The European Agency for Safety and Health at

The European Agency for Safety and Health at Work Birgit Müller Tallinn, 23. 10. 2008

In this presentation… Ø Ø Ø Structure and responsibilities of the Agency EU statistics Community Strategy 2007 -2012 Current projects Information campaigns Information resources 2

EU-OSHA: an overview Institution of the EU Commission Founded 1996 Located in Bilbao, Spain 60 experts from 15 MS Tripartite institution: governments, employers and employees organisations Ø Europe-wide network of national focal points Ø Ø Ø 3

EU-OSHA: objectives and tasks Ø Ø Ø Ø Promotion of safety and health at work Central EU information point Scientific, technical and economic publications Research and statistics on workplace risks Development of a prevention culture Cooperation with EU and international networks EU-wide information campaigns 4

EU statistics Ø Ø Ø 5. 720 fatal workplace accidents/year (1) 159. 500 occupational diseases leading to death/year (2) Construction, agriculture, health care, transport, fisheries and SMEs most at risk Higher risks for young, old and migrant workers 28% of employees report work-related health problems (3) (1) (2) (3) EUROSTAT 2005: Figure in recorded economic sectors covering 87% of the workforce in the 27 EU Member States. ILO 2005: Figure is an estimation for EU 27; http: //www. ilo. org/public/english/protection/safework/wdcongrs 17/index. htm European Foundation for the Improvement of Living and Working Conditions, Fourth European working conditions survey, 2007 5

Challenges Ø Demographic developments Ø New tendencies: more self-employed, subcontracting, more SMEs Ø Stronger migration to Europe Ø More women on the labour market Ø More musculo-skeletal and psychological diseases Ø Faster innovation Ø Precarious contracts 6

Community Strategy of the EU Commission, 2007 -2012* Ø Objectives o Sustainable reduction of workplace accidents and diseases o Reduce by 25% the total incidence rate of accidents at work Ø Instruments o o o o Provide a modern and efficient legal framework Development of national strategies Support SMEs in implementing legislation Encourage behavioural changes Identify new and emerging risks Motivate companies to go beyond legal requirements Use economic incentives (1) Community strategy 2007 -2012 on health and safety at work http: //eur-lex. europa. eu/Lex. Uri. Serv/site/en/com/2007/com 2007_0062 en 01. pdf 7

EU-OSHA: Organisation Governing board DIREKTOR DIRECTOR DIREKTOR Network Secretariat Risk Observatory Working Environment Communication and Promotion Administration 8

EU-OSHA: Risk Observatory Ø Ø Ø Research on new and emerging risks Overview on occupational safety in Europe Coordination of EU research Provide discussion platform for politicians http: //osha. europa. eu/en/riskobservatory 9

EU-OSHA: Working environment Ø Promotion of good practice and information to employers/employees Ø Reports for OSH experts and policy makers Ø Expert literature and material for European campaigns 10

EU-OSHA: Communication and Promotion Ø Planning and management of EU-wide information campaigns Ø Promotion of expert reports Ø Website: content and technical management Ø Monthly newsletter OSHmail Ø Events and trade fairs 11

EU-OSHA: current reports Ø Protecting workers in hotel, restaurants and catering Ø Expert forecasts on new and emerging risks o o Physical Biological Psychosocial Chemical (early 2009) Ø Young workers Ø Economic incentives related to OSH (under development) 12

Expert forecast on psychosocial risks 13

Expert forecast on psychosocial risks Ø Ø Ø 22% of EU employees suffer from stress (1) Second most reported work-related health problem 50 -60% of absences from work are related to stress Economic cost: EUR 20 billion (EU-15, 2002) Causes: o o o New forms of work contracts Insecurity Intensified work High emotional demands Violence at work Poor work-life balance (1) European Foundation for the Improvement of Living and Working Conditions, Fourth European working conditions survey, 2007 (2) European Commission, Guidance on work-related stress, 2002 14

European campaigns Ø 2000: Turn your Back on Musculoskeletal Disorders Ø 2001: Success is no Accident Ø 2002: Working on Stress Ø 2003: Dangerous Substances – Handle with Care Ø 2004: Building in Safety Ø 2005: Stop that Noise! Ø 2006: Safe Start Ø 2007: Lighten the load Ø 2008 -2009: Risk assessment Ø 2010 -2011: Maintenance 15

Risk assessment campaign Ø Risk assessment is the first step to safe and healthy workplaces Ø Since adoption of Directive Nr. 89/391 risk assessment is a legal obligation Ø Target groups: o SMEs o Companies from dangerous sectors o OSH experts Ø Communication focus: o o o o Raise awareness Promote more risk assessments Demystify the process Quality counts! Involve all persons at work Ongoing process Identify and promote good practice 16

Risk assessment campaign Ø Certificate of participation o European Week (20. -24. 10. 2008) o Seminars, exhibitions, trainings o Cooperations between small and big companies Ø Partner offer o Active promotion on EU-OSHA web site o Newsletter o To EU Media 17

Risk assessment campaign Ø Ø 19 National partnership meetings 45 Stakeholder meetings 25 out of 27 Member States participate Total number of participants: 5850 Ø Ø Ø 3 press conferences 6 radio call-ins 8 journalist/expert round tables 16 national news releases 11 professional articles Already ~ 2 million publications and promotion items distributed! 18

Thank you very much for your attention! Birgit Müller muller@osha. europa. eu Tel. 0034 94 479 35 52 19