evaluation of the european strategy on safety and health at work ...

EVALUATION OF THE EUROPEAN STRATEGY ON SAFETY AND HEALTH AT WORK 2007-2012874.3.6 Summary <strong>of</strong> findings on objective 2: NationalstrategiesAll Member States - except one - now have a national <strong>strategy</strong> or comparableinstrument. The European <strong>strategy</strong> has been a driver and source <strong>of</strong> inspiration for<strong>the</strong> national strategies - although not in all countries and with different emphasis indifferent countries. Most <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> national strategies encompass <strong>the</strong> objectives,priority areas and instruments set out in <strong>the</strong> European <strong>strategy</strong>. Exceptions are <strong>the</strong>areas <strong>of</strong> health surveillance and <strong>the</strong> rehabilitation/reintegration <strong>of</strong> workers excludedfrom <strong>the</strong> workplace, which are reflected in a more limited number <strong>of</strong> nationalstrategies incorporating <strong>the</strong>se provisions (9-12 national strategies depending on <strong>the</strong>subject).The ACSH contributed positively to <strong>the</strong> development <strong>of</strong> national strategies throughdialogue and workshops to exchange experience and best practises.The implementation <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> national strategies has been quite successful overallwith some countries being more effective than o<strong>the</strong>rs. This has also led to positiveimpacts in terms <strong>of</strong> better practises and risk assessment, better implementation <strong>of</strong>legislation and <strong>the</strong> promotion <strong>of</strong> a preventive culture. It is not possible to quantify<strong>the</strong>se impacts and it is not possible to determine to what extent <strong>the</strong>se impacts maybe attributed to <strong>the</strong> European <strong>strategy</strong>. However, <strong>the</strong> data strongly indicates that<strong>the</strong>re is a positive causal relation between <strong>the</strong> European <strong>strategy</strong> and actions andeffects at <strong>the</strong> national level.The European <strong>strategy</strong> focused on <strong>the</strong> development and implementation <strong>of</strong> nationalstrategies. This objective can to a large extent be considered achieved, with <strong>the</strong>reservation that implementation is more effective in some Member States than ino<strong>the</strong>rs. Considering that almost all Member States now have a <strong>strategy</strong>, <strong>the</strong> futureperspectives for relevant actions seem to be more in <strong>the</strong> area <strong>of</strong> exchanging viewsand experience on specific matters relating to <strong>strategy</strong> implementation and use <strong>of</strong>instruments as well as <strong>the</strong> monitoring/<strong>evaluation</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> strategies, which did notreceive very much attention at <strong>the</strong> EU level during <strong>the</strong> present <strong>strategy</strong> period.4.4 Achievements in relation to <strong>the</strong>encouragement <strong>of</strong> changes in behaviour and<strong>the</strong> promotion <strong>of</strong> a preventive cultureThe European <strong>strategy</strong>'s priority on promoting changes in behaviour containsactions within two main areas:› Integrating health and safety into education and training programmes› Healthier and safer workplaces: Improving health and promoting awarenesswithin companiesThe below sections describe <strong>the</strong> actions taken and achievements made under eachmain area. Under <strong>the</strong> second area, we distinguish between health promotionactivities and more general awareness raising and prevention related activities.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