Balance of our research

We brainstormed what to do further in that project because of our unsatisfying research.

But despite of that, there are some results which are worth the generalize for our research report.

According to The European Organisation for Safety and Health at Work the European Strategy for the period of 2007 to 2012 pointed out that, next to others, migrant workers and SME's are less concerned regarding health & safety working conditions due limited resources and low awareness.

Therefore, the support of SMEs in the implementation of the legislation in force and the adaptation of the legal framework to changes in the workplace and simplify it, particularly in view of SMEs are two of the eight objectives for the period until 2012.

Of course, every EU country seeks to implement the European strategy into national strategies. Looking to the French Agency for Safety and Health at Work, I realized two main points:

1. Starting in 2005, France tried to summarize the different actions in that sector. Today, there are 4 ministries ( ministry for work, ministry for health, ministry for environment, ministry for science) and 23 public institutions are involved to support actions. Two of them we already contacted, without getting any further information.
2. Reports of the France Agency displays clearly, that in SME's with up to 50 employees only a third got information about risks on their working environment, in companies with up to 1000 employees nearly every second got information and trainings. Even though, such enterprises have to have an inspector for security and safety which has to renew information each quarter. Women and workers with short terms contracts are less informed and less medically checked-up.

The French agency classified risks into biological & chemical risks (contamination by chemicals and cancer protection) and physical risks at work places (noise protection, general working environment and hygiene).

Additional to that, special information and training regarding to specific jobs have to be delivered by companies (trainings for electricians, etc.). These trainings are certified and professionally organized by certified companies. I assume, that as smaller a company is, as less they do these certified trainings because of the costs.

We were trying to find some online trainings, but so far, we could not access one of them because the suppliers won't cooperate. For these topics trainings are announced as e-learning sessions (communication by e-mail and watching flash videos):

• Dealing with explosive materials
• Fire prevention
• Security training (risks in working environments and behavior in case of accident)

According to our application, we promised to test and evaluate online delivered health and safety trainings, at least 3 per partner.

Im not sure, that we can assess any of such trainings at the moment. What would make sense, after my opinion, that we ask responsible persons in SME's how they deliver trainings. Not sure, how efficient that would be.

What are your results and experience and ideas ?

May be we should combine our efforts and trying to get access to some trainings offered via The European Organisation for Safety and Health at Work ?