added value of e- tools - oira case study

Safety and health at work is everyone’s concern. It’s good for you. It’s good for business.

Added value of e-tools - OiRA case studyLorenzo Munar – EU-OSHAOccupational safety and health (OSH) – OSH policy in the futureZappeion Hall, Athens, 16 - 17 June 2014

2http://www.oiraproject.eu

E-tools: the context

Online interactive tools (“e-tools”) are the result of the evolution of computer technology and Web use practices

The OSH sector is no stranger to this trend/evolution

Many OSH actors have already developed such tools E-tools’ main target audience: micro and small companies

• to facilitate compliance with legislation • to foster the development of a health and safety culture


E-tools = added value


E-tools: main features

Interactive

Easy to use

Easy to access

Free (at least the ones EU-OSHA would contribute to disseminating)


Diffusion/dissemination is facilitated through…

Internet• They can be disseminated to a huge number of companies without having to

manage:− the costs and the constraints related to printing, and − the dissemination of printed documents

Social Media• “Cheap way” to reach (new - other) companies that could not be reached

through more traditional ways/channels


They are (or are perceived as) innovative

E-tools are associated to computers, tablets, smartphones, …

There is a more and more common perception that such tools are the future (new generation of OSH tools)

Possibility for the developers of these tools to “engage” with their members/clients/end-users in a “different” way

They are presented/promoted as “tools for action”


The content is evolutionary

“Easy-immediate” update is possible if …• There is a change in the legislation• There are new good practice examples, new processes, … to adapt

to technical progress.

The content can evolve along with the end-users• The content of the tool can grow in exhaustivity over the years (by

updating regularly the tool)


Helping identify the hazards but above all providing “solutions” These tools must enable users to conceive and develop

preventive/protective measures specific to their enterprises

Taylor made solutions within companies-sectors• Measures deemed appropriate by occupational health and safety

experts are proposed/promoted• By suggesting measures which are recognised in the sector, the

chances of some measures being implemented are significantly increased


They have a didactic/methodological dimension

Intuitive navigation, educational content, the ability to work at your own pace and interrupt your work thanks to backup systems, … are all options allowing users to be guided, step by step, in their work

OiRA stepwise approach: from hazard identification (step 1) to a documented RA (last step)

E-tools can also be used for:• information purposes• training purposes• increasing knowledge

Encourage / empower micro and small companies to manage OSH in house or in a more autonomous way


A platform from which to have access to other sources of information / knowledge

They allow easy access to other sources of information/documentation through the links, videos, photos

Other sources of information: • Legislation• Guidance• Good Practice cases / OSH catalogues• Factsheets, reports, • …


Offer the possibility of monitoring the use of such tools

Numbers of OiRA users accounts created: 9.605 (02/06/2014) Number of RA created: 13.450 (02/06/2014) Better assess the impact of promotional activities carried out

• Statistics OiRA tool road transport France - INRS


An important/interesting “resource”

Tools to be integrated in the framework of a global (sectoral) strategy to maximise their impact


OiRA: An EU community WORKING TOGETHER

A common platform/software available in 18 languages

33 OiRA tools in 12 countries (and 40 under development)

There will be OiRA tools in 15 EU countries by end 2014

Challenges for the EU - OiRA shared platform• Developing more tools and try to “cover” all the sectors • Reach and make act micro and small companies• Facilitate the sharing of information/tools

An EU community sharing information, Good Practice, photos, … (WORKING TOGETHER)


Perceptions about e-toolsThere is a common/shared perception that: public institutions; trade unions; employers´ organisations, …

have to be involved in the process of:• developing and disseminating tools of good quality and • putting them at the disposal of end users for free;

there is a need / room for:• building on the experience of others;• adopting / adapting existing tools (instead of developing them from

scratch) or at least build new e-tools based on the experience of others;

• developing the tools in synergy/cooperation.


Potential role to be played by EU-OSHA when it comes to the dissemination of these tools: “facilitator”

Increasing awareness about these tools and their added-value

Sharing knowledge about the development / dissemination of these tools

Contributing to the dissemination of the existing e- tools (through EU-OSHA´s website, networks, …)

Encouraging the development of new e-tools or the adoption/adaptation of the existing ones by other institutions/MS

Encouraging national institutions developing e- tools to consider:• the multilingualism aspect • the possibility to develop the tool in synergy – partnership with other MS • the possibility of sharing the tools with other MS


Thank you

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www.oiraproject.eu

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added value of e- tools - oira case study

Documents

innovative etools

development of simple

health osh osh policy

osh sector

osh actors

value of e

traditional factsheets

traditional guides