21 October 2024.- A group of European experts including representatives from CIHEAM Zaragoza will meet on 23 and 24 October in Alcalá del Río (Seville) to analyse how innovation can serve to improve occupational health and safety conditions in the agriculture sector. The activity is organised by CIHEAM Zaragoza in their capacity as international partner of the SafeHabitus project financed by the European Union.
Fifty experts from several European countries will be taking part in the event. Most of the experts belong to the European project SafeHabitus, an initiative working to strengthen innovation and knowledge in health and safety issues in agriculture, and support the EU transition towards social sustainability in agriculture. The goal of the experts is to drive change in current practices in order to improve health and safety in this strategic sector for Europe.
AGENDA
Prior to the meeting, on 22 October the expert group will make a technical visit to the province of Huelva and meet representatives of ASNUCI (New Citizens’ Association for Interculturality) in Lepe to learn first-hand how migrant workers perceive working conditions and other issues of occupational health and safety.
The day will conclude with a round table to discuss how social conditionality is addressed in the CAP and its effect on the working and living conditions of migrant workers in the agricultural sector. The round table will be held in the municipal buildings of Cartaya Town Council.
On 23 and 24 October, IFAPA-Centro Las Torres in Alcalá del Río will host the project’s Autumn School and other activities where participants will share experiences and analyse the complex challenge of preventing accidents at work when handling farm machinery and tractors.
ACCIDENTS IN AGRICULTURE AND FORESTRY
Agriculture and forestry are among the most hazardous professions in Europe. The high accident rate affects the sustainability and viability of the sector. In fact, in the last 10 years over 500 deaths and 150,000 non-fatal accidents have been registered every year in the agriculture and forestry sector (Eurostat, 2017).
Recent research results indicate that there is a serious under-reporting of fatal and non-fatal accidents in agriculture and forestry across Europe. In many cases, the national reports rank agriculture and forestry among the most hazardous sectors.
THE SAFEHABITUS PROJECT
The SafeHabitus project, that commenced in January 2023, is financed by the EU Horizon Europe project. This is the biggest research initiative on health and safety ever financed by the EU (4.75 million euro) and has 20 partners from 12 European countries conducting research to raise awareness of the challenges faced by farmers and to develop good practices for improving health and safety.
SafeHabitus partners are designing risk management tools for agricultural workers through multidisciplinary groups operating in networks. They analyse the extent to which consumers are willing to pay for foods from a production system that safeguards the health and safety of farm workers. Additionally, the project creates networks and interactions through policy proposals in European institutions and with political representatives.
Find out more: www.safehabitus.eu