Study highlights dangers at work
Action to reduce the personal and economic costs of occupational injuries has been made possible as a result of the most detailed investigation yet into the health and safety risks facing European workers. The Bilbao-based European Agency for Safety and Health at Work has published a 450 page report for the European Commission entitled 'The state of occupational safety and health in the European Union'. The report draws together national statistics and surveys of occupational health and safety across all industrial sectors. As the most comprehensive study of its kind, the report highlights areas where greater efforts are needed to prevent accidents and injury and marks the first step towards the development of a Europe-wide monitoring system to identify common challenges and priorities. The study identifies those industrial sectors which are associated with the greatest risks of accidents and injury. Traditionally dangerous activities such as mining, construction, manufacturing, transport and agriculture score highly in the league table of hazards. But it also reveals hazards in low risk occupations such the health sector, sales and customer services. It reveals that there is still much to be done in preventing injuries caused by well-recognised hazards such as handling chemicals, lifting heavy loads, noise and vibration. However, the study also investigates the impact of less publicised dangers such as stress, workplace violence and injuries caused by poor ergonomic design of equipment. Meanwhile a whole new field has opened up with increased understanding of the potential health effects importance of 'psychosocial' factors such as workplace bullying. The European Commissioner for Employment and social affairs, Mrs Anna Diamantopoulou, welcomed the report. 'The European Agency's report combines valuable information on those occupations and sectors most at risk in Europe today, together with a clear indication of where Member States believe more preventive action is needed. At the moment when the European Commission is about to embark on preparing a new occupational safety and health strategy for Europe, its publication could not be more timely.'