European Campaign for Safety and Health at Work
BeNeLux-Conference: Risk assessment: a key element in preventive culture? Participation by invitation Brussel 25 June 2008 In a competitive economy, working conditions that ensure safety and health representa significant asset for a company’s performance. Work accidents and occupationaldiseases, besides the harm they cause to the individuals concerned, also damage the company’s image. Small businesses are particularly vulnerable to these negative consequences. Accident prevention and health promotion are key elements in company policy. Risk analysis and assessment enable companies to detect risks in good time and to take the necessary preventive measures. However, recent studies have shown that neither risk analysis nor risk assessment are systematically performed as yet, particularly in small businesses. The voluminous legal framework, the complexity of the preventive measures and a lack of awareness of the risk factor all impede the use of these tools. The situation becomes even more complicated for businesses which are active in more than one country and have to take account of different measures or a different prevention approach. How can the principles of risk analysis and risk assessment be promoted and applied more effectively, and what elements underlie a preventive culture? To answer these questions, the Belgian, Dutch and Luxembourg authorities are organising a joint conference on the subject “Risk assessment: a key element in preventive culture?“ Programme Panel discussion Panel discussion 15:35 Policy visions of the Ministers of the BeNeLux countries 16:35 Conclusions 16:40 Drink A conference, organised by: 
10:30 Coffee
President: M. De Greef, Managing Director, Prevent
11:00 Welcome
P.-P. Maeter, President of the Executive Board, FPS Employment, Labour and Social Dialogue (Be)
11:10 The European context
J. Takala, Director, European Agency for Safety and Health at Work
11:30 Session 1 : Risk assessment in practice
For the last 10 years, risk assessment has been an essential part of the prevention policy. How is this principle applied in practice at company level?
What is the current situation in the field and what improvements need to be made in order to involve all companies actively?
J. M. Meeuwsen, Senior Advisor, TNO Quality of Life (Nl)
Panel discussion
R. Huberty, Deputy Director, Inspection du Travail et des Mines (Lu)
K. De Meester, Senior wellbeing at work advisor, Federation of Enterprises
in Belgium (Be)
L. R. M. Hartveld, Chief Officer, Federatie Nederlandse Vakbeweging (Nl)
W. M. J. M. van Mierlo, Coordinator Social Affairs, MKB-Nederland (Nl)
12:20 Lunch
13:45 Session 2 : Cross-border work and workers’ mobility
Workers’ mobility is a decisive factor for the labour market. If encouraged, it extends ever further. However, this has implications for workers’ health and safety and is a factor to be taken into account in risk assessment.
P. Weber, Director, Inspection du Travail et des Mines (Lu)
J.A. M. Hilgersom, Director general, Working Conditions and Social Insurance, Ministry of Social Affairs and Employment (Nl)
L. R. M. Hartveld, Chief Officer, Federatie Nederlandse Vakbeweging (Nl)
C. Pereira, Member of the Executive Committee, OGB-L (Lu)
14:35 Session 3 : Perspectives for the future
The principle of risk assessment has changed the roles of companies and the government in prevention. What are the foreseeable consequences and prospects
for the future?
Prof. em. M. Heselmans, KU Louvain (Be)
Prof. em. J. Malchaire, UCL, (Be)
C. Deneve, Director general, Direction Humanisation du Travail FPS Employment
J.A. M. Hilgersom, Director general, Working Conditions and Social insurance, Ministry of Social Affairs and Employment (Nl)
P. Bley, Secretary general, Union des Entreprises Luxembourgeoises (Lu)
M. Becker, National Secretary, ACV (Be)
L. R. M. Hartveld, Chief Officer, Federatie Nederlandse Vakbeweging (Nl)
J. Milquet, Minister of Work and Equal chances (Be)
P. H. J. Donner, Minister of Social Affairs and Employment (Nl)
F. Biltgen, Minister of Work and Employment (Lu)
M. De Greef, Managing Director, Prevent
Federal Public Service Employment, Labour and Social Dialogue (Belgium)
Ministry of Social Affairs and Employment (The Netherlands)
Ministère du Travail et de l’Emploi (Luxembourg)
Activities in 2008-2009
- Homepage
- Inspiration Session on May 27, at the invitation
- Formal Launch of European and Dutch Campaign A healthy workplace, 13 June 2008
- Benelux Brussels conference on June 25 2008
- Good Practice Competition 2008
- European Week Conference 20 October 2008
- Round Table Meeting European Week 2007 MSD, 23 October 2008
- European Awards for Dutch Good Safety and Health Practices
Information material
