Priorities for occupational safety and health research in Europe: 2013-2020
"In June 2010 the European Council adopted the new 10-year Europe 2020 strategy for smart, sustainable and inclusive growth, a strategy for delivering high levels of employment, productivity and growth, and at the same time social cohesionMainstreaming priorities across policies is emphasized i...
| Institution: | ETUI-European Trade Union Institute |
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| Format: | TEXT |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Luxembourg
2013
Publications Office of the European Union |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.labourline.org/KENTIKA-19126902124919441849-Priorities-for-occupational-sa.htm |
| Summary: | "In June 2010 the European Council adopted the new 10-year Europe 2020 strategy for smart, sustainable and inclusive growth, a strategy for delivering high levels of employment, productivity and growth, and at the same time social cohesionMainstreaming priorities across policies is emphasized in many policy documents. The optimal achievement of objectives in some policy areas - including climate action, environment, consumer policy, health and fundamental rights - depends on the mainstreaming of priorities into a range of instruments in other policy areas21. The Strategy identifies the major challenges Europe faces – the demographic change, globalisation, and rising global competition for natural resources, putting pressure on the environment, the Strategy is proposing five measurable EU targets for 2020 that will steer the process: for employment; for research and innovation; for climate change and energy; for education; and for combating poverty. The key goals, set out in the Strategy are reflected in the 7 flagship initiatives, the Digital Agenda, and Agenda for new skills and jobs. All EU policies, instruments and legal acts, as well as financial instruments, should be mobilised to pursue the strategy’s objectives. . These policy goals have a clear relevance for health and safety at work and related research.
Promoting good health is an integral part of the smart and inclusive growth objectives of Europe 2020. Keeping people healthy and active for longer has a positive impact on productivity and competitiveness3. Thus, health and safety at work and OSH research have a role to play in delivering smart, sustainable and inclusive growth.
Reaching the high-level goals of Horizon 2020 and the overall EU policies for the next decades will depend on the success of new enabler technologies such as those needed for the new energy policies, climate adaptation and future manufacturing. However, new technologies will succeed only if the benefits are clearly visible and the potential risks are regarded as acceptable by society. This requires identifying and addressing stakeholder and public expectations and responding to their concerns in order to build trust and confidence and to show that the new technologies are "well under control".4 This in turn, requires identifying and assessing the health and safety risks associated with new technologies and integrating OSH aspects in the development of new technologies and processes, as well as strengthening risk communication / OSH communication.
Work is an economic activity and occupational injury and illness are also matters of economics. Understanding the role of economic factors in the etiology of workplace ill-health and the effects this has on the economic prospects for workers, enterprises, and society is crucial for policy development and to support decision making at enterprise and society levels.
The impact of any OSH research on workers’ health and safety will depend on how research findings are translated into practical and accessible workplace solutions. It is paramount that OSH research is focused on the transfer and translation of scientific knowledge into practical, accessible workplace solutions and interventions. It is equally important to integrate OSH research in the development of new technologies and processes (prevention through design).
Risk communication, and OSH communication in general, are closely related to the transfer and dissemination of research results. Risk communication is particularly important in the context of new technologies where there are uncertainties regarding the potential risks. There is a need to strengthen risk communication research to identify efficient ways of delivering timely and appropriate information on OSH to various target audiences." |
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| Physical Description: | 104 p. Digital |