of innovative and evidence-based preventive solutions, starting with the three sectors construction, health care and HORECA (hotels, restaurants, catering). The preventive measures from these compilations are worth promoting in their own right, as well as being applied in economic incentives schemes. These preventive solutions can be used as a basis for incentive-providing organisations to develop their own incentive scheme, adapted to the specific situation in their sector and country.
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How to create economic incentives in occupational safety and health: A practical guide ()
This Guide on Economic Incentives Schemes is intended to serve as a practical and user-friendly guide to help incentive providers to create or optimise their own economic incentive schemes. Incentives schemes should not only reward past results of good OSH management (such as low accident numbers), but should also reward specific prevention efforts that aim to reduce future accidents and ill-health. Therefore the expert group suggested the development of compilations of innovative and evidence-based preventive solutions, starting with the three sectors construction, health care and HORECA.
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Occupational Safety and Health culture assessment - A review of main approaches and selected tools ()
Occupational safety and health culture, or more briefly 'OSH culture', can be seen as a concept for exploring how informal organisational aspects influence OSH in a positive or negative way. The aim is to convey up-to-date information on this complex topic in a straightforward, condensed way, trying to build a bridge between research and practice. The main approaches and methods that exist to assess the safety culture in an organisation are presented and discussed. This review gives an overview and selection of useful tools and techniques from the EU domain and abroad.
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EU-OSHA - New report: Occupational Safety and Health culture assessment ()A new report from EU-OSHA has just been published: Occupational Safety and Health culture assessment - A review of main approaches and selected tools |
EU-Eurogip statistical review of occupational injuries Denmark. Data 2004-2010 ()This document sets out a descriptive synthesis of the main available statistical data about accidents at work, commuting accidents and occupational diseases of the considered EU Member State. It comes from the use by EUROGIP of various official publications from Member States. |
FR-New forms of work organisation and their impact on occupational accident risks (in French) ()This study explores methodologies to analyse how new forms of work organisation (linked to certification, just-in-time management, autonomous team work, etc.) impact on occupational accidents and rates of work-related MSDs. |
UK - Health and safety in the air transport industry ()The Webpage gives access to a number of resources related to occupational safety and health |
Emergency workers need better OSH protection ()A new report shows that emergency workers have a high risk of suffering fatal accidents, injuries and other occupational diseases. Past disasters demonstrate that both communities and companies are often not fully prepared for major accidents and catastrophes. Better protection for emergency workers against occupational hazards should be given high priority, as current environmental, economic, and political developments suggest an increase in the severity and frequency of future disasters. Full report: “Emergency services: occupational safety and health risks” |
Emergency services: occupational safety and health risks ()
The report shows that emergency workers have a high risk of suffering fatal accidents, injuries and other occupational diseases. Past disasters demonstrate that both communities and companies are often not fully prepared for major accidents and catastrophes. Better protection for emergency workers against occupational hazards should be given high priority, as current environmental, economic, and political developments suggest an increase in the severity and frequency of future disasters.
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UK - FLTA, Road transport industry worst for fork lift safety ()The road transport industry now has by far the UK’s worst fork lift truck safety record, accounting for around a quarter of the overall UK injury toll, according to new figures revealed for National Fork Lift Safety Week (running from 19 September). |
EU-OSHA launches landmark project to facilitate risk assessment in Europe’s small enterprises ()The Online interactive Risk Assessment (OiRA) project marks the first initiative at EU level to facilitate workplace risk assessment. Developed EU-OSHA, the innovative tool will help Europe’s 20 million micro and small enterprises to improve safety and health for their workers by assessing risks through an easy-to-use and cost-free web application. More information on the OiRA project dedicated website: http://www.oiraproject.eu/about |
UK - IOSH, Safety of young employees at work discussed at Eurosafe conference ()The safety of young employees at work was one of the workshops at the annual Eurosafe conference held in Budapest in June. It is an important issue as over half a million young workers were injured in the EU in 2007. |
Napo in … Safe moves ()Our famous cartoon character Napo shows that workplace transport must be well organised to reduce risks and manage hazards properly. This requires planning and monitoring by senior managers, risk assessment and appropriate action by employees who should be trained. Scenes include site, people and vehicle safety, maintenance, visibility, reversing and loading. Factsheet - Preventing vehicle transport accidents at the workplace (various languages) E-fact - Preventing vehicle accidents in construction (English only) Occupational Safety and Health of Road Transport Drivers (24 languages) |
ES - Road safety plan in return for a reduction in contributions ()The Interior and Labour Ministers signed an agreement for collaboration to prevent work-related road accidents, of which there were 68,833 in 2009, accounting for 9.88% of lost-time injuries. |
UK: Increase in the number of workers killed at work ()New official statistics published today show the number of workers killed in Britain last year has increased. The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has released provisional data for the year April 2010 to March 2011, which shows the number of workers killed was 171 an increase on the previous year, when 147 died - the lowest number on record. The rate of fatal injury is now 0.6 per 100,000 workers, up from 0.5 per 100,000 workers the previous year. |
New EU Directive to prevent sharp injuries in the hospital and healthcare sector ()Member States shall bring into force the laws, regulations and administrative provisions necessary to comply with this Directive or shall ensure that the social partners have introduced the necessary measures by agreement by 11 May 2013 at the latest. Access our section and good practice information on Prevention from sharp injuries at the workplace. |
World Health Day – 7 April ()EU-OSHA engages in Workplace Health Promotion to encourage the improvement of health and well-being at work, and thereby cutting the cost of illness in the EU workforce. Workplace Health Promotion leads to reduced absenteeism, enhanced motivation, and improved productivity. Workplace Health Promotion at a glance |
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- Publications
- Coming soon: Management Leadership in Occupational Safety and Health – a practical guide
- How to create economic incentives in occupational safety and health: A practical guide
- Innovative solutions to safety and health risks in the construction, healthcare and HORECA sectors
- Occupational Safety and Health culture assessment - A review of main approaches and selected tools
- Magazine 12 - Healthy Workplaces. A European Campaign on Safe Maintenance
- News
- Occupational Risks Insurance in the United States - Organization and 2008-2009 statistical data 29.02.2012
- US- Home healthcare workers – updated guidance documents 28.02.2012
- UK, HSE, Vehicles at work - Interactive case studies 16.02.2012
- Innovative solutions to safety and health risks in the construction, healthcare and HORECA sectors 21.12.2011
- How to create economic incentives in occupational safety and health: A practical guide 21.12.2011
