SS19-01 THIRTY YEARS ON – HOW EU-OSHA USES COLLABORATIONS TO ACHIEVE IMPACT IN OSH

• Published in: Occupational medicine (Oxford) 2024-07, Vol.74 (Supplement_1)
• Main Author: Cockburn, William
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• ISSN: 0962-7480; 1471-8405
• DOI: 10.1093/occmed/kqae023.0137

Thirty years ago, the European Agency for Safety and Health at Work (www.osha.europa.eu) was established with the aim of improving by sharing and developing knowledge. Since then the agency has supported policy-making in OSH through research, supported prevention of workplace risks with guidance and tools and contributed to a positive prevention culture through awareness raising. During this time, the world of work has changed significantly, making it all the more challenging to achieve a substantial OSH impact. As a relatively small organisation, EU-OSHA relies on its network and on collaboration at global as well as European level to achieve its objectives. Looking to the future, EU-OSHA will address the most important challenges in OSH, such as those related to digitalisation, climate change, psychosocial risks and mental health, cardiovascular disease, work-related cancer and occupational injuries. For each of these challenges it will contribute to the evidence base through its research, identify examples of good practice, develop tools and guidance and run awareness raising campaigns. While such actions are needed to create safe, sustainable and healthy workplaces, it is essential that progress can be monitored and that the benefits to society can be quantified and communicated to a broad audience.