Malta will be taking part in an EU-wide health and safety campaign to encourage employees and management to work more closely together to reduce the number of accidents at work.

Named Working Together For Risk Prevention, the two-year campaign by the EU’s agency for health and safety at work (EU-OHSA) was launched yesterday.

Research has found that ­whatever an organisation’s size, leadership from the top and the active participation of workers are crucial to successful health and safety management.

According to the European Survey of Enterprises on New and Emerging Risks, worker participation and management commitment leads to better occupational safety and health performance.

Launching the campaign in Brussels, Employment Commissioner Laszlo Andor said although there had been a major improvement in health and safety awareness across the EU, the number of accidents at work remained high.

“There is evidence that prioritising health and safety is not just the right thing to do, it’s also good for business,” he said.

“Benefits include reduced costs and increased productivity; a happier and more productive workforce; lower rates of worker absence and turnover; fewer accidents; improved standing among suppliers and partners; greater awareness and control of workplace risks and a better reputation for sustainability among investors, customers and communities.”

Despite the recent progress, it is estimated there are 6.9 million workplace accidents and millions more work-related illnesses in the EU every year.

Economic costs are estimated at €490 billion a year – more than half the cost of the EU’s financial crisis bail-out fund.