scholarly journals Health and Safety at Work in the Time of COVID-19: A Social Europe Reckoning?

2020 ◽  
Vol 11 (4) ◽  
pp. 864-883
Author(s):  
Konstantinos ALEXANDRIS POLOMARKAKIS
Keyword(s):  
Occupational Health ◽  
Health And Safety ◽  
Occupational Health And Safety ◽  
Social Dimension ◽  
The European Union ◽  
Public Health Perspective ◽  
The Social ◽  
The Status ◽  
European Health ◽  
Key Driver

The shortcomings in the handling of COVID-19 highlighted the salience of health and safety at work and fuelled discussions surrounding the desirability of a European Health Union. This article conceptualises occupational health and safety at the European Union (EU) level as a key driver for the creation of a European Health Union. Through recourse to the area’s roots and its relevance to the tackling of the COVID-19 pandemic, the benefits of putting occupational health and safety in the driving seat are set out. The implications of maintaining a healthy workforce are acute, from both a social and a public health perspective, especially in the time of a pandemic. Relying on a reflective approach that goes beyond the status quo, this article offers pragmatic yet imaginative proposals for strengthening the occupational health and safety acquis. The proposals act as the blueprint for health and safety in the workplace to lay the foundation for a European Health Union and advance the social dimension of the EU.

scholarly journals Foreword and Introduction to This Issue on Contemporary Safety Topics in Animal Research

ILAR Journal ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 59 (2) ◽  
pp. 125-126
Author(s):  
John Bradfield ◽  
Esmeralda Meyer ◽  
John N Norton
Keyword(s):  
Occupational Health ◽  
Health And Safety ◽  
Occupational Health And Safety ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Animal Research ◽  
Future Directions ◽  
The Status ◽  
Safety Considerations ◽  
Animal Care ◽  
Health And Well Being

Abstract Institutions with animal care and use programs are obligated to provide for the health and well-being of the animals, but are equally obligated to provide for safety of individuals associated with the program. The topics in this issue of the ILAR Journal, in association with those within the complimentary issue of the Journal of Applied Biosafety, provide a variety of contemporary occupational health and safety considerations in today’s animal research programs. Each article addresses key or emerging occupational health and safety topics in institutional animal care and use programs, where the status of the topic, contemporary challenges, and future directions are provided.

The Occupational Health and Safety Management of Workers in Building Construction Site

2014 ◽  
Vol 501-504 ◽  
pp. 2695-2699 ◽  
Author(s):  
Xiang Dong Zhao
Keyword(s):  
Occupational Health ◽  
Construction Industry ◽  
Occupational Injury ◽  
Safety Management ◽  
Health And Safety ◽  
Occupational Health And Safety ◽  
Building Construction ◽  
Way Of Life ◽  
The Status ◽  
Countermeasures And Suggestions

The work of occupational health and safety about construction industry has increasingly aroused peoples' attention ,so this article puts forward the problems existing in the occupational health and safety management of construction industry as well as the countermeasures and suggestions through the analysis of the construction labours' common occupational injury accident of the present stage in our country and the status quo in the aspects of professional physical,mental health and safety ,which is to develop the workers' way of life on safety,civilization and health.

Preventive Services in Occupational Health and Safety in Europe: Developments and Trends in the 1990s

1997 ◽  
Vol 27 (2) ◽  
pp. 247-271 ◽  
Author(s):  
David R. Walters
Keyword(s):  
European Union ◽  
Occupational Health ◽  
Health And Safety ◽  
Preventive Services ◽  
Occupational Health And Safety ◽  
European Countries ◽  
Small Enterprises ◽  
The European Union ◽  
Northern European

This article outlines the legislative requirements for preventive services in health and safety in 13 European countries and considers the implementation and coverage of such services. The author identifies the predominant models of preventive services operating in the European Union, then assesses the influence of the E.U. Framework Directive 89/391 on the development and integration of preventive services and the role of workers in their organization and accountability. Significant differences exist in the extent and functions of preventive services in European countries, including differences in coverage between southern and northern European countries, different degrees to which employees in small enterprises and large enterprises are covered by preventive services, and overall differences in legislative approach.

scholarly journals COVID-19 in the UK and Occupational Health and Safety: Predictable not Inevitable Failures by Government, and Trade Union and Nongovernmental Organization Responses

2020 ◽  
Vol 30 (2) ◽  
pp. 86-94 ◽  
Author(s):  
Andrew Watterson
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Occupational Health ◽  
Trade Unions ◽  
Health And Safety ◽  
Occupational Health And Safety ◽  
The European Union ◽  
Personal Protection Equipment ◽  
International Agencies ◽  
Care Workers ◽  
The Uk

This commentary examines the occupational health and safety issues faced by the UK workers in the COVID-19 pandemic, against the background of government cuts in health care and in occupational health and safety budgets, and a deregulatory climate. The UK government has been obsessed, blinkered, and distracted by the desire to leave the European Union (Brexit). The state of knowledge about the virus, especially from international agencies that identified pandemic threats and strategies to combat it, is outlined. UK politicians, government bodies, medical and scientific advisors, and employers periodically ignored or abused that knowledge. Regulatory and ministerial inaction and errors on the workplace virus risks emerged. In contrast, several trade unions, health professional bodies, and nongovernmental organizations identified COVID-19 threats from poor personal protection equipment, working practices, and knowledge gaps and offered solutions for health care workers, social care workers, production workers, and service workers in “essential” occupations.

scholarly journals Aspects about the implementation of the occupational safety and health strategy in Romania

2019 ◽  
Vol 290 ◽  
pp. 12020
Author(s):  
Nicoleta Paula Neag ◽  
Alin Gaureanu
Keyword(s):  
Occupational Health ◽  
Occupational Safety ◽  
Swot Analysis ◽  
Health And Safety ◽  
Occupational Health And Safety ◽  
Research Approach ◽  
The European Union ◽  
Implementation Plan ◽  
European Directives ◽  
European Guidelines

European directives related the occupational health and safety set out minimum requirements and fundamental principles, for managing the specific problems related to occupational risks, principle of prevention and risk assessment, as well as the responsibilities of employers and employees. A series of European guidelines aims to facilitate the implementation of European directives, including standards of related fields. The European Union Strategic Framework on Health and Safety at Work 2014 – 2020 has pushed the Member States to review their national strategies in close consultation with relevant stakeholders including the social partners. Thus, national strategies must transfer and customize the European vision to the national culture and specifics, considering the European framework that acts as a common guide and reference. Romania has adopted several versions of the National Strategy for Health and Safety at Work and the last one is related to the 2018 - 2020 period. Based on this document and the implementation plan associated the article will present a quantitative approach of the SWOT analysis. This research approach is meant to identify and characterize the new strategic direction that should be followed, together with a set of important aspect for the implementation plan up-date. The conclusions of this study will provide a scientific base for policy makers in the field of occupational health and safety.

scholarly journals Influence of osh management system on the quality and safety of work

2019 ◽  
pp. 38-51
Author(s):  
Katarzyna Wożniak
Keyword(s):  
Labor Market ◽  
Occupational Health ◽  
Management System ◽  
Safety Management ◽  
Health And Safety ◽  
Occupational Health And Safety ◽  
The European Union ◽  
Research And Innovation ◽  
Polish Law ◽  
Desk Research

The concept of occupational health and safety is not defined in Polish law. The only place where such a definition can be found is PN-N-1801:2004. Nevertheless, according to the Act on standardisation, the application of Polish Standards is voluntary. Activities in the field of occupational health and safety should be an integral part of business management. Companies from countries which are members of the European Union, in accordance with Directive 89/391/EEC, are obliged to implement standards related to occupational health and safety. The most commonly used and recognised standard for occupational health and safety management systems, in line with the specifics of each company, is the OHSAS 18001 international management system, while in Poland it is the PN-N-18001 standard. The study examined the scope of OHS at work among Research and Innovation Centre Pro-Akademia employees. The employees were subjected to surveys. The results obtained show that employees appreciate the importance of OHS regulations, but they do not always consciously comply with them. One of the tools that enabled author to prepare this article is analytic method called desk research. Desk Research is a research method that boils down to analyzing the records of available data sources, including in particular their compilation, mutual verification and processing. Such analysis is the basis for drawing conclusions about the examined problem. For example - the effect of the Desk Research analysis proceeded as part of the labor market survey is the diagnosis of the state of the labor market in the studied area, the characteristics of all its component groups as well as a description and verification of the actions taken by the institutions operating within it.

scholarly journals Modern Trends in Occupational Safety Management

2019 ◽  
Vol 2 (2) ◽  
pp. 126-138
Author(s):  
Teresa Lis ◽  
Krzysztof Nowacki
Keyword(s):  
Occupational Health ◽  
Occupational Safety ◽  
Industrial Revolution ◽  
Safety Management ◽  
Health And Safety ◽  
Occupational Health And Safety ◽  
Management Systems ◽  
The European Union ◽  
Work Safety ◽  
Systems Requirements

Abstract Problems related to work safety have been accompanying humanity since the dawn of time. In times before the Industrial Revolution, human and animal muscle strength was used to work, and “safe work” solutions were developed and introduced individually by the user or supervising the work. Only a change in the way work was done due to the industrial revolution, the introduction of new energy sources, the transformation of manufactories into factories and the birth of the working class brought about greater, concrete changes. It was at that time that various machines and devices began to be introduced into the workplace, which on the one hand improved work and on the other hand created more and more potentially dangerous situations. Security was started holistically and institutionally. With the transformation and return of capitalism, the subject of real work safety returned. Health and safety was to be not only a fashionable slogan, but a value that was supposed to guarantee profit – in accordance with the principle that accidents reduce productivity. It was also connected with the process of adapting Polish law in the field of health and safety to the law of the European Union (EU), which resulted from Poland’s pursuit of EU membership. Moreover, an important factor initiating these changes was the interest of enterprises in quality management systems compliant with the ISO 9000 series and environmental management systems compliant with the ISO 14000 series, and related attempts to adapt the system management concept to the area of occupational health and safety, resulting in PN-N standards 18000 series. This publication analyzes the new standard PN-ISO 45001:2018 – “Occupational health and safety management systems – Requirements with guidance for use” comparing it with the standard PN-N 18001:2004 – “Occupational health and safety management. Requirements”.

Guidance for handling and use of nanomaterials at the workplace

2009 ◽  
Vol 28 (6-7) ◽  
pp. 407-411 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. Heinemann ◽  
HG Schäfer
Keyword(s):  
Occupational Health ◽  
Chemical Industry ◽  
Human Life ◽  
Health And Safety ◽  
Occupational Health And Safety ◽  
Workplace Safety ◽  
Sustainable Chemistry ◽  
The European Union ◽  
Federal Institute ◽  
Guidance Documents

Chances and risks of nanomaterials is a most fascinating challenge of future technologies. This new technology and their related materials are beneficial, for example, for energy reduction, lower emissions to the environment, and safe resources. However, there are concerns about health effects related to the very small dimensions of such materials. Because of our commitment to the principles of “Sustainable Chemistry” and “Responsible Care®,” the chemical industry actively cooperates with all relevant stakeholders to assure a safe handling and use of nanomaterials. In this manner, the German chemical industry is committed to establish and disseminate best practices for a responsible production and use of nanomaterials. Protection of human life and the environment is a fundamental principle for our industry. Even though in the European Union the existing legal framework for risk assessment for chemical substances applies for nanomaterials, specific properties of nanomaterials may require amendments. The German Chemical Industry Association (Verband der Chemischen Industrie, VCI) has, therefore, issued guidance documents and recommendation papers to support companies in the sustainable and responsible development of nanotechnology-based applications. One of these guidance documents focused on ensuring the workplace safety of our employees. Background for this document was a joint survey on occupational health and safety in the handling and use of nanomaterials, which was conducted in spring 2006 from the German Federal Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (Bundesanstalt für Arbeitsschutz und Arbeitsmedizin, BAuA) and VCI. The purpose of the survey was to obtain an overview of occupational health and safety methods currently applied in the chemical industry in activities involving nanomaterials. The questionnaire survey was evaluated by BAuA; the "Guidance for Handling and Use of Nanomaterials at the Workplace" was elaborated predominantly by VCI. This Guidance provides some orientation regarding measures in the production and use of nanomaterials at the workplace. The recommendations given there reflect the current state of science and technology.

The Federal Ergonomic Standard in Brazil: Its Social Historic Process

2003 ◽  
Vol 13 (2) ◽  
pp. 191-203 ◽  
Author(s):  
Thais Helena De Carvalho Barreira ◽  
Mary Lee Dunn
Keyword(s):  
Occupational Health ◽  
Work Environment ◽  
Health And Safety ◽  
Occupational Health And Safety ◽  
Safety Regulations ◽  
Control Regulation ◽  
The Social ◽  
Technical Advances ◽  
Federal Standard ◽  
And Control

Brazil has a Federal Ergonomic Standard [1] enacted in 1990 that attracts the attention of practitioners in occupational health and safety fields because it is viewed symbolically as a political gain and because of its technical advances. The 1990 ergonomic standard modified a former one that was issued within a set of 28 occupational health and safety regulations established in 1978 [2]. This article focuses on the social and historical steps in a persistent workers' struggle for a healthier work environment in the late 1980s that resulted in this federal standard as a “command-and-control” regulation pioneering a wide tripartite process of policy-making in Brazil.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document