1. Workshop on Occupational Health and Safety in Public Establishments TAIEX (INT MARKT 53901) Risks other than office works Ankara, 7 – 8 October 2013 Laurencia Jančurová Taiex expert, Slovak Republic

2. 2 Workshop on Occupational Health and Safety in Public Establishments Introduction Sector employs at least 40 million employers in EU (~20% of workforce) Typical for the public sector is a high proportion of female workers, and „older“ workers The sector covers a wide range of workplaces, more than just administration (office workers also in hospitals, laboratories, schools, construction sites, in fire protection and other services for public.) Despite some exceptions, sector is dominated by office workers and SMEs with fewer than 250 employees

3. 3 Workshop on Occupational Health and Safety in Public Establishments Introduction In addition to employees in offices who are in public sector in a high percentage, there is a great representation of various specific professions. Examples of such workers: doctors and nurses, laboratory technicians at hospitals and laboratories, any type of schools, fire protection, other services, civil engineers working at buildings; chemical engineers,.... Somebody else?

4. 4 Workshop on Occupational Health and Safety in Public Establishments Who are the public sectors workers ?

5. 5 Workshop on Occupational Health and Safety in Public Establishments Fire-fighters in action

6. 6 Workshop on Occupational Health and Safety in Public Establishments H&S risks and accidents in public sector The main health problems resulting from work in public sector are musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs), stress, and visual fatigue. But they are other problems such as: Slips, trips, falls, momentary physical indisposition, road accidents, injuries caused by others, sharp injuries at hospitals, etc., that are the most common causes of work related accidents.

7. 7 Workshop on Occupational Health and Safety in Public Establishments H&S risks and accidents in public sector Injuries caused by others – f. e. student attacks teacher, patients´ or clients´ attack to public sector employees etc. Sharp injuries – In Europe, it is estimated that there are 1 million needle stick injuries annually. Nurses are identified as being at the highest risk, but not only them, also auxiliary staff such as cleaners and laundry staff. To address this problem a Directive 2010/32/EU was adopted. It implements the Framework agreement on prevention from sharp injuries in hospital and healthcare sector signed by the European social partners HOSPEEM (the European hospital and healthcare employers' association) and EPSU (the European Federation of Public Services Unions).

8. 8 Workshop on Occupational Health and Safety in Public Establishments Work related risks result from: sedentary work, prolonged static postures, and working in awkward positions due to incorrect workstation set-up working with frequent and repetitive hand or wrist movements, high levels of concentration, and information overload work that is demanding, with time pressures, low levels of control over the working day, and inadequate support from managers and colleagues working at unsuitable temperatures, or with drafts, inadequate lighting, noise, restricted access and obstructions.

9. 9 Workshop on Occupational Health and Safety in Public Establishments Occupational diseases Most of the occupational diseases by professions of public sector - musculoskeletal diseases (55 %) Low back pain, disk ruptures, arthritis at various joints Carpal channel syndrome and similar varicose veins etc. Main reasons: work with PCs and display screen (wrong ergonomics, long hours sitting at work).

10. 10 Workshop on Occupational Health and Safety in Public Establishments What is typical for public sector There is a big diversity of working positions and professions in the public sector. In majority are the workers in the offices. Also office work is not compatible - there are jobs ranging from those that demand a high level of skill and knowledge (for example managers, financial administrators), to those where the workers have little control over their work or the organisation of their working day such as call centre, data processing work or secretaries.

11. 11 Workshop on Occupational Health and Safety in Public Establishments What is typical for public sector Regardless of type, nearly all public sectors´ jobs are depended on the use of computers. Working in public sector is often regarded as low-risk, but there are in fact a number of risks that public sector workers are exposed to.

12. 12 Workshop on Occupational Health and Safety in Public Establishments Public servants are facing the burden of Long hours seating at computers and work with display screens with little movement - musculoskeletal problems Work with customers, time pressure, difficult tasks,... psychosocial problems Environment - lighting, noise, restricted access and obstructions. f. e. open plan offices can create difficulties for workers in terms of communication and concentration. Manual handling of loads (in hospitals) Violence from customers, members of the public, patients in hospitals, students in schools... - psychosocial problems and trauma Sensory load – influence on eyes, hearing and other sensory organs – some examples?

13. 13 Workshop on Occupational Health and Safety in Public Establishments Risks other than the office work Road safety – public sectors´ workers are often drivers of business cars – driving, sitting long hours in cars, loading, unloading vehicles. Using a mobile phone while driving? - Calls should be timed on rest breaks or it is needed to redirect calls to voicemails while driving Tip: prefer using of public transport such as rail or air travel if possible.

14. 14 Workshop on Occupational Health and Safety in Public Establishments Risks other than the office work Maintenance works in public establishments. Health problems caused by air conditioning in public establishments (buildings, hospitals, schools etc.) - repetitive respiratory diseases, asthma, allergies or feeling of dry and irritated eyes, joint pain, dry and irritating cough, headache, depressive states etc. Exposure to dangerous substances (e.g. during cleaning offices, in laboratories, etc.) Chemicals – in laboratories, hospitals, (but also in schools) Hazards arising from electricity (fire or explosion)...... Other risks..... – depends of concrete job

15. 15 Workshop on Occupational Health and Safety in Public Establishments Risks other than the office work Slips, trips and falls from the high or on the ground - the largest cause of accidents in all sectors, from heavy manufacturing to office work. Statistics say, that in the Member States they are the main reason for work absences. Eurostat: falls on the same level are responsible for about 14% of all accidents resulting in absence of more than 3 days. It was a reason, the 62nd SLIC Plenary approved and adopted the proposal for the 2014 European campaign "Falling on a horizontal level - slips and trips"

16. 16 Workshop on Occupational Health and Safety in Public Establishments What else shall be taken into account while assessing risks? Workers are not a homogenous group: older people, young workers, women, disabled workers, pregnant women, maybe homeworkers, migrant workers etc. All they need a special treatment. Because of the demographic changes the proportion of older workers in the EU will increase during the next few decades – need of the age management at the workplace

17. 17 Workshop on Occupational Health and Safety in Public Establishments What to do to be successful with RA The risk assessment in the public sector has to take into account the diversity of professions so that all employees are protected from hazards regarding their job tasks. Remember! The risk assessment is not a difficult task, but we have to be consistent, to think of everything, to cooperate with employees and to be open to listen and to ask for their opinion. (Many sources offer a help – EU OSHA promotion documents to the campaigns Risk assessment, Working together for risk prevention etc.)

18. 18 Workshop on Occupational Health and Safety in Public Establishments Culture of prevention Prevention culture in health and safety is an investment which has positive human, social and economic results. A holistic approach combining well-being at work and ethical business management, thus bringing together previously conflicting objectives, including: - environmental impact; - improving working conditions; - eliminating hazards at work.

19. 19 Workshop on Occupational Health and Safety in Public Establishments What does prevention at the workplaces actually mean? Understanding why and how dangerous falls occur; identifying the areas where accidents are likely to happen; analysing risks and situations which could cause accidents; taking appropriate preventive measures before „something“ happens. Safety Wellbeing Welfare Health

20. 20 Workshop on Occupational Health and Safety in Public Establishments Other basic success factors Detailed risk assessment Strong motivation Involvement of relevant actors Support from the top management Good analysis/knowledge of effective potential solutions, best practice and scientific or technological innovations available Trust and cooperation between the parties Absence of major obstacles to the adoption of preventative/protective measures

21. Laurencia Jančurová, Slovak Republic e-mail: laurencia.jancurova@ip.gov.sk Workshop on Occupational Health and Safety in Public Establishments