In the second year of EU-OSHA’s* Healthy Workplaces Campaign on safe maintenance, the number of official campaign partners rose to 52 as seven more pan-European organizations and multinational companies from a range of public and private sectors joined. They are:
1. The European Association of Paritarian Institutions of Social Protection
2. Standing Committee of European Doctors
3. DuPont Sustainable Solutions
4. European Chemical Transport Association
5. European Operating Room Nurses Association
6. Golder Associates
7. European Aggregates Association
*European Union-Occupational Safety and Health Administration
As many as 20% of all workplace accidents in Europe are connected with maintenance, with organizations across the continent increasingly aware that action is necessary to combat maintenance related hazards. With this in mind, over a quarter (26.8%) of the partners cited the improvement of safe and healthy work conditions for employees and employers alike, as the main reason for their participation in the campaign. (WCxKit)
The partners identified further reasons for their participation, such as aiming to engage their own workers and/or members in managing safety and health (16.01%), or sharing good practices (5.39%). Other partners associated their participation with an opportunity to work closely with like-minded organizations (14.4%).
"Renowned companies, organizations and associations from a wide range of sectors such as the chemical industry, pharmaceuticals, healthcare, manufacturing, and construction, among many others, have joined our Campaign," Jukka Takala, director of EU-OSHA said. "We are delighted that the issue of safe maintenance has been incorporated in industries and workplaces across Europe helping transform the daily lives of workers. I’d like to welcome our seven new 'ambassadors' and look forward to working in cooperation with them for the remainder of the campaign."
Since the start of the campaign in late April 2010, good practice in safe maintenance has been promoted by the partners all around Europe through a wide variety of activities. The many seminars and conferences across Europe touched on specific topics, such as the latest occupational safety and health products and services available to help improve conditions in workplaces throughout the continent.
One of the partners also invented a scheme that develops, assesses, and certifies the competency of personnel responsible for the installation and maintenance of equipment in hazardous areas. Today this tool operates not only within the EU but also in locations across the globe. (WCxKit)
The new Official Campaign Partners will be recognized during a ceremony November 22-23, 2011 in Bilbao, which also plays host to the closing event of the Healthy Workplaces Campaign 2010/11 on safe maintenance.
Author Robert Elliott, executive vice president, Amaxx Risks Solutions, Inc. has worked successfully for 20 years with many industries to reduce Workers Compensation costs, including airlines, healthcare, printing/publishing, pharmaceuticals, retail, hospitality and manufacturing. See www.LowerWC.com for more information. Contact:[email protected] or 860-553-6604.
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