International Conference on Safety and Innovation

We are pleased to announce the International Conference on Safety and Innovation, organized by INAIL in collaboration with the ISSA Section Machine and System Safety. The event will be held from March 11th – 13th, 2025, at INAIL, Piazzale Giulio Pastore 6, Roma.

The conference will focus on the following key topics:

  • Innovative Technologies for Safety: Exploring cutting-edge technologies designed to enhance safety in the workplace. We invite papers discussing new solutions that improve safety during work activities or reduce risks through design innovations.
  • Safety of Innovative Products: Examining the safety aspects of new technologies integrated into products such as machinery, plants, and personal protective equipment (PPE). Submissions should address how these innovations comply with safety regulations and identify gaps in standardization.
  • Innovative Systems for Specialist Training: Evaluating new training systems, including virtual, augmented, and mixed reality tools. We seek papers that analyze these technologies’ effectiveness compared to traditional training methods and discuss various national protocols and guidelines.
  • Workspace Safety: Addressing the design of workspaces to ensure safe working conditions. We welcome papers that present innovative design solutions and examine how workspace design influences worker behaviour and skills.
  • Safety of Living Environments and Human Settlements: Investigating methods for detecting and mitigating pollution and predictive control of structures and facilities to prevent widespread risks. Papers should focus on innovative techniques for monitoring and controlling human settlements and living environments.
  • Systems for Inclusive Safety: Focusing on creating inclusive safety systems that accommodate diverse needs, including gender differences, an ageing population, and disabilities. We encourage papers that explore technical solutions and design strategies for tools, equipment, and training that promote safety and inclusion in the workplace.

The first deadline for abstract submissions is August 30th, 2024. For further information on the topics and the Call for Papers, please visit INAIL’s event page.

New Ergonomic Resources from OHCOW

We are pleased to inform you about a valuable resource from The Occupational Health Clinics for Ontario Workers Inc. (OHCOW) that can significantly enhance your knowledge and practices in workplace ergonomics. OHCOW is a prominent organization dedicated to improving workplace health and safety in Ontario, Canada, and its focus on ergonomics provides critical insights and practical solutions to prevent occupational injuries and diseases.

Injury Prevention through Ergonomics

OHCOW’s Injury Prevention page is an excellent resource highlighting the importance of ergonomics in the workplace. Poor ergonomic practices are a leading cause of musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs), and OHCOW provides comprehensive information to help mitigate these risks. The page covers:

  • Ergonomic Risk Factors: Identification of repetitive motions, awkward postures, and excessive force as key contributors to MSDs.
  • Practical Solutions: Guidelines for proper workstation setup, tool and equipment adjustments, and safe manual handling techniques.
  • Ergonomic Assessments: Expert evaluations of workplace setups with tailored recommendations for improvement.
  • Educational Materials: Brochures, guides, and checklists that serve as useful references for ongoing ergonomic enhancements.

These resources are designed to help workers and employers create safer and more comfortable work environments, reduce the incidence of MSDs, and promote overall workplace health.

Ergonomics Podcasts

OHCOW also offers an engaging podcast series featuring several episodes specifically on ergonomics. These podcasts provide in-depth discussions and practical advice from experts in the field:

  1. Ergonomics in the Workplace
    This is an overview of workplace ergonomics, including the importance of ergonomic design, proper posture, and regular breaks to avoid repetitive strain injuries.
  2. Office Ergonomics: Creating a Healthy Workspace
    Tips for setting up an ergonomic office environment, addressing the correct placement of computer monitors, keyboards, and chairs, and the impact of prolonged sitting.
  3. Manual Handling and Ergonomics
    There are strategies for minimizing injury risks in manual handling jobs, including proper lifting techniques, the use of assistive devices, and the importance of training.
  4. Ergonomic Solutions for Remote Work
    This article provides advice on setting up a home office to address the unique ergonomic challenges of remote work. Emphasis is placed on selecting ergonomic furniture and equipment and incorporating regular breaks and physical activity.

These podcasts are an excellent way to stay informed about the latest trends and best practices in ergonomics, helping you create safer and more comfortable work environments.

The Occupational Health Clinics for Ontario Workers Inc. (OHCOW) provides essential resources that can benefit all members of the Federation of European Ergonomics Societies. Their comprehensive injury prevention programs and engaging podcasts offer valuable information and practical solutions to enhance workplace health and safety. We encourage you to explore these resources and integrate their insights into your practices.

For more information and to access these resources, please visit OHCOW’s website.

Healthy workplaces Lighten the Load

2020 - 2022: Healthy Workplaces Lighten the LoadMillions of workers across Europe suffer from work-related musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs). About three in every five workers in the European Union report MSD complaints, based on data from the sixth European Working Conditions Survey. It makes it one of the most common work-related health problems and also cost employers huge amounts.

2020 - 2022: Healthy Workplaces Lighten the LoadMillions of workers across Europe suffer from work-related musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs). About three in every five workers in the European Union report MSD complaints, based on data from the sixth European Working Conditions Survey. It makes it one of the most common work-related health problems and also cost employers huge amounts.

Working actively with prevention helps improving workers’ lives, but it also benefits companies. MSDs are manageable and can be preventable, so costs related to MSDs can be reduced. If someone does develop an MSD, taking simple measures — such as providing professional support and adjusting the work environment — as soon as the symptoms appear significantly lowers the chance of long-term absence from work.

To preview EU-OSHA’s upcoming Healthy Workplaces Lighten the Load campaign focused on raising awareness of and preventing musculoskeletal disorders, the Swedish Agency for Work Environment Expertise organises two orientation sessions to introduce the audience to the topic.

This webinar gives examples of Swedish statistics, future tools for risk assessment of hand intensive repetitive work and a presentation by the authers of a brand new report – Physical work environment for health, well-being and performance.

Presentations:

  • Physical work environment for health, well-being and performance – Cecilia Berlin o Maral Babapour
  • Risk assessment of hand intensive repetitive work – Mikael Forsman
  • Statistics – The people behind the figures – Minke Wersäll

Morning sesion in English

Afternoon session in Swedish

SLIC campaign 2020-2022 on wMSD prevention

EU ComisssionThe Senior Labour Inspectors’ Committee (SLIC) campaign 2020-2022 will focus on the topic: “Better enforcing requirements aiming to prevent exposures to risk factors causing musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs)”. The campaign will contribute to awareness raising, knowledge sharing, and the exchange of information, practices and experiences.

EU ComisssionThe Senior Labour Inspectors’ Committee (SLIC) campaign 2020-2022 will focus on the topic: “Better enforcing requirements aiming to prevent exposures to risk factors causing musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs)”. The campaign will contribute to awareness raising, knowledge sharing, and the exchange of information, practices and experiences. The ultimate purpose of the campaign is to contribute to enhancing enforcement and activities by labour inspectors in the area of MSDs. The campaign will focus in particular on new occupational risks (e.g. related to digitisation and robotics) and risks experienced in specific sectors.

Concerning SLIC, a previous campaign (2008-2009) addressed MSDs and ergonomic risks related to the manual handling of loads. Moreover, at the 74th plenary session of SLIC in Sofia, the Committee expressed its wish to continue working on the topic. Therefore, and in full coherence with the next EU-OSHA campaign as well as the key priorities and objectives identified in the EU OSH Communication and EU OSH Strategic Framework, the 2020-2022 SLIC campaign will address the topic of prevention of work-related MSDs.

The expected results of this Call for Proposals are the improved possibilities for national labour inspectors to identify risks related to MSDs as well as improved possibilities for national labour inspectors to exercise their duties as regards the enforcement of relevant EU legislation. Moreover, it will result in a strengthened cooperation among labour inspectors and other actors across in the area of prevention of MSDs, as well as better and more equivalent enforcement of EU OSH legislation across the EU. Finally, the action will result in the identification of challenges and needs to improve enforcement of MSDs as well as proposals for ways on addressing them. 

For details go to https://ec.europa.eu/social/main.jsp?catId=629&langId=en&callId=576&furtherCalls=yes

MSD risk assessment resources

FFES LogoThe term musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) covers any injury, damage or disorder of the joints or other tissues in the upper/lower limbs or the back. There are extensive resources available covering both prevention and the management of msd’s in the workplace.

FFES LogoThe term musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) covers any injury, damage or disorder of the joints or other tissues in the upper/lower limbs or the back. There are extensive resources available covering both prevention and the management of msd’s in the workplace. Given the legal requirements associated with manual handling and the operation of machinery or display screen equipment, information is also available from european and national safety authorities on these topics.

See national safety authority guidances:


  • HSE
  • Swedish
  • Finnish
  • French
  • German

TU information pages

Material on the federated ergonomics society websites:

EU Reference works:

If you have suggestions to enrich this page, want to join the project, or want to see here your ergonomic assessment tool, please send a mail to info@ergonomics-fees.eu.

Repetitive hand or arm movements are required in half of European workplaces

The European Agency for Safety and Health at Work (EU-OSHA) published its overview report of the second European Survey of Enterprises on New and Emerging Risks (ESENER-2), for which almost 50,000 establishments from 36 European countries were interviewed in 2014. The main topics covered are the management of occupational safety and health (OSH) in general, the management of psychosocial risks in particular and the participation of workers in OSH. 

The European Agency for Safety and Health at Work (EU-OSHA) published its overview report of the second European Survey of Enterprises on New and Emerging Risks (ESENER-2), for which almost 50,000 establishments from 36 European countries were interviewed in 2014. The main topics covered are the management of occupational safety and health (OSH) in general, the management of psychosocial risks in particular and the participation of workers in OSH. 

The levels of psychosocial risks in European workplaces are high, with 77 % of establishments reporting at least one psychosocial risk factor in the workplace. The most common is having to deal with difficult customers, patients, pupils, etc. (reported by 58 % of establishments), which is fairly closely followed by time pressures (reported by 43 %). In addition, ESENER-2 shows that 41 % of establishments in the EU-28 state that they indeed do not have enough information on how to assess psychosocial risks.
Furthermore, among all EU-28 establishments with 20 or more workers, 33 % report having in place an action plan to prevent work-related stress. This is most frequently reported by establishments in the United Kingdom (57 %) as well as in Romania, Denmark, Sweden and Italy (around 50 %). In contrast, less than 10 % of establishments in the Czech Republic and Estonia state that they have such an action plan in place.

Christa Sedlatschek highlighted ESENER-2’s findings on the importance of worker participation in managing OSH: ‘The second enterprise survey has confirmed the findings of the first: worker participation is vital in implementing safety and health measures at work — 85 % of establishments with formal employee representation carry out risk assessments, but this worryingly drops to only 64 % of establishments without such representation. It is also particularly important for workers to be involved in psychosocial risk management, as the very nature of these risks makes them difficult to talk about, making collaboration from all parties even more essential.’

The most commonly reported reason for addressing OSH in general is to fulfil legal obligations (reported by 85 % of establishments in the EU-28). Legislation is a key driver to address OSH at work, even though for some enterprises (around 40% in the EU) legal obligations are regarded to be a major difficulty when addressing health and safety. However, it is worth pointing out that there are significant country differences suggesting a very diverse perception on the complexity of legal obligations depending on the national context.

Links:

Factors leading to musculoskeletal disorders are reported very frequently across all activity sectors

According to ESENER-2, the 2nd most frequent risk factor is tiring or painful positions, including sitting for long periods, and the third is repetitive hand or arm movements.

According to ESENER-2, the 2nd most frequent risk factor is tiring or painful positions, including sitting for long periods, and the third is repetitive hand or arm movements.

The European Agency for Safety and Health at Work (EU-OSHA) launched the main findings of the Second European Survey of Enterprises on New and Emerging Risks (ESENER-2) at the European Parliament in Brussels. The results of the survey — which collected responses from almost 50,000 workplaces in 36 countries, including all 28 Member States — give a detailed insight into how occupational safety and health (OSH) risks are managed in Europe’s workplaces.

The most commonly reported risk factor is having to deal with difficult customers, patients, pupils and so on (58% of establishments in the EU-28), which in part reflects the continued growth of the service sector.

The rate of establishment where tiring or painful positions, including
sitting for long periods
are present, regardless of whether it is currently
under control and regardless of the number of employees it affects on the chart above.
To discover the survey go to https://osha.europa.eu

wMSD is still a major concern

EU

Amongst current workers exposure to stress is considered one of the main health and safety risks they face in their workplace (53%). It was followed by ergonomic risks.
More than one quarter mention repetitive movements or tiring or painful positions (28%) while 24% mention lifting, carrying or moving loads on a daily basis.

EU

Amongst current workers exposure to stress is considered one of the main health and safety risks they face in their workplace (53%). It was followed by ergonomic risks.
More than one quarter mention repetitive movements or tiring or painful positions (28%) while 24% mention lifting, carrying or moving loads on a daily basis.

To access the full report on Working conditions go to http://ec.europa.eu/public_opinion/flash/fl_398_sum_en.pdf