World Day for Safety and Health at Work

Article published in Voice of the Workers Weekly

April 28 marks the World Day for Safety and Health at Work aimed at promoting the prevention of occupational accidents and diseases globally.

Health and safety at work is an area in which the EU has had the biggest impact, with a solid legal framework covering the maximum number of risks with the minimum number of regulations.

As enshrined in the Treaties, the Charter of Fundamental Rights, and more recently the European Pillar of Social Rights, workers in the EU have the right to a high level of protection of their health and safety at work.

To ensure that a high level of worker protection is maintained in the context of a post-pandemic world marked with rapid changes in the economy, demography and work patterns, the EU has established the Strategic Framework on Health and Safety at Work 2021-2027.

As detailed in this strategy, the EU’s priorities and actions for improving health and safety at work in the coming years are to:

1. Anticipate and manage change in view of green, digital and demographic transitions;
2. Improve the prevention of work-related accidents and diseases; and
3. Increase preparedness to respond to current and future health crises.