3rd ACSH WORKSHOP ON NATIONAL OSH STRATEGIES: Lessons learned – Revised versions of nat. OSH Strategies Luxembourg, 21-22 September 2016 Panel 3 – latest tools or instruments in national Strategies to improve OSH in SMEs

Facilitator: Isabel Maya Rubio (EMP) Expert: Malgorzata Milczareck(EU-OSHA) Rapporteur: Martin den Held (GOV) IGs speakers: Christina Jarnstedt (W) Martin O’Dea (GOV) Mario van Mierlo (EMP) 3rd ACSH WORKSHOP ON NATIONAL OSH STRATEGIES Luxembourg, 21-22 September 2016 Panel 3 – Latest tools or instruments in national strategies to improve OSH in SMEs

Panel 3 - Latest tools or instruments in nat Panel 3 - Latest tools or instruments in nat. Strategies to improve OSH in SMEs OSH is mostly in the hands of the SMEs Most of the workers are employed in SMEs 49.6% of the European workers are employed in companies under 50 employees However, enhancing the capacity of micro and small enterprises to put in place effective and efficient risk prevention measures is still a challenge 3rd ACSH WORKSHOP ON NATIONAL OSH STRATEGIES Luxembourg, 21-22 September 2016 Panel 3 – Latest tools or instruments in national strategies to improve OSH in SMEs

Disclosure of new regulations Which are the burdens? Complexity Bureaucracy Technicalization of issues Business case difficult to prove Access to individual companies Disclosure of new regulations Very limited resources Availability and cost of specialized advise 3rd ACSH WORKSHOP ON NATIONAL OSH STRATEGIES Luxembourg, 21-22 September 2016 Panel 3 – Latest tools or instruments in national strategies to improve OSH in SMEs

Reduction of bureaucracy Which are the solutions / strategies? Simplification Reduction of bureaucracy Guidance Incentives Networks Specifically adapted tools Practical solutions Support New challenges 3rd ACSH WORKSHOP ON NATIONAL OSH STRATEGIES Luxembourg, 21-22 September 2016 Panel 3 – Latest tools or instruments in national strategies to improve OSH in SMEs

SME Legislation simplification and administrative burden reduction STRATEGIC FRAMEWORK ON HEALTH AND SAFETY AT WORK 2014 - 2020 REFIT EX – POST EVALUATION OF OSH LEGISLATIVE ACQUIS 3rd ACSH WORKSHOP ON NATIONAL OSH STRATEGIES Luxembourg, 21-22 September 2016 Panel 3 – Latest tools or instruments in national strategies to improve OSH in SMEs

Legislation simplification and administrative burden reduction The European Commission carries out the REFIT program – Regulatory Fitness and Performance. How can this process be channeled to help SMEs comply with OSH legislation? Where are improvements needed to ensure that regulation is easier for SMEs to apply? How have administrative burdens been reduced in the Member States? 3rd ACSH WORKSHOP ON NATIONAL OSH STRATEGIES Luxembourg, 21-22 September 2016 Panel 3 – Latest tools or instruments in national strategies to improve OSH in SMEs

Voluntary systems and actions to go beyond legislative requirements - benefits for business? Big companies and corporations are increasingly going beyond their legal requirements on a voluntary basis in aspects related to OSH: developing Corporate Social Responsibility practices, wellness plans, driving safety, voluntary OSH management systems… These initiatives are in many cases difficult to put in practice by SMEs, as the costs (that may be assumed by big companies due to scale economy), suppose a bigger effort for SMEs. 3rd ACSH WORKSHOP ON NATIONAL OSH STRATEGIES Luxembourg, 21-22 September 2016 Panel 3 – Latest tools or instruments in national strategies to improve OSH in SMEs

Voluntary systems and actions to go beyond legislative requirements - benefits for business? How can SMEs be guided and supported to devise cost-effective voluntary initiatives/ systems that make improvements in OSH without creating a heavy burdens? Should initiatives/systems devised for companies at large include from their very design consideration of how they should be specifically applied to SMEs to achieve the same objectives, but avoiding additional burdens? Is it good to keep promoting certification? Does certification make a positive contribution for companies, workers and society?

Specific tools for SMEs Some examples of practical tools for SMEs Digital risk assessment By branches: OiRA, national tools developed by Member States For Specific Risks: E.g. tools to manage chemicals risk assessment Best Practices Manuals Specialized advice Free specialized advice from national institutions Training tools E-Training 3rd ACSH WORKSHOP ON NATIONAL OSH STRATEGIES Luxembourg, 21-22 September 2016 Panel 3 – Latest tools or instruments in national strategies to improve OSH in SMEs

Practical tools for SMEs Incentives and SMEs Incentives to employers EU-OSHA: “How to create economic incentives in occupational safety and health: A practical guide State subsidies, grants, financing Finantial payments Favorable access to finance conditions Inc. based on tax systems / tax structures Reduction in taxes to employers that fulfill requirements Insurance premium variation Reduction of premium Return of part of paid premiums Non financial incentives Certification of OSH system Awards Incentives to employees: Friend or foe? 3rd ACSH WORKSHOP ON NATIONAL OSH STRATEGIES Luxembourg, 21-22 September 2016 Panel 3 – Latest tools or instruments in national strategies to improve OSH in SMEs

Practical tools for SMEs SMEs need specific tools to help them in the application of OSH provisions. These tools may be technical tools, aimed to facilitate (and when appropriate, simplify) the activities of risk assessment, risk management measures and training. On the other hand, other tools like incentive systems may help SMEs to find an economical support to the OSH activities. Which are the characteristics required for good practical tools and incentive systems to be applicable to SMEs? Which examples can be usefully discussed at EU level? 3rd ACSH WORKSHOP ON NATIONAL OSH STRATEGIES Luxembourg, 21-22 September 2016 Panel 3 – Latest tools or instruments in national strategies to improve OSH in SMEs

New and complex risks Complex risks, i.e. those that require qualified technical skills for assessment and management, such as psychosocial risks, EMFs, nanomaterials or chemicals, require specific resources to meet the OSH requirements. It is not feasible that all SMEs have those resources. In these cases, accessible external resources may be needed by SMEs, however they can be very costly How can SMEs be helped/guided in facing complex risks? Is there a role for public policies in this area? How can SMEs be helped in terms of stress prevention and other mental disorders derived from psychosocial factors? How do public health policies interact with occupational health? 3rd ACSH WORKSHOP ON NATIONAL OSH STRATEGIES Luxembourg, 21-22 September 2016 Panel 3 – Latest tools or instruments in national strategies to improve OSH in SMEs

Internationalization of enterprises SMEs need specific tools to help them in the application of OSH provisions. These tools may be technical tools, aimed to facilitate (and when appropriate, simplify) the activities of risk assessment, risk management measures and training. On the other hand, other tools like incentive systems may help SMEs to find an economical support to the OSH activities. 3rd ACSH WORKSHOP ON NATIONAL OSH STRATEGIES Luxembourg, 21-22 September 2016 Panel 3 – Latest tools or instruments in national strategies to improve OSH in SMEs

Internationalization of enterprises How can we go forward to avoid barriers to SMEs operating internationally? What are the potential benefits, risks and obstacles of moving to a harmonization or better coordination of the training requirements of workers and OSH professionals or health surveillance systems at EU level? Should a common structure and contents of training of workers be designed at EU level? Could this system also incorporate sharing tools in order to avoid repetition of training activities for the same workers? How should the privacy rights of workers be protected in that case? 3rd ACSH WORKSHOP ON NATIONAL OSH STRATEGIES Luxembourg, 21-22 September 2016 Panel 3 – Latest tools or instruments in national strategies to improve OSH in SMEs