UNDER CONSTRUCTION IIUNDER CONSTRUCTION II

Improving Health and Safety in Improving Health and Safety in SMEs of the Construction SectorSMEs of the Construction Sector

Rome, March 20Rome, March 20thth, 2009, 2009

Non-profit, non-governmental, non-politic Non-profit, non-governmental, non-politic organizationorganization

10 employers’ associations in 10 historical 10 employers’ associations in 10 historical regionsregions

6 functional departments:6 functional departments: for relations with Parliament, Government and Trade Unionsfor relations with Parliament, Government and Trade Unions for programme organization and implementationfor programme organization and implementation for economic strategies and policiesfor economic strategies and policies for relations with business and banking environmentsfor relations with business and banking environments for communication and imagefor communication and image for foreign relationsfor foreign relations

• UNPR members are UNPR members are companies from the private sectorcompanies from the private sector with Romanian or foreign capital;with Romanian or foreign capital;

• UNPR has been UNPR has been founded in 1991founded in 1991 in the aim of in the aim of protecting protecting the interests of small and medium sized entrepreneursthe interests of small and medium sized entrepreneurs acting in the acting in the field of services, trade field of services, trade and and production;production;

• UNPR is UNPR is nationally representative;nationally representative;• UNPR is made of UNPR is made of regional employers organizationsregional employers organizations with with

own patrimonyown patrimony and and juridical form;juridical form;• As well As well professional associations of various fields of professional associations of various fields of

activity,activity, representing representing branches and sub-branches of branches and sub-branches of national economynational economy belong UNPR. belong UNPR.

Our objectives:Our objectives:

• To protect and encourage the legitimate interests of its To protect and encourage the legitimate interests of its adherent members;adherent members;

• To propose the administrative measures necessary for the To propose the administrative measures necessary for the maintenance and development of small and medium-sized maintenance and development of small and medium-sized companies;companies;

• To solve the economic and societal problems, by equally To solve the economic and societal problems, by equally taking into consideration the employers' and the taking into consideration the employers' and the employees' interests.employees' interests.

• December 6December 6thth, 2005, 2005 : :• Official opening of our Official opening of our representative office in representative office in

Brussels, Brussels, is the only office representing Romania is the only office representing Romania private economy field into the heart of Europeprivate economy field into the heart of Europe

““LaValette Business Center”LaValette Business Center”

289, Avenue d’Auderghem, B-1040, Brussels289, Avenue d’Auderghem, B-1040, Brussels

Tel/Fax: 0032 2 648 65 40Tel/Fax: 0032 2 648 65 40

Dpl. Eng. Nelu NEACŞU Dpl. Eng. Nelu NEACŞU

Representative in BrusselsRepresentative in Brussels

UNPR improves H&S in Romanian legislation UNPR improves H&S in Romanian legislation

UNPR plays a dynamic role into the social UNPR plays a dynamic role into the social dialog between the government, trade dialog between the government, trade unions and employers’ representatives, unions and employers’ representatives, issuing, improving and changing the issuing, improving and changing the laws. laws.

UNPR is entitled to improve the Health and UNPR is entitled to improve the Health and Safety regulations in our country due to Safety regulations in our country due to its permanent connection with all certified its permanent connection with all certified companies in the field, from all over the companies in the field, from all over the country, that belong to the specific sector country, that belong to the specific sector and highlight the real situation of specific and highlight the real situation of specific domains.domains.

Prevention’s ChallengesPrevention’s Challenges The absence of a prevention policy has negative The absence of a prevention policy has negative

effect on:effect on:

EMPLOYEESEMPLOYEES:: Health problemsHealth problems Salary lostSalary lost Unsafe working climateUnsafe working climate Damage of work relationships between Damage of work relationships between

employers / employees / customersemployers / employees / customers

COMPANYCOMPANY

Supplementary production costsSupplementary production costs Profit decreasingProfit decreasing The know-how lost of the company caused by the The know-how lost of the company caused by the

injured employeeinjured employee Delays in deadlinesDelays in deadlines Negative image of the companyNegative image of the company Damage of working relationships between Damage of working relationships between

employers / employeesemployers / employees

BENEFICIARYBENEFICIARY

Delays in deadlinesDelays in deadlines Negative image of the companyNegative image of the company Damage of working relationships between Damage of working relationships between

beneficiary / employeesbeneficiary / employees Increase of the execution costsIncrease of the execution costs

Law Implementations Bring Benefits for Everybody:Law Implementations Bring Benefits for Everybody:

Protects the workers against risks and dangerProtects the workers against risks and danger Guaranty the health Guaranty the health Decrease the expenses regarding the work accidentsDecrease the expenses regarding the work accidents Reduce the work absence and insure the labors’ stabilityReduce the work absence and insure the labors’ stability Increase the productivityIncrease the productivity Competitiveness on European marketCompetitiveness on European market

H&S REGULATION IN CONSTRUCTIONS FIELDH&S REGULATION IN CONSTRUCTIONS FIELDD 92/57/CEED 92/57/CEE HG 300/2006HG 300/2006

STATISTIC DATA REGARDING WORKPLACE ACCIDENTS PERIOD 2003 – 2007

Chart no.1

Chart no.2

STATISTIC DATA REGARDING DEADLY WORKPLACE ACCIDENTS FOR THE PERIOD

2003 – 2007

Chart no.3

Chart no.4

STATISTIC DATA REGARDING THE GRAVITY AND MEDIUM INDEX FOR INJURED PEOPLE

IN THE PERIOD 2003 – 2007

Chart no.5

Chart no.6

The sectors of national economy where the most accidents have been recorded are the following fields: constructions, coal extraction and manufacturing, furniture manufacturing and other industrial activities, food and beverage industry, metallic works and metal products industry.

As per the recently statistics of the National Methodological Coordination and Information Centre regarding professional diseases within the Public Health Institute Bucharest, in 2007, on the risks factors hierarchy was ranked on top the overstressing factors of MSD - 428.593 exposed workers - 14,42% of total exposed workers, followed by noise - 333.938 exposed workers - 11,24 % of total exposed workers.

Exposing to physical and biological noxes, overstress represent 67,94% of total exposed workers number. At the same time, 16,58% of total exposed is representing by workers exposed to chemical noxes and 15,48% exposed to dust.

On activity level, constructions rank first top with 136.660 exposed workers - 7,15% of total exposed, followed by fabrics manufacturers, 130.946 exposed workers - 7,15% of total and agriculture, 121.289 exposed workers, irrespectively 6,63% of total

Existing statistics show the fact that are still working conditions wherein professional risks are maintained and a culture for risks prevention that is not enough developed at companies level. In the constructions field, the accidents are very often but most part can be avoided. Within this sector, most frequent deadly accidents are happening due to the height falling. The workers should work in safety working places under security conditions with no risk of falling. If the risk of height falling is not reduced at minimum, this means the risks evaluation was not done accordingly. Height working represent another risk also – objects falling. First of all, preventing measures should be taken because of objects, tools or materials falling a worker use at height, and workers on the yard should be protected by wearing helmets.

Materials and equipment often used on the yards may cause additional risks. Several deaths were provoked by squeezing under vehicles, mobile tasks not properly insured or different equipment. The yard is a place with the risk of overthrowing the vehicles and badly damaging of their drivers. Excavation works present also risks if the necessary prevention measures are not taken. Almost each day in 2007, one worker lost his life by working accident (344 deadly accident) and 2-3 workers got ill (professional illness).

UNPR is trying to update the EU regulations in the constructions field and get improved the working conditions in this domain, being actively involved in the promoting campaign for this sector and also updating its members from the field to have the employees informed and secured in safety working conditions.