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EVALUATION OF THE EUROPEAN STRATEGY ON SAFETY AND HEALTH AT WORK 2007-2012191actions to be achieved in <strong>the</strong> <strong>strategy</strong> document itself. Ra<strong>the</strong>r <strong>the</strong> <strong>strategy</strong>should be accompanied by an action planning framework. This could be anannual plan (possibly accompanied by a three-year plan), which wouldprovide <strong>the</strong> concrete framework for <strong>the</strong> involved actors to coordinate <strong>the</strong>iractions in view <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> objectives to be achieved.› To ensure that <strong>the</strong> <strong>strategy</strong> provides a framework for cooperation andcoordination <strong>of</strong> all relevant actors. The Commission should seek ways <strong>of</strong>providing for a stronger integration <strong>of</strong> a new <strong>strategy</strong> with broader EU healthand environmental strategies (in particular), through enhanced coordinationwith o<strong>the</strong>r DGs and o<strong>the</strong>r EU-level players. The <strong>strategy</strong> should promote <strong>the</strong>integration <strong>of</strong> occupational health and safety into <strong>the</strong> wider EU framework,most obviously in coordinating action with o<strong>the</strong>r EU Directorates, players andagencies, thus mirroring at EU-level <strong>the</strong> idea that occupational health andsafety should be an integral part <strong>of</strong> an organisations business plan, not a ‘boltonextra’.Objectives towardsthose aimsRecommendation 5: Key objectives should place more emphasis on <strong>the</strong> healthaspects <strong>of</strong> OSH compared to <strong>the</strong> current <strong>strategy</strong>.The overall goal <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> present <strong>strategy</strong> <strong>of</strong> a "25% reduction in accidents at work".has attracted criticism, partly because <strong>of</strong> a lack <strong>of</strong> support for setting numericaltargets from some players but, more strongly, from <strong>the</strong> fact that this places undueemphasis on accidents and safety and <strong>the</strong>refore assigns insufficient priority tohealth aspects <strong>of</strong> OSH. At <strong>the</strong> same time, available data (although scarce at EUlevel) clearly indicates that current ongoing major health concerns such asoccupational cancers, MSDs and stress, are likely to remain significant issues for<strong>the</strong> foreseeable future.Both MSDs and stress can be related to both non-work and work-related factorsand <strong>the</strong>re is also growing support for greater integration <strong>of</strong> occupational health withwider community-health issues. This is reflected in initiatives such as thosedirected towards health promotion through <strong>the</strong> workplace and a growing emphasison promoting positive health and wellbeing. Current thinking within occupationalhealth reflects this more positive approach and any new objectives should beframed round <strong>the</strong> twin goals <strong>of</strong> improving <strong>the</strong> health <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> working population andkeeping people at work.Although it is likely that <strong>the</strong> incidence <strong>of</strong> occupational accidents has been reducedconsiderably during <strong>the</strong> current <strong>strategy</strong> period, this does not mean that <strong>the</strong> issue isno longer relevant. It is still a concern and should be reflected into a new <strong>strategy</strong>.In respect to <strong>the</strong> overall objective <strong>of</strong> improving <strong>the</strong> health <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> workingpopulation, it is <strong>the</strong>refore recommended that objectives are framed around:› Reduction in absence due to ill-heath or accidents› Reduction in <strong>the</strong> incidence <strong>of</strong> occupational ill-health;› Reductions in <strong>the</strong> incidence <strong>of</strong> accidents.http://projects.cowiportal.com/ps/A019055/Documents/3 Project documents/Interim and final report/Final report October 2012/OSH <strong>evaluation</strong>-report_Final_submitted 14 March2013.docx
192 EVALUATION OF THE EUREVALUATION OF THE EUROPEAN STRATEGY ON SAFETY AND HEALTH AT WORK 2007-2012192In respect to keeping people at work, <strong>the</strong> EU2020 focus on inclusive growth andincreased employment could be matched through fur<strong>the</strong>r objectives aimed atimprovements in employability. These could include goals targeted at <strong>the</strong>rehabilitation <strong>of</strong> those with illnesses such as MSDs (including age-relatedmusculoskeletal degeneration) and <strong>the</strong> employment/retention <strong>of</strong> those with mentalhealth problems. Within this, <strong>the</strong> retention (and employment) <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> agingworkforce will also need to be a priority given anticipated demographic changes.Recommendation 6: There is a need for a clear strategic focus on MSDs, stressand occupational cancer deaths in a new <strong>strategy</strong>.It is clear that <strong>the</strong> health issues <strong>of</strong> MSDs, stress and cancer will need to be animportant focal point <strong>of</strong> a new <strong>strategy</strong> if <strong>the</strong> above objectives are to be met.Changes within <strong>the</strong> EU-27, such as <strong>the</strong> uncertainty over <strong>the</strong> economic situation and<strong>the</strong> aging demographics <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> workforce, mean that <strong>the</strong> nature <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> risksassociated with MSDs and stress will be expected to change, perhaps (for example)as a result <strong>of</strong> industrial restructuring, and <strong>the</strong> actions required will <strong>the</strong>refore changeas a result.In addition, in <strong>the</strong> case <strong>of</strong> both MSDs and stress, <strong>the</strong>re is a need for greatercoherence between <strong>the</strong> workplace and wider society in identifying and addressingrisks as <strong>the</strong> causal factors are likely to be a mixture <strong>of</strong> work and non-work elementsand both will need to be recognised.Fur<strong>the</strong>rmore, recent evidence relating to avoidable occupational cancer deathsgives a clear indication for action in this area. These three issues <strong>the</strong>refore give aclear pointer towards a need for evidence based actions in respect <strong>of</strong> ongoing risks(e.g. MSDs, stress, and carcinogens).Recommendation 7: The new <strong>strategy</strong> should focus explicitly on addressing <strong>the</strong>challenges related to <strong>the</strong> implementation <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> OSH legislation with aparticular view to SMEs and micro-enterprisesAt present, <strong>the</strong>re is limited data on <strong>the</strong> specific challenges posed by <strong>the</strong> individualDirectives in <strong>the</strong> Member States. However, <strong>the</strong> <strong>evaluation</strong> clearly indicates thatimplementation <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> OSH Directives is still a major issue which needs attention.SMEs and micro-enterprises are particularly challenged and this needs to beaddressed.The forthcoming <strong>evaluation</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> OSH Directives will provide a much sounderbasis for designing interventions in this area and this should be a cornerstone fordoing so. However, this should not preclude action in advance <strong>of</strong> obtaining <strong>the</strong>results <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> <strong>evaluation</strong>. Relevant actions under this objective will be multifacettedand should encompass:› Finding ways <strong>of</strong> reducing <strong>the</strong> administrative burden to SMEs and microenterprises(through simplification, application <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> 'think small firstprinciple', better guidance, etc.). This includes addressing two outstandingissues from <strong>the</strong> current <strong>strategy</strong>:http://projects.cowiportal.com/ps/A019055/Documents/3 Project documents/Interim and final report/Final report October 2012/OSH <strong>evaluation</strong>report_Final_submitted14 March 2013.docx
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Page 206 and 207: 2/8 Lige titelNo Question Answer Co
Page 208 and 209: 4/8 Lige titel23. Does the<
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