2021, the terrible year of fatal accidents at work
Speech by Alessandra Servidori, professor of labor policies, member of the Steering Council for programmatic activity in the field of economic policy coordination at the presidency of the Council
Turin is the latest massacre in order of time. While in Europe between 1994 and 2018 fatal accidents at work decreased, in Italy we have a tragic turnaround especially in the last year of 2021: considering that for the annual balance the certain numbers of December are still missing, 2021 is the year terrible, and taking into account the high speed of the route (in 2020 the deaths at the end of the year were 1280), with the compensation among fewer cases for the stop of the activities in the lockdown .
The European Commission has recently renewed its commitment to update the reference standards, adopting the EU strategic framework 2021-2027 on health and safety in the workplace. Protecting workers has concrete advantages not only in terms of their health and well-being, but also from an economic point of view. Accidents at work and occupational diseases, for example, cost the EU economy over 3.3% of GDP per year (460 billion euros in 2019). While it is true, as specified in the strategic framework document, that the welfare cost behind these figures is not quantifiable, it is equally true that OSH good practices make an important contribution to the productivity, competitiveness and sustainability of businesses. It is estimated that for every euro invested in occupational health and safety, the return for the employer is about double.
The new SSL 2021-2027 framework has defined the priorities and actions necessary from now to the next few years, within the post-pandemic context, between economic and demographic challenges, green and digital transition, also considering the evolution of the concept of environment traditional working.
Although the priorities of the previous framework (2014-2020) are still relevant, further action on health and safety at work is now needed to adapt to the changes in the world today and in the coming years. The new strategic framework focuses on 3 main cross-cutting objectives:
- Anticipating and managing changes brought about by green, digital and demographic transitions. The Commission will therefore undertake to review the Workplaces Directive and the Display Devices Directive, also proposing prudential limits for asbestos and lead. Furthermore, the intention is to prepare an EU-wide initiative on mental health at work.
- Improve the prevention of accidents and occupational diseases. The new strategic framework promotes a "zero victims" approach ("vision zero") to reduce deaths and strengthen the culture of prevention, both in organizations and among individual workers. In addition, the Commission will update EU rules on chemicals that are dangerous to fight cancer, reproductive and respiratory diseases.
- Improve preparedness for potential health crises.
Learning from the Covid-19 pandemic can be crucial not only for resuming activities but also for improving preparedness for other potential health crises. The Commission, therefore, in collaboration with public health professionals, will develop emergency procedures and guidelines for the rapid dissemination, implementation and monitoring of measures in potential future health crises. The Commission invites the Member States to update their national strategies on health and safety at work, to improve prevention and preparedness, ensuring the application of the new measures.
To support businesses, targeted and updated guidelines will therefore be needed, as well as awareness-raising and digital tools (especially for SMEs). All elements aimed at ensuring a high level of worker protection and sustainable solutions, while preserving competitiveness.
From an operational point of view, the actions of the strategic framework must be implemented through: solid social dialogue; development of policies based even more on hard facts; better application and monitoring of existing EU legislation; raising awareness of occupational risks, accidents and diseases and strengthening the capacities of employers; mobilization of funds to invest in occupational health and safety.
Principle 10 of the European Pillar of Social Rights gives workers the right to a high level of protection of their health and safety in the workplace. As we set out to better rebuild after the crisis, this principle should be at the heart of our action. We must commit ourselves to a "zero victims" approach with regard to work-related deaths first of all in Italy and in the EU.
Health in the workplace is not just about our physical state, but also about our mental health and well-being, and it reduces costs for people, businesses and society as a whole. For this reason, maintaining and improving worker protection standards remains a priority for an economy that serves people. We need stronger action from the government and the EU to make our workplaces fit for the future.
This is a machine translation from Italian language of a post published on Start Magazine at the URL https://www.startmag.it/economia/2021-lanno-terribile-degli-infortuni-mortali-sul-lavoro/ on Tue, 21 Dec 2021 12:46:41 +0000.