European Health and Safety Week

European Health and Safety Week takes place in October each year and is designed to raise awareness of health and safety.

The European Agency for Safety and Health describes the week as: “Aimed at people in organisations, companies and workplaces of all sizes and sectors. Everybody involved in occupational safety and health matters is invited to take part, especially safety and health institutions and occupational insurance organisations, trade unions and employers’ organisations, companies, managers, employees and safety representatives.”

Health and Safety Week 2007 will take place between 22 – 26 October. Make sure you put this date in your diary now!

The main theme will be musculoskeletal disorders. Across the European Union’s 27 member states 25 per cent of workers complain of backache and 23 per cent report muscular pains. It adds that musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) are the biggest cause of absence from work in almost all member states. ‘Lighten the load’, the European Agency for Safety and Health at Work’s 2007 campaign to tackle MSDs in the workplace, spells out an integrated management approach with three key elements. First, employers, employees and government need to work together to tackle MSDs. Secondly, any action should address the ‘whole load on the body’, which covers all the stresses and strains, environmental factors such as cold working conditions, and the load being carried. Thirdly, employers need to manage the retention, rehabilitation and return to work of employees

The week is run by the European Agency for Safety and Health who have published a site full of news, materials and activities. In the UK the week is being coordinated by the Health and Safety Executive.

The TUC will be undertaking a number of initiatives during the week.

The Wednesday of European Health and Safety Week is traditionally National Inspection Day when all safety representatives are encouraged to inspect their workplace