SAFE MAINTENANCE

European Economic and Social

Committee

Brussels, 11 May 2010

Brenda O’Brien, EU-OSHA

http://hw.osha.europa.eu

The Healthy Workplaces Campaign2010 - 2011

Background of the CampaignWhy maintenance?

Presentation of its main featuresMain objectives

Main messages

Network-based Campaigning

Key dates

Why maintenance is important for safety and health at work?

Maintenance is essential to keep equipment, machines and the work environment safe and reliable – it helps to eliminate workplace hazards

Lack of maintenance or inadequate maintenance can lead to dangerous situations, accidents and health problems

Maintenance is a high risk activity - has to be performed in a safe way

Safer and healthier workplaces through maintenance

Lack of maintenance or inadequate maintenance can cause serious and deadly accidents. Accidents happen

due to faulty electrical installations (cables, plugs, equipment) - shock and burns, fires

because lifting equipment is not inspected and not maintained regularly - lifting chains are dirty/corroded and fail

due to lack of maintenance of working and walking surfaces and traffic routes - uneven, potholed or slippery surfaces -fork-lift truck accidents, slips and trips

Maintenance is a high risk activity

Some maintenance-specific hazards

Exceptional work (non-routine tasks) and exceptional conditions (entering confined spaces)

Changing tasks and working environment

Working in close contact with machinery, working at a running process

Time pressure

Increasing subcontracting of maintenance services

Hazards and risks in maintenance

Maintenance is carried out in all workplaces. Therefore, maintenance workers are more likely than other employees to be exposed to various hazards

noise, vibration, excessive heat and cold, heavy workloads, ergonomics related hazards - working in awkward positions

exposure to hazardous substances

time pressure, unsocial working hours

high risk of all types of accidents (falls from height, crushingby moving machinery)

Hazards in the Textile Sector (EU-OSHA Factsheet Nr. 30)

Muscoskeletal disorders (MSDs) Accidents from transport in the workplace (lift truck)

Accidents

Exposure to dusts and fibres

Exposure to chemical agents

Exposure to biological agents

Exposure to physical agents

Psychosocial issues in the textiles sector

The European Campaign on Safe Maintenance focuses o n

OSH aspects of the maintenance. It promotes

safe maintenance – focus on the safety and health of the workers carrying out maintenance

maintenance for safety and health – focus on the importance of maintenance for eliminating workplace hazards and providing safer and healthier working conditions

Campaign objectives

To raise awareness of the importance of maintenance for workers’ safety and health, of the risks associated with maintenance, and of the need to carry it out safely

To raise awareness of employers’ legal and moral duties to consider OSH aspects in maintenance, and of the business case for doing so

To promote a simple, structured approach to OSH management in maintenance, based on an appropriate risk assessment

Main messages

Good OSH management is at the core of safe and healthy maintenance. The specific details of maintenance vary between industry sectors and depending on tasks. But there are some common principles:

Integration of OSH management into maintenance management

Structured approach based on risk assessment

Clear roles and responsibilities

Safe systems of work and clear guidelines to follow

Adequate training and equipment

Involvement of workers in the risk assessment and maintenance management process

Network-based Campaigning

EU-level: relevant DGs; EU representations; EU Agencies; social partners; NGOs; sectoralfederations and networks

EEN (Enterprise Europe Network)

Large enterprises – as part of corporate social responsibility agenda – supply chain (SMEs)

Mirror this activity at national level.

Core strength: FOPs and tripartite networks

But also ... engage other stakeholders / partners

Campaign launch

Official launch was April 28, 2009 (World OSH Day)

European launch: High-level press conference in Brussels

together with the new Commissioner László Andor

National launches: in parallel

in all EU Member states

Key dates:

Campaign launch:

28 April 2010 on the World Day for Occupational Safety and Health

BE Presidency Safe Maintenance Conference:

Brussels, 25 November 2010

European Week for Safety and Health at Work:

October 2010 and October 2011(CW 43)

Good Practice Awards event:

Budapest, 28 April 2011

Campaign Closing event:

Bilbao, November 2011

A EUROPEAN CAMPAIGN ON SAFE MAINTENANCE

HEALTHY WORKPLACESGOOD FOR YOU. GOOD FOR BUSINESS

http://hw.osha.europa.eu