3-5 November 2009Düsseldorf, Germany

Jukka TakalaDirector

The Economic Crisis and Safety and Health at Work - Global and

European Trends

2

Summary

Safety and Health Trends and Facts in Europe and in the World

Pan-European Opinion Poll on Safety and Health at Work

Economic Crisis and it’s impact on working conditions

Better data, attributable fractions, national surveys and studies on all work-related safety and health issues required

Economic factors Good practices and campaigns, Risk Assessment, Napo for

Chemical labelling and other future issues

3

Protecting worker health in a globalised but increasingly fragmented world…

4

… needs better integrated OSH prevention and information systems

5

Safety and Health Trends in Europe and

in the World

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17%

32%

8%

23%

18%

1%

0.4%1%

Communicable diseases CancerRespiratory Diseases Circulatory diseasesMental Disorders Digestive systems diseasesGenitourinary system Accidents and violence

Deaths attributed to work, 2.3 million/year

Work-related Annual Deaths – World

Sources: Hämäläinen P, Takala J, Saarela KL; TUT, ILO, EU-OSHA, 2008

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57%6%

23%

3%5%4%

0.4%1%

Communicable diseases CancersRespiratory Diseases Circulatory diseases

Mental Disorders Digestive systems diseasesGenitourinary system Accidents and violence

Deaths attributed to work, 167 000/year

Work-related Annual Deaths – EU-27

Sources: Hämäläinen P, Takala J, Saarela KL; TUT, ILO, EU-OSHA

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ILO Estimates Country

Total employment (economically active for World)

Fatal accidents reported (ILO 2003)

Fatal accidents, estimate ILO 2003

Accidents causing 3+ days' absence Estimate 2003

ILO Estimate Work-related diseases

ILO Estimate Work-related mortality

Deaths caused by dangerous substances

Austria 3,798,400 103 227 213,419 2,820 3,047 1,318

Belgium 4,070,400 84 78,974 2,893 2,977 1,353

Bulgaria 2,834,000 114 288 270,674 2,006 2,294 898

Cyprus 327,100 8 10 9,251 242 252 113

Czech Republic 4,733,000 199 245 230,128 3,648 3,893 1,706

Denmark 2,692,500 51 47,949 2,026 2,077 947

Estonia 594,300 31 38 35,849 683 721 309

Finland 2,385,000 43 49 46,068 1,862 1,911 871

France 24,630,900 661 782 735,214 19,279 20,061 9,014

Germany 36,172,000 901 847,094 28,568 29,469 13,358

Greece 4,103,900 68 63,932 3,203 3,271 1,498

Hungary 3,921,900 133 164 153,804 4,507 4,670 1,950

Ireland 1,836,000 65 80 75,167 1,333 1,413 623

Italy 22,133,000 916 991 931,709 16,987 17,978 7,943

Latvia 1,006,900 41 50 47,413 1,157 1,207 527

Lithuania 1,438,000 117 144 135,301 1,652 1,796 769

Luxembourg 293,400 16 7 6,581 139 146 65

Malta 147,042 12 15 13,877 113 128 53

Netherlands 7,935,000 104 97,778 5,949 6,053 2,782

Poland 13,617,000 515 633 595,557 10,357 10,990 4,637

Portugal 5,127,700 346 325,299 3,888 4,234 1,818

Romania 9,222,500 418 1,016 955,493 6,059 7,075 2,712

Slovakia 2,164,600 94 116 108,704 1,607 1,722 719

Slovenia 896,000 40 49 46,257 681 730 318

Spain 17,295,900 722 722 678,803 13,887 14,609 6,493

Sweden 4,234,000 56 52,650 3,163 3,219 1,479

United Kingdom 27,820,800 174 224 210,598 20,778 21,002 9,716

Total EU 27 205,431,242 4,422 7,460 7,013,545 159,485 166,945 73,989World 2,916,352,037 18,067 357,948 336,532,471 1,945,115 2,303,063 651,279

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EU Accident Fatality Rate

Standardised* Incidence Rate of fatal accidents at work /100,000 workers in Europe by member state, 2006 (source:EUROSTAT)  

                                                                                                                                                                                     

http://www.hse.gov.uk/statistics/european/fatal.htm

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Key facts 2006 – Key Facts 2007

• 2.0 million people were suffering from an illness they believe was caused or made worse by their current or past work. 2.1 million in 2007

• Musculoskeletal disorders were by far the most common with 1 020 000 people suffering – 1 144 000, followed by stress, depression or anxiety with 420 000 people - 530 000.

• 523 000 were new (incidence) cases of work-related illness 646 000. In terms of people working in the last 12 months, this equates to a rate of 1600 per 100 000 people – 2100/ 100 000.

• Stress, depression or anxiety and musculoskeletal disorders accounted for a large proportion of new cases, 195 000 and 190 000 respectively –

247 000 and 245 000.

• 299 000 non-fatal reportable injuries occurred – 274 000, a rate of 1100 per 100 000 workers – 1 000/ 100 000.

• 30 million working days were lost overall - 36 million (1.3 days per worker 1.5/ worker), 24 million due to work-related illness – 30 million and 6 million due to workplace injury – 6 million.

U.K. Data – Model for others?

www.hse.gov.uk/statistics/history/index.htm

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Magnitude of non-fatal work-related illnesses

Source:http://epp.eurostat.ec.europa.eu/portal/page/portal/product_details/publication?p_product_code=KS-SF-09-063

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Magnitude of non-fatal work-related illnesses and accidents

680 000 accidents in Spain, LFS 2007

More than 1.1 million in Spain, LFS 2007

Expected 678,803, reported 872, 610 accidents in Spain, ILO 2003

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8,6% of workers in the EU-27 experienced a work-related health problem

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Outcomes of main work-related health problems EU-27, percent of those who reported problems

Limitations in everyday activities Sickness absence > 1 month

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OSH exposure trends – Europe,Established Market Economies

Exposures and attributable fractions (AF) for work- related mortalityo Work-related cancer AF=8.4% (13.8 male, 2.2% female)o Asbestos, Europe: first up -2015 then down; lung cancer

and mesothelioma AF=15% (Australia), 12.2% (Finland)o External tobacco (passive) smoke, lung cancer and

circulatory diseases, many countries up, some others down, AF lung cancer = 2.0-4.0%

o Fatal accidents, stable or slight decreaseo All accidents, down (target 25%), but baseline unclear for

many countries o Circulatory diseases, AF=12.4% (14.4% m, 6.7% f)o Absenteeism, depending on criteria, trend up, ca. 5%o Work disability pensions, up increase, in particular,

caused by psychosocial factors and MSDs

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Pan-European opinion poll on occupational safety and health

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Decisive factors when looking for a new job – EU27

If you were deciding whether to take a new job, which of the following aspects would most influence your decision

• Safe and healthy working conditions

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Work as a cause of ill health – EU27 In general, to what extent do you think that ill

health is caused by the job people have?

5147

41

30

49

28 26 2925 27 24

2922

43

2833

14

31

17

30 29

12

2127 28

14 16 16

4044

46

57

36

56 58 5355 52 54

4955

32

4741

59

41

55

42 42

58

4942 40

53 46 45

4 6 9 8 9 11 9 1311 16 15 14 13

915 16 18

1518

13 1725

21 2322 21

2724

1 2 2 3 5 3 5 24

4 52

2 126 4

5

85

8 2

48 6 9

1

99

4 2 2 2 1 2 2 3 5 2 26 8

3 4 6 3 6 5 711

2 2 2 2

11

26

a great deal to some extent not really not at all don´t know / no answer

EU27

MTHUPLIEESUKCZBGPTDKROFILVDEATSKBEFRSELUNLEEELITLT SI CY EU27

MTHUPLIEESUKCZBGPTDKROFILVDEATSKBEFRSELUNLEEELITLT SI CY

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Development of safety and health risks – EU27

Do you think that over the last 5 years health and safety at work in your country has got…?

Pan-European opinion poll on occupational safety and health – June 2009Percent

Difference to 100 percent: worse / much worse / don´t know / no answer; Universe: population aged 18+

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Better data, attributable fractions, national surveys and studies on all work-related

safety and health issues required

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Adapting to a changing target group

Economic structureo Tertiarisation: usually implies fewer accidents but more

psychosocial factors and MSDs Employment structure

o Part-time, seasonal, temporary agency work, subcontracting, self-employment, tele-work

Legislation and best practiceo e.g., to encourage the integration of people with disabilities at

worko requires more attention to workers’ health status (including

chronic diseases)

…about 50% of the reduction in non-fatal injury rate since 1986 is due to changes in occupations…

Globalisation leads to structural change that automatically improves accident statistics – in the EU and other EME countries

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Major causes of death by age group, EU-25, 2001

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Self-reported work-related illness and workplace injuries in 2006/07: Results from the Labour Force Survey

Work-related cancer

http://osha.europa.eu/en/OSH_world_day/occupational_cancer

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Attributable Fractions, 2008, lung cancer

1. ETS (passive smoking) at work: RR (relative risk)= 1.24 (CI 1.18- 1.29, meta-analysis 22 studies, Stayner & others AJPH Jan 2007), for both m/fExposed in EU = 24.9% of male workers, 14.1 female workers (EUROFOUND Dublin 2007)AF = (1.24-1)/1.24 x 0.249 = 4.8% for males, (used 3 %)AF = (1.24-1)/1.24 x 0.141 = 2.7% for females, (used 2 %)

2. Asbestos and tobacco smoke (active smoking):Asbestos alone RR = 2 - 5, smoking alone RR = 8-10,Combined RR = 50-80 AF = 50-1/50 x exposed, used AF = 14.0% men, AF = 0.6% womenCombined low fiber exposure, low ETS exposure, huge group of exposed AF=?

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OSH exposure trends – Europe and other Established Market Economies

Exposures and attributable fractions (AF) for work- related mortality

o Work-related mortality AF = 6.7% of all deaths are attributed to

workAF = 10.2 % maleAF = 2.1 % female

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11% of those employed, main diagnosis:- mental disorders: 42.1 % of males, 46.1 of females- musculoskeletal disorders: 21.6 % of males, 26.8 of females:

Magnitude of problem

42.3 % of males, 46.3 of female disability pensions21.7 of male , and 27.0 of female disability pensions

Work disability pensions in Finland

All retired of ages 16-64 years: 17.7% of those employedAbsenteeism: ca. 5%Unemployment: 6.4 % of work force (today some 8%)

Out of work: some 25% , this figure can be radically reduced by targeted action to improve work and working conditions

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Work-related cancer

Work-related circulatory diseases

Accidents

Infectious and parasitic diseases

Musculo-skeletal

disorders Psychosocial disorders

Asbestos

Shift and night work, overwork

Lack of company policy, man.system, worker/employer collaborative mechanism, poor safety culture

Poor quality drinking water

Heavy lifting, loads, shapes of materials Lack of control

Carcinogenic substances, processes, silica and other dusts

Strain by high demands, low decision making latitude

Lack of knowledge, solutions and good practices

Poor sanitation and sewage system

Repetitive movements

Poor work-life balance

Ionizing radiation, radioactive materials

High injury risk

Lack of guidance or poor gvt policies, poor legislation and poor enforcement and tripartite collaboration

Poor hygiene, lack of knowledge

Poor design of seats, tables, tools, processes

Poor organisational culture

UV-radiation Chemicals

Lack of incentive- based compensation system

Protection against animals, insects, snakes

Low temparatures, vibration

Role ambiguity or conflict, unclear or changing priorities

ETS (passive smoking at work)

ETS (passive smoking at work)

Lack of or poor OH services

Diesel engine exhaust

Poor recording and nofification systems

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Economic Factors and Impact of the Crisis on Safety and Health

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Impact of the Economic Crisis – UE27

Do you expect or not that safety and health conditions at work in your country might deteriorate due to the economic crisis?

46

33

42

23 2632

21

3326

20 23

14

2720

2921

1321

1519

127

159 12

7 7 9

37

4838

56 5043

52

39

4347 44

52

39

4232

4048

3945 38

4347

39

43 37

38 35 32

10 1412 11

13 14 18 20

1623

18 22

11

28 32

23 22 26

1424 27 27

2927 30

31 38

26

24 7

2 9 7 77

127

4

10

7

46

11

4

14

2

16 16 17 13

7

20

7

18

23

1 17

2 4 3 1 3 210

2

16

51

513

1

24

3 2 2 3

14

1

17

210

5

a great deal to some extent not really not at all don't know / no answer

EU27

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Impact of the Economic Crisis

EFFECT Trend

Accidents, overall number

Accident frequency, (less new/young workers)

Temporary work, contract work, part time work, self-employment, fragmentation

Negative effects on health of restructuring

Female workers employment

Migrant workers, employment

Psychosocial disorders

Cardiovascular disorders, deaths

Risk of long-term disability, if more than 6m out

Working and OSH-Culture

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Cost of injury and illness, Australia,March 2009

5.9% of the GDP in Australia

Calculation by Australian Government, source:

http://www.ascc.gov.au/

http://www.ascc.gov.au/NR/rdonlyres/6F97309C-9A36-43DD-975C-B476A1752AB3/0/CostsofWorkRelatedInjuryAndDisease_Mar2009.pdf

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Good practices and Campaigns,Risk Assessment, NAPO for Chemical Safety,

and Other Future Issues

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Risk assessment is the cornerstone of managing health and safety in the workplace

We need to demystify it

We need to show people how to do it

We need to remind people that there is a legal obligation to carry it out

We need to emphasize that it is an ongoing process

European Campaign on Risk Assessment

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“Reduce burden on business” - Stoiber Group:no written RA report – exemption for SME’s

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http://hwi.osha.europa.eu/about/material/rat2007

Available in 14 languages:English + 12 new Member States + Croatian

Healthy Workplace Initiative – Campaign

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Online RA tool consist of

Free interactive software; Sector-specific; Checklist with additional information; Automatic generation of “to do” lists and plans of measures; Automatic action plan could include: hazards, actions,

sorting on priority, person in charge, deadlines, updateable status, …;

An option to include additional risks to the assessment on issues/hazards not covered

by the questions. Mobile component

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Online RA tool consist ofMobile component

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Thank you

More information at:

Website http://osha.europa.eu/

Risk assessment campaign website http://hw.osha.europa.eu/

information@osha.europa.eu

http://osha.europa.eu/en/blog