BILBAO, Spain, October 22, 2018 /PRNewswire/ --

Each year, the European Agency for Safety and Health at Work (EU-OSHA) and its partners mark the European Week for Safety and Health at Work with awareness-raising events across the EU and beyond. This year's theme, at the heart of an exciting range of activities from 22 to 26 October, is managing dangerous substances in the workplace. 

Dangerous substances can be found in nearly all workplaces, with 38% of EU enterprises reporting that chemical or biological substances in the form of liquids, fumes or dust are present in their workplaces, according to EU-OSHA's ESENER-2 survey. This European Week sees workers, managers and occupational safety and health (OSH) experts coming together to raise awareness of dangerous substances in workplaces, exchange best practices and promote effective workplace safety and health management.

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EU-OSHA collaborates with an extensive network of national focal points, official campaign partners, campaign media partners and OSH ambassadors from the Enterprise Europe Network. They work together to raise awareness during the European Week, organising many events, including conferences, competitions, training sessions, exhibitions and networking and good practice events.

Focal point activities include a good practice seminar in Croatia that focuses on how to work with dangerous substances and mixtures; meanwhile, companies in Finland will benefit from best practice exchange visits, and Romania is hosting events promoting OSH and social partner engagement; chemical safety is in the focus at seminars in Slovenia, Hungary, Poland, Latvia, Italy and Bulgaria.

Media partner activities include articles published by Gesunde Arbeit in Austria, the Foundation Center for Safety and Health in Bulgaria and a large coverage in social media all over Europe. In Macedonia events are held by Tutela every day of the European Week, ranging from company visits to trainings in schools.

Official campaign partner European Safety Federation runs a workshop on the new PPE regulation and the European Firefighters Unions Alliance organises a seminar on firefighters' work environment and hazardous substances. Construction company Sando holds a conference on innovative prevention technologies.

Dr Christa Sedlatschek, EU-OSHA Director, commented: "Our ESENER survey shows that dangerous substances are present in all sectors, for example in traditional industries such as construction and manufacturing, with over 50% of companies in the EU affected, and agriculture, with 62 % of EU enterprises affected. We aim to benefit workers, management and the environment by conducting research, bringing together a wealth of practical help and raising awareness of the importance of actively managing dangerous substances."

The current Healthy Workplace Good Practice Awards, run as part of the 2018-19 campaign, recognise organisations that actively manage dangerous substances. The competition is still open in many countries. Anyone who has been impressed and inspired by their organisation's outstanding or innovative approach to dangerous substance management can contact their national focal point to discuss applying. If, on the other hand, they are still looking for advice on how best to manage dangerous substances at work, they can take advantage of EU-OSHA's new database of practical tools and guidance.

EU-OSHA has also revamped its campaign toolkit for the 2018-19 campaign. It features many new examples of good practice and offers practical advice on running an effective campaign on any OSH subject, including dangerous substances.

Links: 

• Visit the European Week Facebook page
• Explore our practical tools and guidance
• Check out the revamped campaign toolkit
• Find out more about the Healthy Workplaces Good Practice Awards

The European Agency for Safety and Health at Work (EU-OSHA) contributes to making Europe a safer, healthier and more productive place to work. The Agency researches, develops, and distributes reliable, balanced, and impartial safety and health information and organises pan-European awareness raising campaigns. Set up by the European Union in 1994 and based in Bilbao, Spain, the Agency brings together representatives from the European Commission, Member State governments, employers' and workers' organisations, as well as leading experts in each of the EU Member States and beyond.

Now you can follow us on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, YouTube or subscribe to our monthly newsletter OSHmail. You can also register for regular news and information from EU-OSHA via RSS feeds.

http://osha.europa.eu

The Healthy Workplaces Manage Dangerous Substances 2018-19 campaign raises awareness of dangerous substances in workplaces and provides information on how to prevent the risks associated with them. The campaign has a particular focus on workers with specific needs and targets groups that are particularly sensitive to the risks, such as migrant workers and young people. Like previous Healthy Workplaces Campaigns, it is coordinated at national level by EU-OSHA's focal points and supported by official campaign and media partners.

The campaign was launched in April 2018. Key dates in the campaign calendar include the European Weeks for Safety and Health at Work (October 2018 and 2019) and the Healthy Workplaces Film Award ceremonies (November 2018 and 2019). The campaign will end with the Healthy Workplaces Summit (November 2019), when all those who have contributed to the campaign will come together with EU-OSHA to take stock of the campaign's achievements and the lessons learnt.

Press inquiries
news@osha.europa.eu
Birgit Müller
International press
+34-944-358-359

Marta Urrutia
Spanish press
+34-944-358-357

Brenda O'Brien
Brussels Liaison Office
+32-2-401-68-59

SOURCE European Agency for Safety and Health at Work (EU-OSHA)