Working together for risk prevention

The European Agency for Safety and Health at Work (EU-OSHA) today announced the first wave of official European campaign partners of its Healthy Workplaces Campaign 2012-2013, 'Working together for risk prevention'. Among the 57 campaign partners is a wide range of organisations, including European social partners, both interprofessional and sectoral, multinational companies such as Pirelli for example, and non-profit, pan-European organisations representing different sectors, such as the International Institute of Risk and Safety Management (IIRSM).

The campaign theme for 2012-2013, 'Working together for risk prevention' is highly valued by the organisations chosen to be campaign partners. The campaign encourages managers, workers, representatives and other stakeholders to work together to manage risks in the workplace. Many companies cited a belief that safe and healthy workplaces are integral to continued economic success and sustainable futures, and the willingness to bring these topics to the forefront of their company strategy to be able to better tackle them.

Christa Sedlatschek, Director of EU-OSHA, said, 'We are delighted to welcome over 50 official campaign partners, from across all sectors, committed to working together for risk prevention. Their engagement proves that European companies and associations believe that investing in safety and health in the workplace is key to business and economic competitiveness. We hope that this partnership will have a cascade effect benefiting the whole supply chain, and workers in workplaces of all sizes, in Europe and beyond.'

Forty-three of the official campaign partners successfully worked with EU-OSHA on previous Healthy Workplaces Campaigns, while fourteen partners are brand new. The partners commit to promoting the campaign through their own networks, communications channels and meetings. In return, they are offered many opportunities for networking and partnership building with other companies and associations engaged in OSH topics, as well as the opportunity to share good practices and to use the campaign to support and promote their own activities.

For example, this year, BSTI (Behavioural Science Technology International) will organise the Europe, Middle East and Africa Safety in Action conference, while EULAR (European League against Rheumatism) is planning a conference on chronic disease prevention in the European Parliament on 16th October, a section of which will be dedicated to "prevention and work".

The benefits of being a campaign partner are tangible, and go beyond increased exposure and networking opportunities. Pirelli has seen a drop of around 30% in maintenance injuries since 2008 thanks to incorporating ideas from previous campaigns into training, managing to reach leaders and workers within the supply chain.

Pan-European or international organisations/companies are now invited to send their applications for the second round of the European campaign partnership, which will close on 25th October 2012; results will be announced by the end of the year. Applications can be made via the campaign website http://www.healthy-workplaces.eu/en/get-involved/become-a-eu-partner#mainContent#appendix. To learn more about the 2012-2013 official European campaign partners: http://www.healthy-workplaces.eu/en/get-involved/about/about/campaign-partners#mainContent#appendix.

A new video has just been released, calling for European and international organisations to join the Healthy Workplaces Campaign, with successful examples of cooperation between managers and workers; while EC Commissioner and EU-OSHA Director explain why working together for risk prevention is "Good for you. Good for business". http://www.healthy-workplaces.eu/en/media/multimedia