According to recent data from Eurostat (2016) every year more than 3 million EU-28 workers are involved in serious accidents at work, which force them to take at least four days of workplace absence. The European Agency for Safety and Health at work (EU-OSHA) reports that 15% of EU workers have to handle dangerous substances as part of their job, and another 15% report breathing in smoke, fumes, powder or dust at work. Occupational cancer is the biggest killer at work in Europe and other high-income economies (WHO Classification). In addition to the immensurable human costs, these occurrences cause significant loss for the European economy as a whole. The EU-OSHA recently estimated the cost of work-related accidents as EUR 476 billion per year, of the EU GDP.

This timely symposium will provide an invaluable opportunity to examine the latest developments in the EU legislative framework in the area of occupational safety and health. It will allow delegates to examine and assess projects, find out about new tools and learn from best practice. The symposium will offer a platform to discuss and develop effective cross-border strategies to minimise occupational accidents, supporting the exchange of ideas and encouraging delegates to engage in thought-provoking topical debate.

Overview:

• Session 1 - Exploring the Current EU Framework on Occupational Safety and Health  
• Session 2 - Focussing on the Prevention of Diseases in the Workplace 
• Session 3 - Analysing the Economic Aspect: OSH Is Good for Business  
• Session 4 - Looking Forward: New Challenges to Workers’ Health and Safety  

Delegates will:

• Learn about the newest developments in the EU framework on occupational safety and health, with the Modernisation of the EU OSH Legislation and Policy and the launch of the European Pillar of Social Rights   
• Examine the progress made in the implementation of the EU Strategic Framework on Health and Safety at Work 2014-2020
• Gain insight into the emerging psychosocial risks of online work and examine ways to address them
• Discuss methods to increase even application of OSH legislation and policy in and within different EU Member States
• Analyse underlying psychosocial risks that workers experience and learn about their impact on efficiency and workplace dynamics
• Determine ways to boost preventative risk assessment on the part of businesses
• Share best practice and tools for creating happy and healthy European workplaces to foster inclusive growth
• Discover needs and tools already available to enterprises wanting to adapt to an ageing workforce