European Week for Safety and Health at Work
Good Practices for approaching risk
The European Agency for Safety and Health at Work called for the submission of good practices under the denominator ‘A healthy workplace’. The Good Practices Awards acknowledge companies or organisations who distinguish themselves with an innovative and integrated approach.
As in previous years, the Netherlands’ Focal Point and the European Agency again organised the Good Practices Competition in 2008. Anyone implementing a good approach can participate in the competition. The Dutch jury will again award a number of prizes, including a first prize of 2,500 euros, while also nominating two practices for the European Good Practice Awards. Participants in the Dutch competition automatically compete for the European Awards. Presentation of the Dutch prize, as well as nominations for the European Awards, takes place during the Conference held in the week of 20 to 24 October 2008. The European Awards will be presented during the European Summit in Bilbao, Spain in February/March 2009. The Dutch nominees will receive an air-ticket from the NL Focal Point to attend the event.
This time the topic is successful projects/methods promoting an integrated approach to risk assessment. Risk assessment is the cornerstone of the European approach to safety and health at work. Effective measures can be taken on the basis of a risk assessment, to protect employee safety and health. Examples of measures are: preventing work-related risks, spreading information and training employees, and making available the structure and resources to implement the necessary measures.
We would like to emphasise that these Good Practices are about solutions which have already been implemented successfully, and not theories or hypotheses. Participation in the Awards is open to employers in all sectors of the public and private domain, but also to managers and employees, safety bodies, specialists, trainers, educational bodies, and occupational health and safety, prevention or insurance services. These companies, individuals and bodies were able to submit their own Good Practice examples by 5 September 2008.
Competition Results
Prizes for the 2008 Good Practices Competition were presented during the European Week 'Risico's te Boek' (Recording Risks) Conference on 20 October 2008:
Dutch winner (2,500 euros) and European nomination:
Corus Tubes B.V. with 'Risico's juist inschatten' (Assessing risks correctly)
Also a European nomination:
TU Delft with 'The safety report as a method for assessing the risks of experimental research’
The description of these winning Good Practices, along with the jury’s evaluations, can be seen in the special digital edition of the Good Practices .
This provides detailed descriptions of 12 of the 26 submissions.
E-zine Goede Praktijken Risicobeoordeling NL
E-zine Dutch Good Practices for Risk assessment ENG
Summary of all Good Practices submissions 2008
- Arbouw
Computer programme with instruction and work sessions - Arrowtools
Pbm storage system - BAM Wegen bv
Software tool for identification and structured management of (occupational health and safety) risks for an organisation operating nationally with multiple regional branches and specialist companies. - Betonson BV
Safety in mind through employee awareness in a prefab concrete company (Betonson) - Bureau KLB
Improvement to check on harmful noise - Care for Companies B.V.
The traffic-light model - Corpus Sanum
Working on working healthily - Corus Tubes BV, CBF
Assessing risks correctly - DSM Neoresins+
ZIP/SAFE system; sharing and learning / continuous improvement - Edu Alert (bureau for educational development) / Prisma Arbozorg
Using RI&E to integrate safety and health between sector and education - ENRGY Health in Business
Movement at work - GBIO/UvA
Participative risk inventorying and evaluation - Meander Medisch Centrum
Company assistance in the operating theatre - Monicor
Medical support for construction and/or projects, to provide accident, illness-absenteeism and emotional support to employees on the work-floor. Preventing stress, unhealthy work and quicker notification through a quicker medical approach. - Nederlandse Schoenmakers Vereniging (NSV)/ TNO Zeist
The vapour-catcher - Nutreco
Globally integrated Risk Assessment & Management system - O&O fonds ENb
E-learning package Safety Instruction Waste Collection Companies (VIA) - PontMeijer
Tackling collision danger for forklifts - Reym
Integration of Risk Inventorying and TRA - RIHealth BV
Web-based Prevention Management - Scheepsbouw Nederland
Best Practice Shipyard Welding Fumes - Stigas
Week of the Tick - Tactus Verslavingszorg
The ergonomic modification - TU Delft
The safety report as a method for assessing the risks of experimental research - TU Eindhoven
Managing the risks of chemical substances on the work-floor through training and guiding employees and students - Van Maanen Projecten
The BHV stress indicator
More information about the 2008 Good Practices Competition:
Jury members:
- Ms. S. Aafjes; Ministry of Social Affairs and Employment, ARBO/A&V Directorate
- Ms. M. Engelen; Research for Policy
- Ms. E. Heerschop; De Unie
- Mr. J.J.J. de Lange; TNO Quality of Life
- Ms. F. Michel; TNO Quality of Life
- Mr. W.M.J.M. van Mierlo; Royal SME Association Netherlands
Flyer on the 2008 Good Practices Competition (pdf)
Examples from previous years Good Practices Competitions: 2007, 2006, 2005, 2004, 2003, 2002, 2001, 2000
Special European Agency website about the 2008 European Week
For any further information please telephone NL Focal Point: +31 (0)23 554 94 83
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
