EU-OSHA works to make European workplaces safer, healthier and more productive – for the benefit of businesses, employees and governments. The agency promotes a culture of risk prevention to improve working conditions in Europe.

What it does

• Anticipating change: Foresight projects highlight and study new and emerging OSH risks
• Facts and figures: gathering and disseminating information through the ESENER enterprise survey and OSH overviews on specific topics to identify priorities
• Tools for good OSH management: Online interactive Risk Assessment (OiRA) for small and medium-sized enterprises
• Raising awareness: through 2-year Healthy Workplaces Campaigns across Europe and NAPO films on workplace safety and health
• Networking knowledge: OSHwiki online encyclopaedia of accurate and reliable OSH information
• Strategic networking: partnerships with governments, employers’ and workers’ organisations

Structure

• The Director manages EU-OSHA and is accountable to a tripartite Governing Board (EU governments, employers, workers) and the European Commission. It sets strategies and goals.
• A smaller steering group of the Board, the Bureau, oversees the operational performance.
• Advisory groups provide strategic guidance.
• The information network is made up of focal points in over 30 European countries. Nominated by each government, they are usually the national authority for health and safety at work.

How it works

Every 5 years, EU-OSHA reviews its strategy and what it is aiming to achieve. After wide-ranging consultations with the Board and the EU institutions, it draws up a multiannual strategic programme (currently 2014-2020). Detailed annual work programmes are then specified. The agency is essentially a networking organisation, and working with other organisations at all levels — national, European, worldwide — is central to how it operates. This is reflected in the tripartite make-up of its Governing Board and its most important network of national focal point which represent a vital link with end users.

EU-OSHA works together with:

• Eurofound
• European Chemicals Agency (ECHA)
• European Centre for the Development of Vocational Training (Cedefop)
• European Institute for Gender Equality (EIGE)
• Fundamental Rights Agency (FRA)
• European Training Foundation (ETF)

Who benefits

Who we aim to support:

• EU & national policy makers
• Firms, especially micro-firms & small firms
• Employees & their representatives
• Employers
• OSH professionals & researchers
• Members of the public in the EU.

Who we work with:

• Focal points & their networks
• Social partners
• National governments
• European institutions, bodies & committees
• EU Parliament - Employment Committee
• EU Commission - DG EMPL, DG GROW
• EASME – Enterprise Europe Network
• The Council of the EU
• Large enterprises & sectoral federations
• Preventive services
• OSH researchers
• Labour inspectors
• International & regional organisations.