OSH Project : Social partners’ conference on approaches to the issue of musculoskeletal disorders

This first conference took place on 25th March 2015 in Paris (co-organised by FEHAP and supported by HOSPEEM) with around 90 participants from 16 EU Member States. The aim of the conference was to provide social partner organisations with a common understanding of the phenomenon of musculoskeletal disorders in the hospital sector and a clear picture of the concrete preventive measures they could take. PDF - 304.4 koDraft Agenda – Conference Paris 25 March 2015 – EN

Read the report of the Paris conference, drafted by Nico Knibbe (LOCOmotion):

PDF - 304.4 ko Report of the MSD Conference-EN
PDF - 304.4 ko Report of the MSD Conference-FR
PDF - 304.4 ko Report of the MSD Conference-DE

Presentations:

The size: Musculoskeletal disorders: what is going on? Facts, figures and data about the nature and size of the problem.
PDF - 304.4 koSize and nature of the phenomenon of musculoskeletal disorders – Jean-Michel MILLER, Eurofound –  EN

The solutions: How do we solve the issue?
PDF - 304.4 koMusculoskeletal disorders in the nursing profession: how do we solve the problem? What are the cornerstones? – Nico KNIBBE, LOCOmotion Research NL – EN

Cornerstone 1: Regulations and guidelines. What is the existing regulatory framework at EU and national level? Is the legislation well implemented in the different Member States?
PDF - 304.4 koErgonomics at the Workplace – An EU Baseline Scenario – Antonio CAMMAROTA, DG EMPL, European Commission – EN
Swedish regulatory framework and implementation – Minke WERSÄLL, Swedish Work Environment Authority – EN

Cornerstone 2: Social partners. How can social partners contribute?
Video presentation of experience from Hospitals of the Mont-Blanc region (France) – Introductory remarks from Maryvonne NICOLLE, FSS-CFDT and Agnès NINNI, CFDT des Hôpitaux du Mont Blanc – FR,  EN
PDF - 304.4 koHealth, Safety and Wellbeing Partnership Group “Back-pack” – Kim SUNLEY, Royal College of Nursing & James TRACEY, Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust – EN
PDF - 304.4 koGood Work Environment and Good Performance Go Hand in Hand – Ing-Marie LARSSON & Solveig TORENSJÖ, Karlskoga hospital (Sweden) – EN

Cornerstone 3: (Re)building ergonomic hospitals. What should ergonomic hospitals look like? 
PDF - 304.4 koCost-Effectiveness of Ergonomic Hospital Design: Methods and strategies to reduce operational costs of hospitals by introducing ergonomic concepts to enable better work conditions and higher work efficiency – Tom GUTHKNECHT, Lausanne Health & Hospitality group – EN
PDF - 304.4 koBuilding ergonomic hospitals. What should ergonomic hospitals look like? – Leena TAMMINEN-PETER, Ergosolutions BC Oy Ab – EN
PDF - 304.4 koAssessment of work-related risks: a necessary ergonomic conception – Jean-Pierre ZANA, French National Institute for Research and Safety (INRS) – EN

Cornerstone 4: Training. How do we train health workers to work safer? 
PDF - 304.4 koPreventing musculoskeletal disorders and training: FAQs – Diana ROBLA, Galician Health Service – EN
PDF - 304.4 koPreventing musculoskeletal disorders: from training to internal preventers: the example of the Institut Robert Merle d’Aubigné – Hélène ANTONINI-CASTERA, Institut Robert Merle d’Aubigné – FR

Closing remarks
PDF - 304.4 koClosing remarks: Maryvonne NICOLLE, CFDT Fédération Santé et Services Sociaux – FR, EN 
PDF - 304.4 koClosing remarks: Marta BRANCA, ARAN – EN

Abstract and biography:
PDF - 304.4 koAbstracts of presentations – EN
PDF - 304.4 koSpeaker’s biography – EN

HOSPEEM Newsletter – Conference highlights:
PDF - 304.4 koHOSPEEM Newsletter May 2015 – Special Issue

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This project has received funding from the European Commission

OSH Project on musculoskeletal disorders and psycho-social risks and stress at work

               Project summary

HOSPEEM and EPSU have been provided financial support from the European Commission for a joint project entitled “Assessing health and safety risks in the hospital sector and the role of the social partners in addressing them: the case of musculoskeletal disorders and psycho-social risks and stress at work”. This project aims to implement one main priority of the work programme 2014-2016 of the European Sectoral Social Dialogue Committee for the Hospital Sector, i.e. the promotion of occupational safety and health.

Through this project, the social partners aim to identify how preventive actions can contribute to improved workers’ health and safety, to more attractive retention conditions in the hospital sector and to improved efficiency in the management of healthcare institutions by reducing the negative effects linked to these occupational risks. They also looked at and discussed the instruments needed to achieve healthy and safe working conditions. HOSPEEM and EPSU achieved these objectives through the exchange of knowledge and the identification of existing good practice (…) Read detailed project description.

PDF - 304.4 ko Download project summary – EN – FRDEESRUSV

                                                                    Timeline:

  • 2 October 2014, Brussels: Meeting of HOSPEEM and EPSU Secretariats
  • 12 November 2014, Brussels: kick-off meeting of the Steering Group
  • 25 March 2015, Paris: Social partners’ conference on approaches to the issue of musculoskeletal disorders
  • 4 June 2015, Brussels: Mid-term assessment and organisational meeting of the Steering Group
  • 10 November 2015, Helsinki: Conference on psychosocial risks and stress at work
  • 3 March 2016, Brussels: Final meeting of the Steering Group

Conference on approaches to the issue of musculoskeletal disorders, 25 March 2015

This first conference took place on 25th March 2015 in Paris (co-organised by FEHAP and supported by HOSPEEM) with around 90 participants from 16 EU Member States. The aim of the conference was to provide social partner organisations with a common understanding of the phenomenon of musculoskeletal disorders in the hospital sector and a clear picture of the concrete preventive measures they could take (…)

 

Conference on approaches to the issue of psychosocial risks and stress at work, 10 November 2015

The second conference of the joint HOSPEEM – EPSU project on occupational health and safety risks focused on psycho-social risks and stress at work and took place in Helsinki on 10 November 2015 (co-organised by JHL, Superlitto and Tehy and supported by EPSU).

 

Material and Guidance

This section presents documents (guidance, handbooks, training material etc…) on musculoskeletal disorders and on psychosocial risks and stress at work (…). Please note that this is work in progress.

 
This project has received funding from the European Commission

OSH Project : detailed description

HOSPEEM and EPSU have been provided financial support from the European Commission for a joint project aimed at implementing one main priority of the work programme 2014-2016 of the European Sectoral Social Dialogue Committee for the Hospital Sector, i.e. the promotion of occupational safety and health. In this area, HOSPEEM members and EPSU affiliates have identified “psychosocial risks and stress at work” and “musculoskeletal disorders” as the two main focal topics.

The HOSPEEM-EPSU project “Assessing health and safety risks in the hospital sector and the role of the social partners in addressing them: the case of musculoskeletal disorders and psycho-social risks and stress at work” (n°VS/2014/0324) builds on previous experiences of joint initiatives/project and was inspired by:

  1. the format of the 2010/2011 Project “Promotion, awareness-raising and dissemination of the multi-sectoral guidelines to tackle third-party violence and harassment related to work” and the 2012/2013 Project “Promotion and support of Implementation of Directive 2010/32/EU on the prevention from sharps injuries in the hospital and health sector
  2. the concept and approach of the technical seminar “Managing the ageing workforce: challenges, opportunities and experiences”, 27 April 2012. This seminar has set the scene with regard to national situations and has served to create a common understanding of the main issues at stake and action needed.

Aims & tools:

The aims of this project is to:

  • identify how actions aimed at preventing and managing these two occupational hazards can contribute to improved health as well as more attractive retention conditions
  • help members to assess the impact of these two occupational hazards on the management of their healthcare institutions and healthcare personnel and to identify effective actions
  • improve efficiency in the management of healthcare institutions and workplaces by reducing costs linked to loss of productivity, sick leave and occupational diseases within the healthcare sector.

The tools to achieve this objective are:

  • exchange of information/knowledge
  • identification of existing guidance/good practice with high potential for transferability and cost-effectiveness.

Specific objectives:

1. The action is aimed at implementing one of the two main priorities of the work-programme 2014/2016, i.e. occupational health and safety, and strengthen the role of European social partners in the hospital sector

2. The action will improve the functioning and effectiveness of the European Sectoral Social Dialogue Committee for the Hospital Sector. The exchange of knowledge will help create a common understanding of the situation and a common reflection on whether further actions are needed .

3. The action will contribute to the enhancement of awareness amongst employers and workers on the importance of a risk assessment with regard to prevention and risk reduction.

4. The results of the project will be disseminated within the EU Member States and towards the EU level. The results will also feed into the new EU strategic framework on safety and health at work that EPSU and HOSPEEM are expected to set out.

Timeline & phases:

This project runs from the 01.10.2014 to the 30.09.2016 and comprises five main phases:

Preparatory phase:

  • 2 October 2014, Brussels: Meeting of HOSPEEM and EPSU Secretariats (lead: HOSPEEM and EPSU)
  • 12 November 2014, Brussels: kick-off meeting of the Steering Group (lead: contents: HOSPEEM, organisation: EPSU)
  • October 2014 : publication of the call for tenders (lead: HOSPEEM).

Phase II: First event:

  • 25 March 2015, Paris : Social partners’ conference on approaches to the issue of musculoskeletal disorders  (co-organised by FEHAP and supported by HOSPEEM) Total number of participants: 90.

Phase III: Mid-term assessment and organisation of the second event :

  • 4 June 2015, Brussels: Mid-term assessment and organisational meeting of the Steering Group (lead: contents: HOSPEEM, organisation: EPSU)

Phase IV: Second event :

  • 10 November 2015, Helsinki: Conference on psychosocial risks and stress at work (co-organised by JHL, Superlitto and Tehy and supported by EPSU) Total number of participants: 90/100.

Phase V: Follow-up: Final evaluation and possible next steps: 

  • 3 March 2016, Brussels: Final Meeting of the Steering Group (lead: contents: HOSPEEM, organisation: EPSU)

Deliverables:

  • Two conference reports drafted by the expert and to be agreed upon by HOPSEEM and EPSU
  • Two brief documents drafted by  HOSPEEM and EPSU Secretariats summarising the main insight, conclusions and recommendations of each conference
  • Dissemination: Dedicated section of materials & guidance on the HOSPEEM and EPSU websites

 *** Back to main project page ***

 
This project has received funding from the European Commission

OSH Project : Material and guidance

This dedicated section presents documents (guidance, handbooks, training material etc…) on musculoskeletal disorders and on psychosocial risks and stress at work. Please note that this is work in progress and that this is only an indicative list which does not necessarily reflect the latest regulations and techniques.  

MUSCULOSKELETAL DISORDERS 

I) FROM EUROPEAN OR INTERNATIONAL INSTITUTIONS OR NETWORKS

ArjoHuntleigh – Technical Committee ISO/TC 159 – Ergonomics
Manual Handling of People in the Healthcare Sector, An edited summary of ISO Technical Report 12296

European Agency for Safety and Health at Work (EU-OSHA)
Risk assessment in health care (in EN)
Patient handling techniques to prevent MSDs in health care  (in EN, DE)
European Survey of Enterprises on New and Emerging Risks-ESENER-2 (in 25 languages)
Webportal on musculoskeletal disorders (in EN)

Eurofound
Managing musculoskeletal disorders, 2007
Working conditions and social dialogue, 2009, p83 – 91.

European Union
Council Directive 90/269/EEC of 29 May 1990 on the minimum health and safety requirements for the manual handling of loads where there is a risk particularly of back injury to workers (fourth individual Directive within the meaning of Article 16 (1) of Directive 89/391/EEC) (in BG, ES, CS,DA,DE, ET, EL, EN, FR, HR, IT, LV, LT,HU, MT, NL, PL, PT, RO, SK, SL, FI, SV)

European Commission-DG EMPL Social Affairs and Inclusion
Occupational health and safety risks in the healthcare sector – Guide to prevention and good practice (in 22 languages)

II) FROM EUROPEAN COUNTRIES

Austria
ArbeitnehmerInnenschutzgesetz (in DE)

Denmark
a) National Research Centre for the Working Environment (NRCWE):
Low back injury risk during repositioning of patients in bed: the influence of handling technique, patient weight and disability, (EN summary) 2008
Webportal “Job and body campaign” (in ENG) with good practices section (in DK)
b) Danish Working Environment Authority (Arbejdstilsynet):
Fremtidens arbejdsmiljø 2020 (in DK), 2010
c) BrancheArbejdsmiljøRådet Social & Sundhed (BAR) -Danish Trade Unions and Employers Association :
Forflytningsguide – Til ansatte på sygehuse og elever og studerende på sundhedsuddannelserne (in DK), 2011
Nye veje til den gode forflytning i hjemmeplejen (in DK), 2008
Forflytningspyramiden – Brug mest af det i bunden og mindst af det i toppen (in DK)
Webportal on manual handling of patients (in DK)
d) Det Nationale Forskningscenter for Arbejdsmiljø (NFA):
Hvidbog om sygefravær og tilbagevenden til arbejde ved muskel- og skeletbesvær Årsager og handlemuligheder (in DK), 2008
Hvidbog om risikofaktorer knyttet til fysisk tungt arbejde Resume og hovedkonklusioner (in DK), 2009
Forflytning i et bredere perspektiv, 2005
Webportal with research on musculoskeletal disorder (in DK)

Finland
a) Ministry of Social Affairs and Health, Department of Occupational Health and Safety
A method for evaluating the load of patient transfers, Occupational safety and health publications 83, 2007 (in EN)
b) Finnish Institute of Occupational Health
A Management Model for Physical Risks in the Care Work, 2010 (in EN)

France
a) Institut national de recherche et de sécurité pour la prévention des accidents du travail et des maladies professionnelles (INRS):
Webportal with resources on  MSD and back pain (in FR)
Dossier médico-technique : Travailleurs lombalgiques. Bases scientifiques des programmes de “retour au travail”  (in FR), 2005
Troubles musculosquelettiques et lombalgies : des maux à traiter sans improvisation, Revue Travail et Sécurité, n° 730, 08/2012, pp. 19-34 (in FR)
Analyse coût-bénéfice des actions de prévention : exemple du risque de manutention pour le personnel soignant, Revue Hygiène et sécurité du travail – Note Documentaire, n° 215, 06/2009, pp. 29-34 (in FR)
Personnels soignants en milieu hospitalier : des performances sous perfusion, Revue Travail et Sécurité, n° 693, 03/2009, pp. 25-39 (in FR)
b) Agence Nationale pour l’Amélioration des Conditions de Travail (ANACT)
L’approche économique des TMS… Intégrer la prévention à la performance, 2007 (in FR)
c) Association Régionale pour l’Amélioration des Conditions de Travail (ARACT) Haute Normandie; Agence Régionale de Santé Haute-Normandie (ARS)
Prévenir durablement les troubles musculo-squelettiques dans les établissements de santé : outils et méthodes pour réduire l’absentéisme et favoriser le maintien dans l’emploi, (in FR) 2013
d) Association Régionale pour l’Amélioration des Conditions de Travail (ARACT) Île-de-France
Aide à l’évaluation des risques professionnels en milieux de soins, 2012 (in FR)
e) Direction de la recherche, des études, de l’évaluation et des statistiques (DREES)
L’organisation du travail à l’hôpital : évolutions récentes, Études et résultats N° 709, 2009 (in FR)
f) Scientific Journal “Perspectives interdisciplinaires sur le travail et la santé (PISTES)”
Comprendre la manutention de patient pour la valoriser : une voie de construction de la santé des soignants, Revue Pistes, n° 1, 05/2012 (in FR, Abstract in EN, ES)
Instruments de manutention des malades, usage du corps et appropriation des gestes collectifs des soignants, PISTES, n° 2, 11/2009 (in FR, Abstract in EN, ES)
g) Ecole Nationale de la Santé Publique (ENSP)
La gestion des risques professionnels liés aux troubles musculosquelettiques : quelle stratégie pour le directeur des soins ? 2007 (in FR)
h) CHU D’ANGERS, Programme CNRACL
Manutentions des patients : ergonomie des équipements, systèmes d’aide à la manutention, 2010 (in FR)

Germany
a)Legal aspects:
Lastenhandhabungsverordnung – LasthandhabV (in DE) (in EN)
Arbeitsschutzgesetz  “Occupational Safety and Health Law” (in DE, in EN)
b) Deutsche Gesetzliche Unfallversicherung e.V. (DGUV):
Bewegen von Menschen im Gesundheitsdienst und in der Wohlfahrtspflege (in DE) 2014

Ireland
a) Health and Safety Executive for Northern Ireland (HSENI)/Health and Safety Authority (HSA)
Guidance on the Prevention and Management of Musculoskeletal Disorders (MSDs) in the Workplace, 2013 (in EN)
Guidance on the Management of Manual Handling in Healthcare (in EN)
b) Health Service Executive (HSE)
Manual Handling and People Handling Policy (in EN)

Italy
a) INAIL
I disturbi muscoloscheletrici lavorativi. La causa, l’insorgenza, la prevenzione, la tutela assicurativa, 2012 (in IT)
b) Societa italiana di medicina del lavoro e igiene industriale
LINEE GUIDA per la prevenzio ne delle patologi e correlate alla movimentazione manuale dei pazienti (in IT)

Poland
a) Institute of Occupational Medicine
 Profilaktyka chorób układu ruchu i obwodowego układu nerwowego wywołanych sposobem wykonywania pracy. Poradnik dla lekarzy ( Prevention of musculoskeletal disorder. A guide for doctors), 2010 (in PL)
b) Center for Postgraduate Medical Education in Warsaw
 Medycyna i higiena pracy (A guide for OSH specialists), 2011
c) The Work Foundation, Fit for work Europe, CEESTAHC
 Musculoskeletal disorder and Poland’s labour market, (in EN, PL) 2011

Spain
a) Instituto Nacional de Seguridad e Higiene en el Trabajo (INSHT):
A portal for prevention of musculoskeletal disorders with documents about manual handling of people (in ES)
A good practice manual about Musculoskeletal disorders prevention in the healthcare sector (in ES), 2011
b) Galician Institute for health and safety at work (ISSGA):
“Prevention Sheet for MHP”(in ES)
c) Vasquian Institute for health and safety at work (OSALAN):
Manual handling of patients in nursing homes (in ES)
d) Institute of Labour and Public Health:
Web portal for socio-sanitary sector on ergonomics and psychosocial risks (in ES)
Prevention Program for Ergonomic and Psychosocial Risks in Social Health Sector – Final Report, 2009-2012

United Kingdom
a)  NHS Employers:
Rapid access to treatment and rehabilitation for NHS staff, 2012
Evaluating health & wellbeing interventions for healthcare staff : key findings, 2014

b)  NHS Employers/Health, Safety and Wellbeing Partnership Group (HSWPG):

Back in Work ‘Back pack’, 2014 :
Part 1 of 6: Introduction and key messages
Part 2 of 6: The staff guide 
Part 3 of 6: The line managers guide
Part 4 of 6: The safety representatives guide  
Part 5 of 6: Workplace and individual assessment tool
Part 6 of 6: Further information and quick links

Lone worker guidance:
A guide for lone workers, 2013
A guide for managers, 2013

Guidance on prevention and management of stress at work, 2014
The importance of effective partnership working on health, safety & wellbeing, 2014
Guidelines on prevention and management of sickness absence, 2013
Workplace Health and Safety Standards, 2013
Health and wellbeing in healthcare settings, 2012
Implementing the sharps Directive: Advice from POSHH
Welsh Manual Handling passport scheme, 2003

PSYCHO-SOCIAL RISKS AND STRESS AT WORK

I) FROM EUROPEAN OR INTERNATIONAL INSTITUTIONS OR NETWORKS
European Agency for Safety and Health at Work (EU-OSHA)
Campaign Guide. Managing stress and psychosocial risks at work, 2013 (in EN)
Managing stress and psychosocial risks e-guide (all languages)
Risk assessment in health care – Section 3.2 and 4.2, (in EN)
Mental health promotion in the healthcare sector – Section 2 & 3 (in EN)
Calculating the cost of work-related stress and psychosocial risks – Literature Review, 2014 (in EN)
European Survey of Enterprises on New and Emerging Risks-ESENER-2 (in 25 languages)
Webportal on psycho-social risks and stress at work (in EN)

Eurofound European Agency for Safety and Health at Work (EU-OSHA)
Psychosocial risks in Europe Prevalence and strategies for prevention, 2014 (in EN)

European Commission-DG EMPL Social Affairs and Inclusion
Occupational health and safety risks in the healthcare sector – Guide to prevention and good practice (in 22 languages)

International Labour Office (ILO)
Stress prevention at work checkpoints. Practical improvements for stress prevention in the workplace, 2012 (in EN, FR, ES)

II) FROM EUROPEAN COUNTRIES

France
a) Institut national de recherche et de sécurité pour la prévention des accidents du travail et des maladies professionnelles (INRS):
Dépister les risques psychosociaux. Des indicateurs pour vous guider, 2010 (in FR)
Le point des connaissances sur le stress au travail, 2013 (in FR)
Évaluer les facteurs de risques psychosociaux : l’outil RPS-DU, 213 (in FR)
b) Association Régionale pour l’Amélioration des Conditions de Travail (ARACT) Île-de-France
Aide à l’évaluation des risques professionnels en milieux de soins, 2012 (in FR)
c) Avis du Conseil économique, social et environnemental (CESE), Journal Officiel (JO)
La prévention des risques psychosociaux, 2013 (in FR)
d) Direction de la recherche, des études, de l’évaluation et des statistiques (DREES)
Le panorama des établissements de santé, p11-30, 2014 (in FR)
e) Groupe Pasteur Mutualité
Agir sur les risques psychosociaux des professionnels de santé, Madeleine Estryn-Behar (in FR)

 

  • Note: Additional resources are also available on the EPSU website.


*** Back to main project page ***

 
This project has received funding from the European Commission

Call for Tender to subcontract external expertise

Open call for tender for project: “Assessing health and safety risks in the hospital sector and the role of the social partners in addressing them: the case of musculoskeletal disorders and psycho-social risks and stress at work”.

Leading partner: HOSPEEM
Co-beneficiary: EPSU
Date of publication on the HOSPEEM website: 6 October 2014
Deadline to respond: 22 October 2014

Download the Call for Tender

TENDER SPECIFICATIONS FOR SUBCONTRACTING EXTERNAL EXPERTISE

Background

Healthcare is one of the most significant sectors in the EU economy employing directly around one in every ten workers in the EU. The healthcare and hospital sector is also one of the sectors with the greatest potential for job creation in Europe due to different factors, not least the increasing demand for healthcare services due to demographic change. According to data of Eurostat in 2010 there were around 17.1 million jobs in the healthcare sector which accounted for 8% of all jobs in the EU-27.

The sector, however, faces major challenges that are multi-faceted and complex and that stem from the combined effect of different factors.

HOSPEEM and EPSU are committed to contribute to tackle these challenges, in particular in view of the extent to which they affect the health workforce, by making active and effective use of the social dialogue at EU-level.

It is on this backdrop that one of the two main topics of their joint work programme 2014-2016 focuses on the improvement of health and safety at the workplace by giving special attention to two hazards relevant in the health care sector, namely “musculoskeletal disorders” and “psychosocial risks and stress at work”. The project should help EPSU and HOSPEEM members to facilitate their work on identifying how actions on occupational health and wellbeing contribute to improved health as well as to retention within the healthcare sector. The project is relevant for the EU-level social partners in the hospital sector as better health and safety conditions are expected to have a positive impact on the recruitment and retention of health workers and on the efficiency of the healthcare institutions.

Objectives of the project

The common aim is to identify how actions aimed at preventing and managing these two occupational hazards can contribute to improved health as well as more attractive retention conditions within the healthcare sector. This objective is linked to the one of the improved efficiency in the management of healthcare institutions and workplaces by reducing costs linked to loss of productivity, sick leave and occupational diseases.

The activities under the project should help EPSU and HOSPEEM and their affiliates to work towards common views as to the analysis of the risks in hospitals and other health institutions, their relative weight, their incidence with specific groups of health workers or health professions and in view of identifying relevant measures, good practice and guidance to address them. They will build on existing material elaborated by their members.

The project should facilitate the task of identifying, collecting and comparing the material with a view of allowing mutual learning across the countries by exchanging on successful organisational models of OSH management, on tested material and guidance and on concrete measures.

The action will be delivered by organising two main conferences, by the elaboration of reports from the two events, by setting up of dedicated webpages on the HOSPEEM and EPSU websites to disseminate project outcomes and relevant material to target groups, and by involving external stakeholders in the events, where appropriate. Orientation and guidance will be provided by a “steering group” composed by representatives of the EU-level social partners jointly carrying out the project.

Based on an improved understanding of the issues at stake and after identification of the action points for the most effective follow-up that HOSPEEM and EPSU can take in the context of the joint work-programme 2014-2016 and beyond, the project results will be fed back into the work of the sectoral social dialogue committee to be discussed and assessed there.

Purpose of the contract

 Support is being sought from an external expert to help to facilitate the project by providing background research, attending the two conferences that will be organised under the project, preparing reports from each of them (2 in total), gathering good practice examples from HOSPEEM members and EPSU affiliates.

Tasks to be performed by the contractor:

Supporting HOSPEEM and EPSU in selecting the speakers and drafting the agendas of the two conferences to be organised (one in Paris in March 2015 and one in Helsinki in November 2015, dates tbc)

  • Supporting the work of the Steering Group by attending its three meetings (November 2014, June 2015, March 2016, dates tbc)
  • Attending each conference and preparing reports from them (2 in total). The contractor will have to submit the two reports to the Steering Group for amendments and final approval.
  •  Gathering and providing to HOSPEEM and EPSU relevant literature on the subjects to support the work of the Steering Group and the organisation of the two conferences
  • Supporting HOSPEEM and EPSU to gather good practice examples from HOSPEEM members and EPSU affiliates
  • Coordinating with European organisations like EU-OSHA and Eurofound that are expected to play a role in the project

 Time scheduling

 The project is scheduled to begin in October 2014 and will last for two years.

  • Kick off meeting of the Steering group (12 November 2014)
  • Participation in the two conferences (March 2015 and November 2015, dates tbc)
  • Reporting: after each event
  • Second steering group meeting (June 2015, date tbc)
  • Final steering group meeting (March 2016, date tbc)

Price

 The budget available for external expertise is 14 500 Euros (VAT included)

  • Travel and accommodation costs will be covered separately

Selection criteria:

The offers received will be examined on the basis of the following criteria:

 Proven knowledge / Evidenced track record of research (supported by publications, academic articles etc.) on OSH and specifically on musculoskeletal disorders and psycho-social risks and stress at work

  • Experience of working with European/national social partners
  • Good knowledge of European Social Dialogue and of its outcomes
  • Proven ability to draft documents in English
  • Respect of the budgetary constraints
  • Particular expertise in the healthcare sector will be considered as an asset

Award criteria

The contract will be awarded to the tender offering the best value for money, taking into account the specific criteria set above. The principles of transparency and equal treatment with a view to avoiding any conflicts of interest will be respected.

Content and presentation of the bids

Tenders must include:

  • All information and documents necessary to enable the selection committee to appraise the bid on the basis of the selection and award criteria set above
  • A detailed CV of the staff members to be assigned to the project
  • Explanation of the proposed methodology for conducting the work

Offers must be submitted by the deadline of 22nd October both by post and email:

Elisa Benedetti
HOSPEEM
Rue des deux églises 26
1000 Brussels
Belgium
e-mail : e.benedetti@hospeem.eu