Carola Fischbach-Pyttel, General
Secretary of EPSU
AGREEMENT BETWEEN REPRESENTATIVES OF HEALTH WORKERS AND EMPLOYERS BECOMES LAW
The European Hospital and Healthcare Sector Social Partners - The European Federation of Public Service Unions (EPSU) and the European Hospital and Healthcare Employers’ Association (HOSPEEM) welcomed the decision of the European Council which adopted the directive on prevention from sharp injuries in the hospital and healthcare sector today.
The agreement between the European Social Partners in the hospital and healthcare sector signed on 17 July 2009 has become law. Now the European Member States have three years to implement the requirements set out by the directive.
Godfrey Perera, Secretary General of HOSPEEM said that: “the Directive is a fundamental step toward the improvement of health and safety of patients, workers and employers in the hospital and healthcare sector. Indeed, when implemented it will diminish the occurrence of accidents and infections. We are conscious that this problem cannot be eliminated completely, but we are keen to make sure there are appropriate procedures in place to try to reduce the number of injuries by as much as possible. The use of risk assessment, prevention, protection and training procedures will help to achieve this result”.
“This is a major break-through”, Carola Fischbach-Pyttel, General
Secretary of EPSU, said: “With this directive EPSU and HOSPEEM have laid an
important basis to create the safest possible working environment to prevent
workers’ injuries caused by all medical sharps. We stress that a well trained,
adequately resourced and secure health service workforce is essential to
underpin that objective.”
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