Tackling occupational ill-health

Tackling occupational ill-health key to improving competitiveness across europe.

Lord Hunt of Kings Heathaddressed a conference of key members from European businesses, trade unions and the European Commission emphasising the challenge that Europe is facing in tackling occupational ill-health.

Lord Hunt said: "Good health and safety should be one of the springboards to European economic competitiveness".

"A safe and healthy workforce means productive time is not lost dealing with the consequences of failure".

"There is wide acceptance that the EU now has a detailed and comprehensive body of worker protection legislation.

It is paramount to produce regulations that are easily understood, enforceable and most importantly which actively help prevent accidents happening and people being made ill by their work".

""The best way to secure compliance is through risk assessment, particularly focusing on the most vulnerable risks, educating employees and providing them with advice".

"This needs to be backed up by tough enforcement measures for those employers who fail to look after the health and safety of their workers".

The conference is part of a two-day UK Presidency event looking at the components that should form the core of the next EU occupational safety and health strategy to run from 2007.

The second day of the event will consist of a formal meeting of European Directors General of health and safety.

Among the other themes that the event is looking at is the importance of partnership working in achieving successful health and safety and whether setting targets is the best way to deliver positive outcomes.

It is recognised that good health and safety flows from practical and supportive ongoing collaboration between employers, workers and regulators.

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