The study of the European Agency for Safety and Health at Work (EU-OSHA) indicates that in Estonia and Europe as a whole the most widespread danger factors at workplaces are psychosocial and musculoskeletal. Proper assessment of risks is deemed the most effective method of scoping.
According to the Director General of the Labour Inspectorate, the results of the study point to burning problems at workplaces in Estonia. “A lot more attention should be paid to safe and health friendly working. I believe that Estonian businesses too start to treat the risk analysis and safety at work as one of the pillars of economic success and not just as red tape,” Maripuu hopes. “The Labour Inspectorate offers the employers a free opportunity to invite consultants to their companies. Together we will be able to make the work environment better and safer,” she added.
Esener-2 is the second European survey of enterprises on risks related to health and safety at work which covered about 50,000 workplaces in 36 European countries, including all 28 member states of the European Union. In Estonia, 750 workplaces were surveyed. Esener-2 explored how health and safety at work, in particular new risks such as psycho-social risks, are actually managed in different organisations, including micro-companies with five to ten employees.
The results indicate that the most frequently mentioned danger factor at the workplace is communication with problem customers, patients, pupils and other persons (70% of organisations in Estonia, the average in the EU is 58%), which is partly reflected in the continuing growth of the services sector. In all areas of activity, most often factors causing musculoskeletal disorders such as tiresome or painful posture (64% and 56% in Estonia and the EU, respectively). In Estonia, the third-ranked danger factor is lifting or moving heavy objects or individuals (60%) while in the EU this ranks fifth (47%). Other danger factors that stand out are machine-related accidents at work (60% and 47% in Estonia and the EU, respectively), vehicle-related accidents at work (51% and 45% in Estonia and the EU, respectively), and time pressure (49% and 43% in Estonia and the EU, respectively). Almost all danger factors ranked on the average higher in Estonia than in the EU on the average.
Regular risk assessments are carried out by 76% of the companies and organisations in the European Union; in Estonia, this figure is lower, 68%. The main reason for risk assessment, as specified by EU companies, is legal requirements. In Estonia, besides legal requirements, the expectations of employees and maintaining the image of the organisation were also mentioned. Avoidance of penalties imposed by the Labour Inspectorate as a reason was mentioned by 90% of the respondents; maintenance and enhancement or productivity was named by far less respondents – 77%.
Those organizations that do not regularly assess risk said that this was caused mainly by the fact that risks and dangers were already known (83%) and that they did not have major problems (80%). Assessment of psychosocial risks was considered more complicated than that of other risks. The main bottlenecks in risk assessment were said to be the paperwork involved or lack of funds (both 22% in Estonia) or time and personnel constraints (21%). While in the European Union the predominant issue is the complexity of legal requirements (40%), in Estonia this is not seen as a big problem (19%).
With regard to the assessment of psychosocial danger factors, the main bottlenecks were said to be the reluctance of employees to speak on this topic as well as the low awareness of employees. In Estonia, lack of relevant knowledge and specialists is highlighted.
