Vision of PEROSH on the futureNEW OSH ERA - Final Conference

Berlin, 26 February 2010

Palle Ørbæk, NRCWE, Chairman of PEROSH

Establishment of PEROSH

Partnership for European Research in Occupational Safety and Health

The network was formalised on 7 November 2003 by the signing of a 5-year framework agreement in Rome

A new agreement has been concluded for 2008 - 2012

Mission of PEROSH

To strengthen and to coordinate European research and development for a healthier, longer and more productive working life

To cooperate with European and National authorities by contributing to policy development and enforcement

Objectives of PEROSH

Pooling of resources and sharing of knowledge across institutions and countries

in order to improve the quality of research and increase the EU-wide dissemination of results

Supporting the EU and its member states through common consortia

Common goals

Stronger European voice and visibility of OSH Awareness raising regarding the importance of

OSH research Synergy via collaboration Avoid duplication of efforts To improve the quality and effect of OSH

research

13 members in 12 countries

Belgium (Prevent) Czeck Republic

(VUPB) Denmark (NRCWE) Finland (FIOH) France (INRS) Germany

(BAuA & IFA)

Italy (ISPESL) Netherlands (TNO) Norway (STAMI) Poland (CIOP) Spain (INSHT) United Kingdom

(HSL)

PEROSH members in NEW OSH ERA

Finnish Institute of Occupational Health (FIOH) Federal Institute for Occupational Safety and Health

(BAuA), Germany Central Institute for Labour Protection - National

Research Institute (CIOP-PIB), Poland Institute for Occupational Safety and Health of the

German Social Accident Insurance (IFA - DGUV), Germany

National Research Centre for the Working Environment (NRCWE), Denmark

Italian National Institute for Prevention and Safety at Work (ISPESL), Italy

TNO, Netherlands

Characteristics of the members

Key players within their national affiliations to government authorities or health insurance systems

Conducting research and development in working conditions and OSH

Universities and private enterprises are important partners, but not members

Organisation of PEROSH Strategic management of PEROSH General directors of the members Chairman: Dr. Palle Ørbæk (NRCWE) Vice-chairman: Dr. Didier Baptiste (INRS)

Steering Committee Steering Committee

Scientific Steering Group Scientific Steering Group

Joint research groupsJoint research groups

Secretariat Secretariat

Executive Committee Executive Committee

Day to day management Chairman, Vice-chairman, Scientific Chairman

Future cooperation, research topics and projects Scientific directors of the member institutes Scientific Chairman: Dr. Dietmar Reinert (BGIA)

Research cooperation on priority topics

Facilitation of the day-to-day networking and coordination Communication and information transfer between the members, dialogue with the EU and other stakeholders European Affairs Coordinator: Nele Roskams

Joint research projects of PEROSH

PEROSH identified topics of strategic significance in its member states

Established self-financed high-level joint research projects in these fields in order to share resources between members and avoid duplication

At present, more than 80 researchers are actively carrying out research in the 9 research projects that have been set-up within the partnership

Joint projects of PEROSH (1)

Ageing of the workforce European approaches to management of ageing workers

Worker wellbeing Looking for a consensus understanding on key research

issues regarding work and wellbeing in the EU context via a Delphi exercise

Collate and analyse case studies from across PEROSH countries in order to enhance the evidence base on a.o.:

effective processes for improvement, scale of impact of different approaches, the comprehensive wellbeing concept.

Joint projects of PEROSH (2)

Nanosafety Hazard identification and engineered nanoparticles

Several smaller projects: e.g. EU production and use of nanoparticles and the exposure of people, Project on carbon nanotubes, Intrapleural instillation of nanoparticles

Risk assessment & exposure measurements of manufactured nanoparticles

Nanodustiness Nanoaerosol exposure database: starting point the data

collected during the NANOSH project – EU Commission

Joint projects of PEROSH (3)

Clearing house for systematic reviews in OSH assess quality and set quality criteria for reviewing on OSH development and collection of systematic OSH reviews

Survey development and cross culture methodology insight in the differences of indicators used improve criteria for EU-comparative analyses

Definition of workplace protection factors for Respiratory protective devices

Determine EU-wide protection factors for different types of respiratory protective devices

corresponding to the actual conditions of use

Joint projects of PEROSH (4)

Safety culture and accidents promotion of a zero accident vision at workplaces exchange of European experiences in this field.

Workplace health intervention strategies to tackle musculoskeletal disorders

identification of success factors/inhibitors for tackling MSD general impact of ergonomic interventions

Future scanning: OSH challenges for the next decade

14 senior experts from the PEROSH member institutes, EU-OSHA, Eurofound and l'Institut de recherche Robert-Sauvé en santé et en sécurité du travail (IRSST - Canada).

Funded by Danish Working Environment Authority as part of a consultation process to gain input for the New Danish Working Environment Strategy 2010 – 2020.

Seminar proceedings and video-presentations can be accessed via www.perosh.eu

Main conclusions on future OSH challenges (1)

The pressure on competition from the economic crisis and globalisation leading to a higher degree of work intensification and emotional demands on employees, resulting in turn to mental disorders

Demographic changes characterised by an ageing workforce and increasing migration requiring special attention to the health, wellbeing and workability of specific risk groups such as elderly employees, the chronically ill, obese employees, and migrant workers

Main conclusions on future OSH challenges (2)

Poor lifestyle habits in youth such as physical inactivity, insufficient sleep and poor dietary practices

Musculoskeletal disorders and the effect of combined exposures including the relation with mental health

New work processes and risks due to the emergence of new technologies, materials and products such as bio- and nanotechnology, IT and automation

Research challenges for the future

The importance of a scientific assessment of the effects interventions at the workplace

The need for a systematic review of the existing knowledge

Consideration of the relations between private life, working life and well being throughout the life course

Research on specific occupational groups needing special attention such as chronically ill, migrant workers, elderly and young workers

Particular focus on the combined exposure and their interactions

Research into the economic aspects of OSH

Implementation of OSH management in small and medium-sized enterprises.

Future needs for collaboration and innovation (1)

Joint research efforts/resources on a EU level and is committed to continue its research and development efforts in line with the strategy of the European Commission regarding a European research area and joint programming

Innovation of the OSH research and to give it a stronger European voice and visibility so as to promote the benefits for employees, enterprises and societies

Future needs for collaboration and innovation (2)

Strategy of PEROSH to start joint programming initiatives with own funding rather than to be dependent on financing from EU research programmes

In the long term this will not be sustainable for the majority of the PEROSH partners without supplementary external funding

Vision on future collaboration

Facilitate the transnational collaboration in Europe

Provide scientific input and advice on strategic and upcoming research areas and priorities

Explore new paths to optimise the added value to European businesses

Vision on future collaboration

PEROSH would be happy to counsel and to maintain its proactive dialogue with

The National authorities The European Commission EU-OSHA and EUROFOUND The funding consortium from the NEW

OSH ERA if they decide to continue their cooperation after march 2010

Thank you for your attention