As society evolves under the influence of new technologies and of shifting economic and social conditions, so the workplaces, work practices and production processes are constantly changing. These new work situations bring new risks and challenges for workers and employers, which in turn demand political, administrative and technical approaches that ensure high levels of safety and health at work.
In this context, the need to identify and anticipate emerging OSH risks was emphasised on several occasions at the political and European level (Commission of the European Communities 2002, Diamantopoulou 2001). More specifically, the community strategy on health and safety at work 2002-2006 mandated the European Agency for Safety and Health at Work (the Agency) to set up a risk observatory.
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