Health and safety: Challenges of the new Strategy

Lothar LißnerKooperationsstelle Hamburg IFE (KOOP)

EMPL Introductory WorkshopPolicy areas and current challenges in the field of Employment and Social Affairs at EU levelWorkshop organised by Policy Department A22 – 23 September 2014

Background of this presentation EU - Evaluation of the regulatory

impact of EU-Directives EU - Evaluation of Costs and Benefits of OSH EU - Database on Exposed workers ILO - Global OSH strategy evaluation International strategy overview National strategy evaluation DE Analysis and advice on work organisation and OSH

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Three challenges of the new strategy

1. Improving the implementation record (particularly by supporting SMEs and micro

enterpr.)2. Improving the prevention of work-related diseases by tackling existing, new and emerging risks3. Tackling demographic change

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Seven objectives Further consolidate national strategies Facilitate compliance with OSH legislation, particularly by micro

and small enterprises Better enforcement of OSH legislation by Member States Simplify existing legislation Address the ageing of the workforce, emerging new risks,

prevention of work-related and occupational diseases Improve statistical data collection and develop the information

base Better coordinate EU and international efforts to address OSH

and engage with international organisations

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Major components of the OSH-infrastructure Ministries of Labour or Ministries of Health or Social Affairs - Legislation Labour inspection (partly keeping all working conditions under

surveillance, partly only competent for OSH) Accident insurance (recognition / compensation of work accidents and

work related diseases, private, public or mixed systems, guidance and regulation)

Enterprises - Obligations for enterprises (e.g. resources for OSH according to the legislation) and voluntary activities

Rules and institutions for the education and training of professionals and practitioners

Bodies (public / private) - technical standards and norms Communications channels – official channels, journals and events Research institutes - public, private or mixed systems

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Very insufficient data of the work place situation Data on work accidents in Europe –

Underreporting and doubt on figures

Influence of work on the health situation – Few reliable data for extreme exposures

Development of the quantity and quality of risk factors and exposures at workplaces From noise over chemicals and air quality to heavy and tiring work to violence and aggression

Prevention level in enterprises Organisation, awareness, competence

Effectiveness of public infrastructure

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Key indicators for safety risks Work accidents –

more than 3 days, fatal, traffic related

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Occupational cancer Musculo-skeletal diseases Mental disorders Listed occupational diseases

Key indicators for health risks

Main changes in three areas Work organisation Workforce structure Technical progress

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Example - Work organisation Work pace Units have become smaller Work is more ‘project oriented’ Steering happens less via hierarchies Time schedules and working arrangements

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Illustrating the differences - 1980

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Illustrating the differences: 1995 and 2010

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Five main conclusions Better data Improve the prevention level in enterprises Modernise the legislation Rethink the concept of occupational diseases Activate the health and pension insurances, who

currently pay the bill of bad prevention, start with workers with high and multiple work loads

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ContactDr. Lothar Lissner

Kooperationsstelle Hamburg IFE Humboldtstr. 67a,

22083 Hamburg+49-40-484010-100www.kooperationsstelle-hh.de

l.lissner@kooperationsstelle-hh.de

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