EU launches health and safety website

The European Union has launched a new website on occupational safety and risk prevention to help reduce the number of occupational accidents.

In Germany, more than 840,000 workplace accidents were reported in 2003/2004, according to national statistics. In France it was 1.5 million, while in Britain there were 130,000 work-related injuries over the same period, according to a survey by the national health and safety authority.

The website (www.osha.eu.int), operated by the Bilbao-based European Agency for Safety and Health at Work, gives details on topics such as protection from exposure to metallic lead or asbestos, stress-related risks, gender issues in safety at work or accident prevention at construction sites and rooftops.

It also has a section on occupational safety for people with disabilities.