Verslag conferentie over gezondheid en veiligheid op de werkvloer (en)

Met dank overgenomen van Pools voorzitterschap Europese Unie 2e helft 2011 i, gepubliceerd op woensdag 9 november 2011.

The International Conference ‘Strengthening OHS Knowledge and Innovation as a Driver of EU Smart Growth’ took place in Warsaw on 7th November.

The event was organised by the Central Institute for Labour Protection - National Research Institute.

The agenda was closely linked to the main priorities of the Europe 2020 Strategy. The following topics were particularly highlighted:

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    research and innovation in OHS as factors enhancing the EU's economic competitiveness;
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    support for enterprises in implementing EU directives in the context of sustainable growth and the EU’s new industrial policy;
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    education, training and development of new skills aimed at improving work conditions and increasing employment.

The conference coincided with the further spread of the global financial crisis which is unfavourably impacting the European economy and the labour community. The participants underlined the need for stronger commitment to occupational safety and hygiene in order to counter losses stemming from improper work conditions. It has been calculated that such losses in Europe may amount to 4 per cent of the GDP. Furthermore, OHS improvement is essential in view of ongoing EU reforms designed to prolong the duration of vocational activity. If these goals are to be attained, it is necessary to push ahead with technical and social innovation aimed at introducing better work conditions and higher employment, whilst stimulating the European Union’s intelligent, sustainable, and inclusive growth.

The conference was attended by representatives of governments and social partners from all the EuropeanUnionMemberStates and the three candidate countries. Also participating were representatives of the European Commission, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, the European employers' organisation BUSINESSEUROPE i, the European Trade Union Confederation and experts representing European research and industrial organisations as well as Polish and foreign research, training and consultative institutions operating in the OHS area.

The conference brought together 170 participants, among them 70 from abroad. The top-ranking guests included Radoslaw Mleczko, Under-Secretary of State at the Ministry of Labour and Social Policy; Armindo Sillva, Director, B Directorate: Employment, Social Legislation and Social Dialogue at European Commission’s General Directorate for Employment, Social Affairs and Inclusion; Christa Sedlatschek, Director of the Occupational Safety and Health Administration and Anna Tomczyk, Chief Labour Inspector at the National Labour Inspectorate.

The conference was co-financed by PROGRESS i (2007-2013), the EU’s employment and social solidarity programme, and the Ministry of Labour and Social Policy, under the multi-annual programme ‘Improvement of Work Safety and Working Conditions’.

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