RSS / e-Bulletins
Five strategic “pillars” for a workplace prevention culture
Pillars of prevention: Participants support the Seoul Declaration. Photo: DGUV
In past years, many governments and international organizations have launched comprehensive prevention strategies for occupational safety and health. Recognizing the importance of this renewed political commitment to workers’ health, prevention specialists also point to a frequent lack of coordination between these approaches.
The aim of the conference of European experts, hosted by the German Social Accident Insurance (DGUV) Institute in Dresden, Germany, this week, was to develop a blueprint for improving structures and processes which promote a prevention culture at the social, business and societal levels.
The expert meeting involved more than fifty institutions from over 30 countries and was co-organized by the International Social Security Association (ISSA), the International Labour Office (ILO), the European Agency for Safety and Health at Work (EU-OSHA), the International Commission on Occupational Health (ICOH), the International Occupational Hygiene Association (IOHA) and the International Association of Labour Inspection (IALI).
The participants in the conference discussed the role and importance of five “pillars” which could guide occupational safety and health strategies and contribute to a genuine prevention culture in the future:
- Reduction of work accidents and occupational diseases;
- Awareness-raising, developing competencies and capacity building;
- Cooperation between public health and occupational safety actors;
- Promotion of health and safety as an integral part of lifestyle;
- Integrating prevention into the social security system.
Addressing the gathering, ISSA Secretary General Hans-Horst Konkolewsky emphasized that the workplace was facing new and complex challenges, including the ongoing pressures resulting from economic globalization, migration, profound demographic changes and an increase in chronic diseases, in particular psychosocial health issues.
Redefining strategic responses
“These developments push the mandates of the systems involved towards more integrated solutions based on systematic cooperation between the different actors in the health, labour and social fields,” Mr. Konkolewsky stated.
“Our focus should not be limited to traditional concepts and the organization of occupational risk prevention. Rather, we need to discuss and where necessary redefine our strategic responses to better reflect the increasing complexity of work-related health risks and prevention measures within society as a whole,” he said.
The ISSA Secretary General outlined the ISSA strategy on proactive and preventative approaches in social security, which seeks to confront major risk factors and reduce the need for social security benefits by strengthening, for example, occupational risk prevention, education for a better work-life balance, rehabilitation programmes and active ageing.
The Seoul Declaration: An umbrella for prevention strategies
The conference reaffirmed the potential of the Seoul Declaration on Safety and Health at Work, adopted as the first global safety and health charter by the Global Safety and Health Summit in Seoul in 2008, to act as an umbrella for national and international strategies by proposing a common framework for all actors in society to shape a national prevention culture and a common platform for international organizations to coordinate their strategic efforts.
Since its adoption, the Seoul Declaration has attracted support from a range of government, economic and social partners as well as OSH institutions, businesses and professionals in all regions of the world. As a joint expression of support, conference participants signed the Dresden Statement in support of the Seoul Declaration.
RELATED INFORMATION
Website of the Seoul Declaration on Safety and Health at Work >>
Type: Brèves
Thèmes: Risques professionnels
Événements: 2nd Strategy Conference: Five Pillars on Safety and Health at Work
Brèves
L’investissement dans la protection sociale est une «alternative à l’austérité», a déclaré le Vice-président argentin
AISS,
15.05.2012 |
Brèves Strengthening the social protection of migrant workers in Eurasia
Le Prix AISS des bonnes pratiques pour les Amériques
Événements
-
2nd Strategy Conference: Five Pillars on Safety and Health at Work
AISS, 02.02.2011 - 03.02.2011 | DGUV Akademie, Dresden, Germany -
10th International Conference on Occupational Risk Prevention
23.05.2012 - 25.05.2012 | Bilbao, Spain -
WA Safety Conference 2012
07.08.2012 - 09.08.2012 | Perth, Australia