It also means not discarding people if they are disabled. Disabled workers need to be helped to find jobs. The working environment should take into account their needs, as a matter of productive capacity, as much as social justice. The fourth of the priorities for the next two years is the need, when developing our perspectives on working conditions in a time of change, to place a strong focus on new risks . One important new feature is the trend towards service sector activity.
Accidents are less frequent in services than in traditional high risk areas.
But other problems, like stress, appear more frequently. Another important trend in Europe is the steady increase of women in employment. This implies some specific health and safety requirements, which policy needs to factor into its planning. A third trend is the ageing of the workforce. We have to adapt to these changing demographics, including how we cater to the health and safety implications.