EU-OSHA Outlines Safety Research Priorities

As workplaces continue to evolve around the world, European Agency for Safety and Health at Work (EU-OSHA) says that occupational safety and health (OSH) research is essential to address the gaps in knowledge of known, new or emerging risk factors to ensure worker safety, health and well being. In "Priorities for Occupational Safety and Health Research in Europe: 2013-2020," the agency identifies OSH research priorities in four key areas: 1) demographic change; 2) globalization and the changing world of work; 3) safe new technologies; and 4) new or increasing occupational exposure to chemical and biological agents.

In addition to promoting priority setting and project coordination, EU-OSHA points to the critical need that research be incorporated into practice. "The impact of any OSH research on workers’ health and safety will depend on how research findings are translated into practical and accessible workplace solutions," the report states. "It is paramount that OSH research is focused on the transfer and translation of scientific knowledge into practical, accessible workplace solutions and interventions. It is equally important to integrate OSH research in the development of new technologies and processes (prevention through design)."

Download the report here.