Topics

Topic 1

Digitalisation and connectivity

The world of work will become more digital, more flexible and more networked. It is characterized by a comprehensive digital transformation that includes or leads to new forms of work and work relationships, new technological developments and increasing networking. Artificial intelligence (AI) is on everyone's lips and will change people's lives and the world of work in unimagined ways. Smart digital systems and wearables are increasingly finding their way into the workplaces and industrial security is becoming more important as the number of dangerous attacks on networked industrial control systems increases. Join this session to look at current innovations and new emerging risks in the context of digitalisation and connectivity, their impact on the world of work and the respective approaches of occupational safety and health.

Topic 2

Changes in work organization

Megatrends like digitalisation, globalisation, demographic change etc. shape our life and the world of work. As a result, new forms of work and flexibility of work, such as mobile work and home office, grow rapidly. Besides positive effects like self-determined working hours and an improved work-life-balance, there is the danger of physical inactivity, lack of communication and self-exploitation. The shortage of skilled workers and an increasingly older workforce also lead to changes in work organisation and to an intensification of the workload. At the same time, the importance of informal work is increasing. In this session, we will approach the extent and impact of profound changes in the organisation of work and look at the opportunities and risks for safety and health. The discussion will include how to transition knowledge into practice.

Topic 3

Sustainable development and occupational safety

Climate change and its various effects is a challenge for mankind and the world of work all over the world. Climate change leads to growing exposure to heat and solar UV radiation, to new infectious diseases, new allergens and toxins etc. This and efforts towards decarbonization result into new risks and hazards for workers requiring adequate means and protective measures to ensure safe and healthy work. In this session we would like to look on the effects of the climate change on working conditions and the individuals in different industries. We would also like to discuss positive and inspiring examples out of the areas such as green economy, decarbonization and how to tackle existing and upcoming hazards for employees.

Topic 4

Vision Zero: Safety - Health - Wellbeing

Vision Zero is the vision of a world without occupational accidents and work-related illnesses. The highest priority is the prevention of fatal and serious occupational accidents and diseases. The 7 Golden Rules are the basis of a successful global prevention strategy that focuses on leadership culture, people-oriented work, social dialogue and sustainability in corporate culture. Vision Zero is based on the 3 pillars "Safety - Health - Wellbeing", and translates regulations into a simple, understandable and flexibly applicable action concept that is compatible with national regulations. Learn about good examples of successful implementation of Vision Zero in different branches.

Topic 5

Education and training

Education and training provide employers, managers, supervisors, workers and students with knowledge, skills and competences to enable them to identify hazards at the workplace and to take the right measures to control them. It improves their knowledge and skills in order to behave safely and healthily at the workplace. New technologies, distributed work arrangements, increased hours and pace of work as well as an increased diverse workforce also create special challenges for occupational safety and health personnel, employees and managers. In this session, new trends will be presented in adult-oriented teaching and learning in the field of OSH as well as new didactic approaches and methods, which have changed partly under the influence of the pandemic (e.g. hybrid learning, online events) and new training concepts in OSH will also be discussed.

Topic 6

Safety and health management

Efficiently organized occupational safety is becoming increasingly important as a competitive factor. After all, productivity and quality depend crucially on the safety, health and motivation of the people who work in the company. Systematic occupational safety and effective occupational safety management systems therefore help and this means: planning occupational safety and health in a targeted manner, organizing it systematically and operating it consistently as a management task. This also includes reviewing the effectiveness of occupational safety and health management regularly and continuously improving it. In this session we will present successful examples of safety and health management and talk about it.