EU-OSHA's safe maintenance partners to increase 52

In the second year of EU-OSHA's Healthy Workplaces Campaign on safe maintenance, the number of official campaign partners has risen to 52 as seven more pan-European organisations and multinational companies from a range of public and private sectors have joined. The new partners are: AEIP, CPME, Dupont, ECTA, EORNA, Golder Associates and UEPG As many as 20% of all workplace accidents in Europe are connected with maintenance, with organisations across the continent increasingly aware that action is necessary to combat hazards related to maintenance.With this in mind, over a quarter (26.8%) of the partners have cited improvement of safe and healthy work conditions for employees and employers alike, as the main reason for their participation in the campaign. The partners identified further reasons for participation, such as aiming to engage their own workers and/or members in managing safety and health (16.01%), or sharing good practices (5.39%). Other partners associated their participation as an opportunity to work closely with other like-minded organisations (14.4%).

"Renowned companies, organisations and associations from a wide range of sectors such as the chemical industry, pharmaceuticals, healthcare, manufacturing and construction, among many others, have joined our campaign", Jukka Takala, director of EU-OSHA said. "We are delighted that the issue of safe maintenance has been incorporated in industries and workplaces across Europe, helping transform the daily lives of workers. I'd like to welcome our seven new 'ambassadors' and look forward to working in cooperation with them for the remainder of the campaign." Since the start of the campaign on 28th April 2010 the many seminars and conferences across Europe have covered specific topics such as the latest OSH products and services available to help improve conditions in workplaces throughout the continent.