Future occupational safety and health research needs and priorities in the member states of the European Union

Abstract

During the period 1998-1999 data collection was carried out in the EU Member States in order to collect and publish up-to-date information on future occupational safety and health research needs and priorities to improve collaboration and to guide occupational safety and health research over the next decade. National reports included the viewpoints of social partners and of all relevant research institutions. Psychosocial issues (stress at work), ergonomics (manual handling/work postures) and chemical risk factors (toxic/dangerous) emerged overall as the top priority areas for future research. In the area of safety, the most prominence was given to human factors risks, in the area of physical agents to the risk of noise. Issues relating to small and medium-sized enterprises were also ranked highly both under risk management and as a group requiring attention. Groups such as ageing workers and people with reduced working ability are of particular interest to Member States. Teleworking emerged as important areas for future research.