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Progressive Insurance Worldwide Travel Assistance insurance plans |
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News: European Union new strategy: 25% cut in accidents at work by 2012 The costs of accidents at work and work-related ill health do not fall equally on all players. Loss of income due to absence from work costs European workers around EUR 1 billion a year. Employers face costs linked to sick pay, replacement of absent workers and loss of productivity – many of which are not covered by insurance. Read more |
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Work-related illness and accidents should be cut by a quarter across the European Union under a new five-year strategy for health and safety at work, adopted by the European Commission in February 2007. |
February 2007
Despite falling workplace illness and accident rates as a result of action
since 2000, new European Union (EU) strategy targets persisting
differences between social categories.
Loss of income caused by absence from work is costing European workers
around €1bn a year, with employers also facing higher costs. And this
despite better health and safety at work thanks to the EU's strategy
between 2002 and 2006. Fatal accidents fell by 17% and those causing
more than 3 days absence from work by 23%.
But improvement has not been across the board – some categories of
workers still face higher risks than others. Building, farm and
transport workers still have much higher accident rates.
And progress also varies by country, company and workers' age. Changes in
the work environment also bring new risks, with an increase in certain
conditions, especially those induced by psychological pressure.
To counter this, the EU is taking new steps to cut occupational illness
and accidents by a quarter by 2012. Its new plan seeks to tighten up and
simplify existing laws, while placing more emphasis on prevention and
educating workers and employers about the risks.
To beef up the legal response, EU member governments will also introduce
their own national strategies, tailored to local conditions and
targeting specific sectors.
You will find more information on this timely topic in the article European Union new strategy: 25% cut in accidents at work by 2012 that you will find attached with our 49th Progressive Newsletter.
Create more jobs and of better quality, this is the objective that the EU set at the European Council in Lisbon (March 2000) and in Nice (December 2000). A safe and healthy working environment is an essential element of the quality of work.
The Commission has now launched its new Social Agenda for modernizing Europe's social model under the revamped Lisbon Strategy for growth and jobs. The new agenda focuses on providing jobs and equal opportunities for all and ensuring that the benefits of the EU's growth and jobs drive reach everyone in society.
The need to improve working conditions is a collective concern, prompted by both humanitarian and economic considerations.
Takis A. Haggiandreou
Director
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The EU Commission communication "Adapting to change in work and society: a new Community strategy on health and safety at work 2002-2006" outlines the options for further action to make workplaces across Europe safer and healthier. |
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