Action on health at work to be stepped up
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With statistics on work-related accidents and occupational illnesses still a cause for concern in France, in April 2004 the Higher Council for the Prevention of Occupational Risks agreed new measures to promote prevention, including a stronger role for collective bargaining. Furthermore, the government has announced that a health at work initiative is to be submitted to the social partners in autumn 2004.
At its plenary meeting on 13 April 2004, the Higher Council for the Prevention of Occupational Risks (Conseil supérieur de la prévention des risques professionnels) (FR0204105F and FR0305104F) debated, on the basis of a report on work-related accidents and illnesses, action to be undertaken in 2004. According to the available figures, work-related accidents resulting in absence from work rose by 3% in 2002, with the number of serious incidents climbing by 9% (this followed a sharp drop in 2001). Fatal accidents fell below the 700 mark for the first time since 1997, with the main cause of death being road accidents.
The number of incidences of recognised occupational illnesses shot up by 14.5% in 2001, arguably reflecting the impact of more intensive working practices. Musculoskeletal disorders, which were first officially recognised as occupational diseases in 1999, are the leading cause of occupational illness (representing three-quarter of cases) and their incidence continues to rise. The second most common occupational diseases are occupational cancers - mainly asbestos-related (FR0307105F) - the instances of which have also significantly increased, despite persistent under-reporting.
In a move to breath new life into prevention policy, the following four areas of action have been identified for 2004:
- the implementation of hazard identification tools, mainly through the development of company-level assessment initiatives. Financial assistance is to be made available to both small and medium-sized companies and industries as a whole;
- the improvement and enforcement of regulations. The collective bargaining process is to be the backbone of this drive, especially in the areas of 'psychosocial' hazards, the management of the age structure of the workforce, and arduous jobs. The social partners are encouraged to set up 'regional health in the workplace observatories' (Observatoires régionaux en santé au travail, ORST);
- the strengthening of cooperation between all the parties involved in the field of prevention, with the emphasis on a multi-disciplinary approach; and
- the adaptation to individual cases of compensation for industrial accident and illness (including asbestos) victims. In particular, the arrangements currently governing compensation for occupational accidents are to be reformed.
At the meeting, the junior minister for industrial relations announced that a health at work plan is to be submitted to the social partners in autumn 2004. This initiative is to carry forward a National Environmental Health Initiative (Plan national santé environnement, PNSE), due to be completed by May 2004. The aim is to develop a genuine culture of prevention at the company level.