The European Agency for Safety and Health at Work

1. The European Agency for Safety and Health at Work Birgit Müller Tallinn, 23.10.2008

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

3. 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 • Europe-wide network of national focal points

4. EU-OSHA: objectives and tasks • 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

5. EU statistics • 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) • 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 EU27; http://www.ilo.org/public/english/protection/safework/wdcongrs17/index.htm • European Foundation for the Improvement of Living and Working Conditions, Fourth European working conditions survey, 2007

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

7. Community Strategy of the EU Commission, 2007-2012* • Objectives • Sustainable reduction of workplace accidents and diseases • Reduce by 25% the total incidence rate of accidents at work • Instruments • 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 workhttp://eur-lex.europa.eu/LexUriServ/site/en/com/2007/com2007_0062en01.pdf

8. EU-OSHA: Organisation

9. EU-OSHA: Risk Observatory • 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

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

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

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

13. Expert forecast on psychosocial risks

14. Expert forecast on psychosocial risks • 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: • New forms of work contracts • Insecurity • Intensified work • High emotional demands • Violence at work • Poor work-life balance • European Foundation for the Improvement of Living and Working Conditions, Fourth European working conditions survey, 2007 • European Commission, Guidance on work-related stress, 2002

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

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

17. Risk assessment campaign • Certificate of participation • European Week (20.-24.10.2008) • Seminars, exhibitions, trainings • Cooperations between small and big companies • Partner offer • Active promotion on EU-OSHA web site • Newsletter • To EU Media

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

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