William Cockburn, the current Interim Executive Director of the European Agency for Safety and Health at Work (EU-OSHA), outlined, on Tuesday 18 July, his views to MEPs of the European Parliament’s Committee on Employment and Social Affairs as he seeks a mandate as Executive Director.
Mr Cockburn’s priorities include managing the digitalisation of the world of work and the psychosocial risks that can be caused by algorithmic management of work.
The candidate also wants to develop a culture of psychosocial risks in smaller companies, which often lack the necessary information or resources. Generally speaking, there is a lack of priority given to health and safety at work and little knowledge of the illnesses that can result from the world of work.
With the situation in the labour market changing ever more rapidly, the interim director wants to “raise awareness” among employers, and a new campaign on psychosocial risks will be launched in October. “We need to create” a debate, he said, with the Agency’s role being to disseminate best practices. Other priorities will include cardiovascular disease and ageing at work.
Asked by the Dutch MEP, Agnes Jongerius (S&D), about the relevance of a European directive on psychosocial risks and mental health at work, the candidate did not rule out the possibility.
Surveys of Member States and the public concerned have shown that regulatory initiatives or inspection systems have increased awareness of risks at work; specific legislation to clarify certain concepts or create new obligations could have a relevant effect, the candidate said.
On the other hand, William Cockburn was unable to comment on the concerns of certain MEPs, such as Poland’s Elżbieta Rafalska (ECR), regarding the potential risks, particularly of cancer, that could be posed by the substances used to manufacture green technologies, as too little is known on this subject.
He nevertheless told MEPs that the consequences of the war in Ukraine and the development of new green technologies - and the jobs linked to this transition - would be another major priority of his potential new mandate.
The coordinators of the Committee on Employment and Social Affairs were due to examine his candidacy immediately. (Original version in French by Solenn Paulic)