Safe and sound

Every three-and-a-half minutes somebody in the EU dies from work-related causes. This means that almost 167,000 deaths a year result from either work-related accidents or occupational diseases. Most of these accidents and diseases are preventable, and the first step in preventing them is risk assessment. This is the message of our new Europe-wide information campaign ‘Healthy workplaces: good for you, good for business (A European campaign on risk assessment)’.

The campaign will be launched on 13 June and focuses especially on high-risk sectors such as construction, healthcare and agriculture, and on the needs of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). It will run over two years and contributes to the objectives of the community strategy related to health and safety at work (2007-2012), which aims to cut work-related accidents by a quarter across the EU.

Backed by the EU presidencies, the European parliament, commission and the social partners, the campaign is running in all EU member states and beyond. It is founded on the following principles.

First, risk assessment is key to reducing accidents and workplace illness. Risk assessment is the process of systematically evaluating the risks to workers’ safety and health from workplace hazards. It is a powerful tool that enables employers to understand the action they need to take to eliminate or minimise the risks and to identify and take the measures necessary to protect the safety and health of their workers. It is the start of the process of safety and health management. Through the healthy workplaces campaign, we want to encourage companies to carry out their assessments properly, involving everyone in the workplace and promote successful good practices that can be adapted to a variety of workplaces.

Second, risk assessment is at the heart of occupational safety and health policies. Despite many improvements in health and safety, every year millions of EU workers are still injured or have their health seriously harmed at work. Many companies all over Europe are already carrying out successful hazard evaluations. However, empirical data shows there is still room for improvement, especially among SMEs. Apart from their moral responsibilities, employers in the EU have a legal duty to protect their employees. The framework directive 89/391 has been incorporated into national law in all member states and places a legal obligation on employers to manage occupational safety and health in their workplaces.

Third, risk assessment has business and economic benefits. Workplace accidents and illnesses are costly. Apart from the human cost for workers and their families, there is the cost for organisations when things go wrong, including the cost of reduced productivity. And there are costs for governments, as accidents and illness place a burden on healthcare systems. However, creating safe working conditions enables companies to cut costs. Proper risk assessment helps reduce rates of sick leave, and insurance costs come down with fewer claims. More highly motivated workers are more productive and efficient, and staff turnover rates fall. This all helps businesses become more competitive.

Fourth, risk assessment is no mystery. Risk assessment is not necessarily complicated or a task only for experts. A simple, step-by-step approach is often all that is needed, and many resources and examples of good practice are available to help make the process easier. With the healthy workplaces campaign we want to promote a simple five-step approach, and encourage companies to carry out their risk assessment in-house on an ongoing basis.

We encourage a wide range of businesses and organisations to get the key messages of the strategy across to their partners. Participating organisations and individuals can download a personalised certificate or show their commitment by getting involved as a campaign sponsor or partner. During the European week for safety and health at work (20-26 October 2008 and 19-25 October 2009), a series of events will be organised involving the agency’s network of focal points, which are usually national authorities in each member state. The campaign also features good practice awards, which recognise companies and organisations that have made outstanding contributions in promoting risk assessment in the workplace.

A wide variety of campaign materials in 22 EU languages is available for download from the campaign website www.osha.europa.eu

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