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Improving Quality and Improving Quality and Productivity at Work:Productivity at Work:

Community Strategy 2007- Community Strategy 2007-2012 on Health and Safety at 2012 on Health and Safety at

WorkWork

EBC ConferenceEBC Conference

Improving health and safety in construction SMEs Improving health and safety in construction SMEs

Brussels, 23 February 2009Brussels, 23 February 2009

Antonio CammarotaAntonio CammarotaEuropean Commission, DG EMPL/F4 - LuxembourgEuropean Commission, DG EMPL/F4 - Luxembourg

"Health, Safety and Hygiene at Work""Health, Safety and Hygiene at Work"

22

A new strategic framework for a A new strategic framework for a more integrated OSH policy at more integrated OSH policy at

European levelEuropean level

Commission Communication COM(2007) 62 Commission Communication COM(2007) 62 final of 21.2.2007final of 21.2.2007

Ongoing, sustainable and uniform reduction in Ongoing, sustainable and uniform reduction in accidents at work and occupational illnesses accidents at work and occupational illnesses continues to be the main objectivecontinues to be the main objective

An ambitious goal: An ambitious goal: 25% reduction of the total 25% reduction of the total incidence rate of accidents at workincidence rate of accidents at work

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Why do we need a new EU Why do we need a new EU Strategic Framework on OSH?Strategic Framework on OSH?

A safe and healthy workplace:A safe and healthy workplace:

– is ais a right for all citizens of the Unionright for all citizens of the Union

– is a key factor to the Lisbon EU's Growth and Jobs Agendais a key factor to the Lisbon EU's Growth and Jobs Agenda

– helps to address the demographic changehelps to address the demographic change

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OSH in the EUOSH in the EU

A mixed pictureA mixed picture

According to the evaluation of the former 2002-2006 OSH Community Strategy - According to the evaluation of the former 2002-2006 OSH Community Strategy - SEC(2007) SEC(2007) 214214::

The rate of fatal accidents at work in the EU-15 has fallen by 17% The rate of fatal accidents at work in the EU-15 has fallen by 17% (extrapolation: period 2000-2004(extrapolation: period 2000-2004))(source: Eurostat)(source: Eurostat)

The rate of workplace accidents leading to absences of more than 3 days has fallen by 20% The rate of workplace accidents leading to absences of more than 3 days has fallen by 20% (extrapolation: period 2000-2004(extrapolation: period 2000-2004))

(source: Eurostat)(source: Eurostat)

Nevertheless:Nevertheless:

In 2004, 4 million accidents resulting in more than 3 days off work and 4 400 fatal accidents at work In 2004, 4 million accidents resulting in more than 3 days off work and 4 400 fatal accidents at work (EU-15)(EU-15)

Occupational illnesses and accidents keep being a heavy burden on European economy and society Occupational illnesses and accidents keep being a heavy burden on European economy and society

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OSH in the EUOSH in the EU

A mixed pictureA mixed picture

According to the latest results of the Fourth European Survey of According to the latest results of the Fourth European Survey of Working Conditions Working Conditions (European Foundation for the Improvement (European Foundation for the Improvement of Living and Working Conditions, 2006)of Living and Working Conditions, 2006)::

28% of workers in the EU say they suffer from health problems 28% of workers in the EU say they suffer from health problems caused or likely to be caused and/or exacerbated by their jobcaused or likely to be caused and/or exacerbated by their job

35% perceive their job as putting their health at risk35% perceive their job as putting their health at risk

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OSH in the EU OSH in the EU

A mixed pictureA mixed picture

Occupational hazards are still high:Occupational hazards are still high:

For certain For certain categories of workerscategories of workers (young, older, migrant workers, workers (young, older, migrant workers, workers with insecure jobs)with insecure jobs)

In certain In certain types of companiestypes of companies (in particular SMEs) (in particular SMEs)

In certain In certain sectors sectors (construction, agriculture, fishing, transport, health care, (construction, agriculture, fishing, transport, health care, social services)social services)

Specific illnesses are on the rise Specific illnesses are on the rise (psychosocial, MSDs, etc.)(psychosocial, MSDs, etc.)

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OSH in the EU OSH in the EU

A mixed pictureA mixed picture

Main challenges for the future:Main challenges for the future:

Demographic change (ageing of the work population)Demographic change (ageing of the work population)

New employment trends (increase in self-employment and SMEs; New employment trends (increase in self-employment and SMEs; outsourcing/subcontracting; fragmentation of working life)outsourcing/subcontracting; fragmentation of working life)

Migrant workersMigrant workers

New risk factorsNew risk factors

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The New EU Strategic The New EU Strategic FrameworkFramework

Improving quality and productivity at work: Community Improving quality and productivity at work: Community strategy 2007-2012 on health and safety at workstrategy 2007-2012 on health and safety at work

COM(2007) 62 finalCOM(2007) 62 final

Main areas of action:Main areas of action:

Improving, simplifying and better implementing existing legislationImproving, simplifying and better implementing existing legislation

Fostering development of coherent national strategiesFostering development of coherent national strategies

Stimulating research (better identifying and assessing potential new risks)Stimulating research (better identifying and assessing potential new risks)

Mainstreaming OSH into other substantive policy areasMainstreaming OSH into other substantive policy areas

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Strengthening implementation of Strengthening implementation of Community legislationCommunity legislation

EnforcementEnforcement

Complementary toolsComplementary tools

Practical guidancePractical guidance

Consultation mechanismsConsultation mechanisms

1010

Improving and simplifying the Improving and simplifying the EU regulatory frameworkEU regulatory framework

Towards a common methodology to evaluate OSH legislation?Towards a common methodology to evaluate OSH legislation?

Initiatives within the ACSH (new structure of national implementation Initiatives within the ACSH (new structure of national implementation reports; pilot project on evaluation)reports; pilot project on evaluation)

EC Evaluation of the implementation of European Directives (92/57/EEC, EC Evaluation of the implementation of European Directives (92/57/EEC, 92/58/EEC, 92/91/EEC, 92/104/EEC, 92/29/EEC and 93/103/EC)92/58/EEC, 92/91/EEC, 92/104/EEC, 92/29/EEC and 93/103/EC)

Taking sistematically into account the need for possible simplification Taking sistematically into account the need for possible simplification (e.g. WRMSDs)(e.g. WRMSDs)

Legislation made easier to apply (reduced number of reference texts)Legislation made easier to apply (reduced number of reference texts)

Less burdensome (simplification of administrative and technical Less burdensome (simplification of administrative and technical obligations)obligations)

More effective (facilitate practical implementation and enforceability)More effective (facilitate practical implementation and enforceability)

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Fostering the development of Fostering the development of national strategiesnational strategies

Promote the adoption of a strategic approach to OSH policies Promote the adoption of a strategic approach to OSH policies at all levelsat all levels

Stronger interface between the European and the national Stronger interface between the European and the national levels of governance levels of governance

OSH Community strategy acting as a catalyst for Member States to OSH Community strategy acting as a catalyst for Member States to develop more integrated OSH policiesdevelop more integrated OSH policies

The role of the ACSH as the ideal tripartite forum for coordination The role of the ACSH as the ideal tripartite forum for coordination and exchange of information on national strategiesand exchange of information on national strategies

Developing monitoring toolsDeveloping monitoring tools

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Towards a Common EU Towards a Common EU Preventative Culture Preventative Culture

The fostering and promotion of a common preventative safety The fostering and promotion of a common preventative safety and health culture is the fundamental basis for improving OSH and health culture is the fundamental basis for improving OSH performance in the long termperformance in the long term

OSH legislation has contributed to bring about changes in OSH legislation has contributed to bring about changes in behavioural patterns, but a strategy aimed at promoting a behavioural patterns, but a strategy aimed at promoting a general preventative culture must address all part of society general preventative culture must address all part of society and go beyond the workplace and the working populationand go beyond the workplace and the working population

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Towards a Common EUTowards a Common EU Preventative Culture Preventative Culture

Finding new synergies between OSH policy and Finding new synergies between OSH policy and other substantive policy areas (education, public other substantive policy areas (education, public health, research)health, research)

Better identifying and assessing potential new risks Better identifying and assessing potential new risks trough more research, exchange of knowledge and trough more research, exchange of knowledge and practical application of resultspractical application of results

1414

Ladies and GentlemenLadies and Gentlemen

Thank you for your kind Thank you for your kind attentionattention