Europe

The EU's stringent regulatory framework and varying standards outside of the bloc have inevitably led HSE practices and strategies to differ greatly among parties operating inside and outside of the Union: cooperation is growing all the more critical to establish and adhere to best practices that go above and beyond the standards set by EU regulation.

The European Union's influence on HSE standards is self-evident; companies must adhere to stringent and extensive regulations, ranging from frameworks dictating risk assessment processes to those relating to preventive measures and employee safety.

Companies outside of the Union, however, may operate under vastly different frameworks or regulations; in some regions, HSE requirements may be less comprehensive, while others may exceed the standards and demands laid out by the EU.

This creates discrepancies between different companies and internally within those operating internationally or interregionally, posing a risk to both market competition (where companies may opt to divest from projects subject to more stringent regulations) and worker safety for those falling behind modern HSE standards.

Inevitably, as these discrepancies grow more dramatic, they also complicate international cooperation between teams and projects inside and outside of the European Union, potentially rendering such projects more expensive, less safe, and of greater risk to their surrounding environments. 

Looking towards a future that undoubtedly requires international and, indeed, global cooperation to solve matters of emergency or crisis (with recent wildfires and pandemics serving as notable reminders of the fragility of the Earth's environment), it is critical that industry convenes and cooperates to ensure a largely seamless transition between regions and countries. Such cooperation will protect and enhance the stringent (but necessary) HSE regulations that have sparked a massive decline in workplace incidents in the EU, while also enabling companies to expand and operate internationally without regulatory barriers or a compromise of workplace safety.

A continuous and consistent approach can level the currently skewed playing field, reducing competitive disadvantages for businesses adhering to stricter regulations. It also ensures consistency in addressing global challenges like climate change, pollution, and occupational hazards.

Essentially, aligning HSE approaches between EU and non-EU businesses is essential for fostering global safety, sustainability, and equity. Divergent standards will create growing health and environmental risks over the coming decades, particularly in global supply chains, where lower standards outside the EU may undermine broader efforts to protect workers and the environment.

HSE is Britain’s national regulator for workplace health and safety. (Image source: Canva)

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE), Great Britain’s national workplace safety regulator, marks 50 years of safeguarding lives this January.

Established under the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974, HSE began operations on 1 January 1975. Over the decades, it has significantly reduced workplace fatalities, with annual deaths dropping from 651 in 1974 to 138 in 2023/24.

HSE chief executive Sarah Albon emphasised that workplaces have evolved dramatically.

“Over the past half century, the Health and Safety Executive has led the way in establishing Great Britain as a safe place to work. As we look ahead to the next 50 years, we recognise there is still much for HSE to take on," Albon said. 

“We’re proud of our successes over the last five decades, but the fact remains that any work-related death is a tragedy, and there are still far too many workers suffering ill-health brought about by work activity.

“In 2022, we launched our 10-year strategy, Protecting People and Places, to build on HSE’s strong foundations and address our current and future challenges.

“So today, HSE’s role goes beyond worker protection to include public safety assurance on a range of issues. Recent years have added new responsibilities, such as becoming the appointed Building Safety Regulator and playing an extended role in chemical regulation, post Brexit,” Albon concluded.

The EU saw nearly 3,300 workplace deaths in 2022. (Image source: Canva)

Malta recorded the highest workplace fatality rate in the EU for 2022, with over five deaths per 100,000 workers, according to new data released by Eurostat.

Fifteen workplace deaths were reported, a rate 50% higher than France, the second-highest, and more than three times the EU average.

National Statistics Office data reveals that over half of these fatalities in 2022 and 2023 occurred in the construction sector, marking 2022 as the deadliest year for workplace accidents in 18 years.

Malta’s workplace fatality rate in 2022 was 75% higher than France’s and over three times the EU average, Eurostat data reveals.

In contrast, the Netherlands emerged as the safest EU country for workers, followed by Greece, Germany, and Sweden.

Construction was responsible for nearly a quarter of workplace fatalities across the EU, with transportation, storage, and manufacturing industries also recording significant numbers. Manufacturing had the highest proportion of non-fatal workplace accidents.

Overall, the EU saw nearly 3,300 workplace deaths in 2022, a slight decline from the previous year.

Most non-fatal incidents resulted in superficial injuries, dislocations, sprains, and strains.

A recent report compared and analysed nine case studies developed by the EU-OSH. (Image source: Adobe Stock)

Smart digital systems have revolutionised EU workplaces through state-of-the-art innovations in smart wearables, artificial intelligence (AI), machine learning (ML) and Internet of Things (IoT), among others 

In order to investigate the practical implications of these tools and new occupational safety and health (OSH) monitoring systems, EU-OSH developed nine case studies that investigate aspects related to the development and implementation stage. 

A recent report that compared and analysed these case studies highlighted the diverse array of smart monitoring systems that use new technologies and tools currently developed and deployed to improve OSH. While new OSH monitoring systems are generally perceived as beneficial, they also pose significant challenges to OSH. From the analyses, it was inferred that the key to overcoming these challenges is the manner in which the systems are integrated into existing OSH frameworks.

When it comes to introducing digital technologies to the workplace, it was observed that although smart OSH digital monitoring systems serve to boost workers’ safety and wellbeing, the employer remains the primary user. The concern and primary considerations therefore, relate to the privacy of workers’ data and the potential misuse of such data. 

This emphasises the need to consider data privacy when introducing smart digital systems into the workplace, while also developing regulations that would safeguard workers’ rights. 

The figures reveal that for every fatality, there are approximately 905 non-fatal injuries. (Image source: Canva)

Workplace safety remains a pressing issue across the European Union, with over 3,000 deaths and nearly 3 million injuries reported in 2022, according to Eurostat. The figures reveal that for every fatality, there are approximately 905 non-fatal injuries.

Workplace incidents can have devastating consequences, from fatalities to life-altering injuries. Fatal accidents are defined as those leading to death within a year of the incident, while non-fatal injuries often result in long-term harm, such as disabilities. These incidents not only affect victims but also impose emotional and financial burdens on families.

While workplace accidents occur across various industries, some sectors face disproportionately higher risks. Construction stands out as the most dangerous, accounting for nearly a quarter of all work-related deaths in 2022. Transportation, manufacturing, and agriculture also reported significant numbers of fatalities, collectively making up 65.5% of deadly incidents. In terms of non-fatal injuries, manufacturing led the way, followed by healthcare, construction, and trade.

Men are overwhelmingly represented in accident statistics, with over two-thirds of incidents involving male workers. This imbalance is largely attributed to the gendered nature of high-risk sectors, which tend to employ more men.

The lifting of Covid-19 restrictions in 2022 coincided with a 3% rise in non-fatal injuries, translating to an additional 87,139 incidents compared to the previous year. While fatal accidents saw a slight decline, the overall increase in injuries underscores the need for renewed focus on worker protection.

Germany recorded the highest number of non-fatal injuries, with over 700,000 cases, followed by France, Spain, and Italy. However, France reported the most fatalities, with over 600 deaths, highlighting stark differences in safety outcomes across EU countries.

While physical injuries dominate the statistics, the psychological impacts of work, such as burnout, remain an underreported yet critical issue. These disorders, though excluded from accident data, are increasingly recognised as a significant threat to worker wellbeing.