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

2 In this presentation…  Structure and responsibilities of the Agency  EU statistics  Community Strategy  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  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 EU-OSHA: objectives and tasks

5 EU statistics  fatal workplace accidents/year (1)  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)EUROSTAT 2005: Figure in recorded economic sectors covering 87% of the workforce in the 27 EU Member States. (2)ILO 2005: Figure is an estimation for EU27; (3)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, *  Objectives oSustainable reduction of workplace accidents and diseases oReduce by 25% the total incidence rate of accidents at work  Instruments oProvide a modern and efficient legal framework oDevelopment of national strategies oSupport SMEs in implementing legislation oEncourage behavioural changes oIdentify new and emerging risks oMotivate companies to go beyond legal requirements oUse economic incentives (1) Community strategy on health and safety at work

8 EU-OSHA: Organisation DIREKTOR DIRECTOR

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 

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 oPhysical oBiological oPsychosocial oChemical (early 2009)  Young workers  Economic incentives related to OSH (under development)

13 Expert forecast on psychosocial risks

14  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: oNew forms of work contracts oInsecurity oIntensified work oHigh emotional demands oViolence at work oPoor work-life balance Expert forecast on psychosocial risks (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

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  : Risk assessment  : Maintenance

16  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: oSMEs oCompanies from dangerous sectors oOSH experts  Communication focus: oRaise awareness oPromote more risk assessments oDemystify the process oQuality counts! oInvolve all persons at work oOngoing process oIdentify and promote good practice Risk assessment campaign

17  Certificate of participation oEuropean Week ( ) oSeminars, exhibitions, trainings oCooperations between small and big companies  Partner offer oActive promotion on EU-OSHA web site oNewsletter oTo EU Media Risk assessment campaign

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 publications and promotion items distributed!

19 Thank you very much for your attention! Birgit Müller Tel