Brussels, 15/04/2016 (Agence Europe) - A new European health and safety at work campaign has begun. This new campaign covers the 2016-17 period and is called "Healthy Workplaces for All Ages". It was launched by the European Commission and the European Agency for Health and Safety at Work (EU-OSHA) during a press conference on Friday 15 April.
Sustainable work and healthy ageing from the beginning one's professional life comprise the two themes of the new European health and safety at work campaign.
Christa Sedlatschek, the Director of EU-OSHA is in charge of coordinating the European level campaign and explained "According to a study by the European foundation for improving living and working conditions, which will be published soon, 27,000 workers believe that they will be unable to do the same job at the age of 60". She added "Workers in good health are productive and productive workers are indispensable to an efficient organisation: everyone's a winner in this".
The European campaign was given a warm welcome by the European Trade Union Confederation. The campaign is pursuing four key objectives: promoting sustainable work and healthy ageing from the start of the working life; preventing health problems throughout the working life; providing ways for employers and workers to manage occupational safety and health in the context of an ageing workforce; and encouraging the exchange of information and good practice.
The EU-OSHA is also providing private and public companies with an electronic guide on the management of health and safety for ageing workers. The high points of the campaign include the European Health and Safety at Work Weeks (October 2016 and 2017) and the "Healthy Workplaces" Summit in November 2017.
During the press conference, Commissioner Marianne Thyssen indicated that she would be presenting a proposal over the next few weeks on tackling work-related cancers (amendment to directive 2004/37 on carcinogenic and mutagenic substances). There will also be a draft directive for implementing a framework agreement between the social partners and improving working conditions in the fisheries sector. (Original version in French by Sophie Petitjean)