1 Health and safety London – 13th November 2009 Luc Proesmans Health & Safety advisor

2 The Belgian construction sector 5% of GNP 13% of overall employment (workers) companies workers employees self employed

3 The Belgian construction sector 98% SME’s

4 Employment (%) - Company size Number of workers by company size (total: )

5 Bouwunie and Health & Safety Federal: High Commission Sectoral: NAVB-CNAC Products

6 High Commission for Prevention and safety Bouwunie is member of the “High Commission for Prevention and safety at work” (= governmental committee in Ministry of Labour) composed of: civil servants social partners (trade unions and employers organisations)

7 Health and Safety Fund NAVB-CNAC Bouwunie is recognised social partner in the Sectoral Health & Safety Fund NAVB-CNAC NAVB-CNAC is established by social partners (equal representation of employers’ and workers’ organizations of the construction sector) established in 1965 mission: promotion of occupational health and safety (now: well-being) in the construction industry

8 How does the NAVB-CNAC work? (1) Board: social partners – alterning presidency between employers’ and workers’ organizations) 45 employees – 4 departments department «companies»: 20 advisors visiting and giving advice on construction sites department «R&D»: knowledge, development of publications, tools,… department «training» department «administration»

9 How does the NAVB-CNAC work? (2) Information and publications: library: documentation on well-being at work in the construction industry website with information, legislation, work declaration, construction site advice and publications NAVB-info: 3-monthly info-magazine about well-being at work, daily life at the construction site, evolution of technology and regulations NAVB-dossier: 3-monthly publication focusing on one particular subject (e.g. « Work at height ») cd-roms and dvd’s for specific construction occupations

10 Bouwunie actions Tools for entrepreneurs cd-rom Safety Instruction Cards website inspection in woodworking sector – Febr. 2010

11 Safety Instruction Cards What ? Why ? How ? CD-ROM Bouwunie

12 What? Safety instruction cards contain the most important risks when using a machine or tool and corresponding prevention measures they can be used as a learning tool for the workers SIC are reflection of the risk-analysis when putting into use the equipment

13 Why? Law forces to make up written instructions for each installation, machinery, tool or equipment Instructions should contain information about: putting into operation directions for use inspection maintenance information about safety /precautionary measures

14 Why? The employer: has to provide sufficient information for his workers and manuals of the used machinery, equipment and tools; inform his workers about the risks they are exposed to while carrying out their job. Workers should follow a suitable training

15 How? to be drafted by the user: in cooperation with the supplier or external prevention-service on H&S to be approved by the external prevention-service on H&S form: briefly and clearly in understandable language for the end-user must contain a lot of information at a glance uniform design has to motivate and invite the end-user to follow the instructions

16 Example of a Safety Instruction Card

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20 cd-rom Bouwunie New edition SIC for site and workroom easy to adapt Incl. checklists and PPE Price: 35 euro members 105 euro non-members

21 Website information for woodworking industry action of Labour inspection in Febr.–March 2010 information about technical items will be put on our website: wood dust safety of equipment and noise explosive atmospheres chemical agents

22 Contact Luc Proesmans BOUWUNIE Spastraat 8 B-1000 Brussel Tel Fax