We are proud to be an official campaign partner of the European Agency for Safety and Health at Work (EU-OSHA). Our joint work aims to ensure safer and healthier workplaces in Europe. As recently as in the early 1990s, there were 4 million workplace accidents in Europe - 8000 of them fatal. EU-OSHA was founded in response to this alarmingly high number.

Occupational health and safety is of central importance for us, too. Both for us as an employer and as a European centre. That is why we have been involved from the beginning.

"Healthy Workplaces for All Ages" was EU-OSHA's first campaign from 2016 - 2017, which we supported as a campaign partner right from the beginning. The campaign focused on promoting sustainable work - that is, working conditions that are safe and healthy from the start of working life to prevent health problems and enable people to work longer. This is becoming increasingly important as the working and retirement age in Europe is rising.

The aim of the campaign “Healthy Workplaces Manage Hazardous Substances” in 2018-2019 was to raise awareness for hazardous substances in the workplace, associated risks, and ways to prevent harm for workers. It promoted the so-called hierarchy of prevention and placed special focus on vulnerable groups of workers. In addition, as part of EU-OSHA's ongoing commitment to the roadmap on carcinogens, the campaign also specifically addressed the management of exposure to carcinogens in the workplace. It also raised awareness of relevant EU legislation, and companies were provided with practical guidance on how to ensure compliance.

From 2020 - 2022, the campaign was entitled "Healthy Workplaces Make Work Easier". The campaign raised awareness of work-related musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) as well as the need to manage them and to promote a culture of risk prevention. The campaign was divided into eight priority areas, each covering a specific topic related to MSDs: Prevention, Facts and Figures, Chronic Conditions, Sedentary Work, Workforce Diversity, Future Generations, Psychosocial Risks and Telework.

The ongoing Healthy Workplaces Campaign (HWC) 2023-25 'Safe and healthy work in the digital age'

EZA’s latest magazine and podcast series discuss harnessing digital technologies for safer and healthier workplaces

The first magazine issue of 2024 and the "We Work Europe" podcast episode 22 recently published by EZA (European Centre for Workers' Questions) explore the impact of digitalisation on occupational safety and health (OSH) and discuss the ongoing Healthy Workplaces Campaign (HWC) 2023-25 'Safe and healthy work in the digital age', which addresses the dual aspects of challenges and opportunities posed by digital technologies.

In the magazine feature, William Cockburn, EU-OSHA Executive Director, emphasises the significance of the HWC, which is the largest OSH campaign of its kind globally. He highlights that the ongoing campaign has involved four years of meticulous data gathering and comprehensive studies, all aimed at accomplishing three primary goals: raising awareness, providing resource accessibility, and mitigating risks.

The article notes that insights drawn from collected data have steered the campaign's planning, driven by strong political support and collaboration with partners at national and European levels, including longstanding allies like EZA. The Healthy Workplaces Good Practice Awards, additionally, aim to recognise exemplary strategies for enhancing OSH.

Mr. Cockburn further stresses the crucial aspect of technology application, stating that technology is never inherently good or bad. It hinges on its workplace design, implementation, and daily usage. Similarly, Maurizio Curtarelli, Senior Research Project Manager in the Prevention and Research Unit at EU-OSHA, challenges the notion of digitalisation as an overarching threat to workplace safety and health. The expert, for instance, illustrates how digital technologies, such as sensors and, can monitor vital signs to detect stress or burnout risks, while

of repetitive tasks can alleviate monotony and facilitate engagement in creative endeavours or training. However, he acknowledges the dual nature of technology as well, noting the need to minimise adverse effects while maximising benefits. In this regard, it is crucial to place people at the forefront of digitalisation.

In tandem with the magazine article, the "We Work Europe" podcast episode, launched on 23 April, also dives into the opportunities, risks, and challenges being brought by digital technologies for workplace health and wellbeing. It offers valuable insights into this subject and the campaign, specifically, featuring perspectives from EU-OSHA Executive Director as well as Natalie Lotzmann and Patricia O'Callaghan from SAP, the European software giant and another key partner of the campaign.

Read the full article in German/English/French/Spanish or Croatian on our magazine page and listen to the podcast in English on all common podcast platforms.