fit for work europe: keeping good people at work

8/8/2019 Fit for Work Europe: Keeping Good People at Work

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Fit for Work Conference30 September 2010

Brenda O BrienManager, Brussels Liaison Office

Keeping people at work

the EU perspective



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European Agency for Safety and Health at WorkWho we are

Our Aimo help improve working conditions in the European

Union by providing technical, scientific and economicinformation to people involved in safety and health atwork

Our Structureo T ripartite (employers,

trade unions, governments

commission)



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CC Focal PointsEU Focal Points

EEA/EFTAFocal Points



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M SDs Facts

The most common work-related healthproblem in Europe*

Enormous costs

o In France in 2006 M SDs have lead to** sevenmillion workdays lost, about 71 0 million EUR of

enterprises contributions

* Eurofound European Working and Living Conditions Survey 200 7

**OSH in Figures ( 20 10 )



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ommun ty trategyon OSH 200 7 - 20 12

Worker Rehabilitation priorityo M S encouraged to incorporate into national strategies

specific measures to improve the rehabilitation and

reintegration of workers

M SDs are included in the research priorities in theCommunity Strategy



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ac o wor repor : ar yIntervention: Good practice example:Germany

Employers as early warning systems

Early recognition and avoidance of long-term incapacity atwork

Meetings between employer and member of staff if workerunfit for more than 6 weeks/year

Constructive and integrative solutions to be reached withthe insurers at a subsequent stage

Use of disability managers to support employers in theirnew role and guide all parties in the process of vocationalrehabilitation



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Example: Stephen Fisher (RS I Action)

P rincipal Engineer with major aerospace company, 32 yearsservice

Intense P C work, long hours

No risk assessment, no training, early symptoms missedThen a bolt of lightning hit the back of a hand

Medical retirement at 52, still not completely recovered

Early identification is key

Effective treatment includes physiotherapy, appropriate exercisesand workplace adjustment through ergonomic measures



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Early intervention Conclusions B ack toWork report

due to high costs rehabilitation systems are beingmodified in many countries (e.g. the Netherlands)

An increased emphasis is placed on earlyrecognition of problems

avoidance of long-term incapacity for work,including returning people with M SDs to work asquickly as possible



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Factors that tend to preventeffective reintegration of workers

Policieso Separation between the world of work and the world of

social insurance (A T , B E, FR)

Lack of incentiveso employees are reluctant to work in case it reduces their

personal injuries compensation ( IE)

Service providerso Lack of co-ordination between involved parties (e.g

Finland),

o Waiting lists or administrative burden (A T , UK)



Factors that tend to facilitate effectivereintegration of workers

Policieso Rehabilitation, rather than pension

o T ransfer of responsibilities to employers

Incentiveso Financial incentive for employer+employee

Service providers

o M ultidisciplinary approacho Cooperation of all parties

Workplaceo Early recognition + adapting working conditions



Types of work-related interventions

Organisational andadministrativeinterventions

Technical, engineering orergonomic interventions

Personal interventions(imposed on a group of workers)

Behavioural modification

Modified work(incl. working hours)

Redesign of physicalenvironmentRedesign of working aidsand tools

Protective Equipment

Working practices, habits

Health promotion

Type of Intervention Prevention M ethods



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-interventions for different M SDs

B ack pain:o stay active and return to work as early as possible

o M ultidisciplinary approach

Upper Limb paino Little data, but multidisciplinary+cognitive behavioural

approach most promising

Lower Limb paino Indication that excercise programmes effective for hip

and knee problems



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Thank you for your attentionMore information

http://osha.europa.eu

[email protected]

fit for work europe: keeping good people at work

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