„Lighten the Load“ european week 2007 in Estonia
							in Estonian
description	„Good Practice Award“	conferences	„Estonian Occupational Health“	research	publications		other activities
The European Week for Safety and Health at Work, which takes place from 22 – 26 October 2007, tackles musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) in the workplace. The European campaign aims to promote an integrated management approach to tackle musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) embracing prevention of MSDs, and the retention, rehabilitation and reintegration of workers who already suffer from MSDs. Run by the European Agency for Safety and Health at Work, the Lighten the load campaign involves employers, workers, workers' safety representatives, practitioners, preventive services, policy makers and other stakeholders in improving MSD prevention at workplace level. The campaign culminates in the European Week of Safety and Health at Work from 22 to 26 October 2007, and is an opportunity to make Europe's workplaces safer and healthier. MSDs are the most common work-related health problem in Europe, affecting millions of workers. Across the EU27, 25% of workers complain of backache and 23% report muscular pains. Manual handling, frequent bending and twisting, repetition of movements, heavy physical work and vibration are the main causes of MSDs. And the risk tends to increase with the pace of work, low satisfaction, high work demands and job stress. ‘MSDs reduce company profitability and also add to the social costs of government. But these disorders also strongly reduce the employability and working capacity of those affected. Therefore, tackling MSDs is morally and ethically important,’ says Jukka Takala, Director of the European Agency for Safety and Health at Work. Tackling MSDs means taking action in the workplace. Prevention is the best method, but for workers who are already suffering from MSDs, the challenge is to help them stay working and, if necessary, reintegrate them into the workplace. ‘Lighten the load’ culminates in the European Week for Safety and Health at Work from 22 – 26 October 2007, with a range of activities and events across Europe. The campaign also features the Good Practice Awards, which recognise organisations that have made outstanding and innovative contributions to tackle MSDs. The Agency will announce the winners at the campaign's closing event in Bilbao in spring 2008. For more information, see the campaign website at http://ew2007.osha.europa.eu/
European Agency for Safety and Health at Work / Focal Point in Estonia						ester.runkla@sm.ee