30 pan-European firms join healthy workplaces campaign
Companies and associations from the private and public sector, including some of Europe's most well-known companies such as Baxter and Pirelli, have joined forces with the European Agency for Safety and Health at Work in the new Healthy Workplaces...
Companies and associations from the private and public sector, including some of Europe's most well-known companies such as Baxter and Pirelli, have joined forces with the European Agency for Safety and Health at Work in the new Healthy Workplaces Campaign 2010/11 on safe maintenance.
The campaign, which builds on the achievements of the Healthy Workplaces Campaign 2008/09 on risk assessment, aims to raise awareness of proper workplace maintenance. Good practices in safe maintenance will be promoted through a variety of campaign activities including conferences, seminars and training sessions for workers, employees and other stakeholders involved in maintenance work.
"It is estimated that in Europe up to 20 per cent of all workplace accidents are connected with maintenance, and in a number of sectors over half of all accidents are maintenance-related," EU-OSHA director Jukka Takala explained.
Ten to 15 per cent of fatal accidents at work can be attributed to maintenance operations. Maintenance must be carried out properly, taking into consideration workers' safety and health.
The campaign partners will help put safe maintenance on the agenda at the European and national levels through their own campaigning events and communication networks. Knowledge and experience-sharing will be at the heart of the campaign and ensure that organisations reap the operational and economic benefits of safer maintenance.
Across the EU, campaign partners will facilitate discussion on safe maintenance and its importance in minimising workplace hazards. For example, workshops will be organised that are targeted across industries as diverse as agriculture, construction and the chemical industry - traditionally seen as high-risk sectors where employees face greater risks to their health daily.
EU-OSHA continues to sign up official campaign partners during the course of the Healthy Workplaces campaign. More information about the campaign partners and local activities is available at http://osha.europa.eu/en/campaigns/hw2010/partners/eu-partners .