The deaths at work emergency in our country does not stop. In Italy, unfortunately, people continue to die every day. According to data published by the National Institute for Insurance against Accidents at Work (INAIL), between January and June of this year there were 382,288 accidents (+43.3% compared to the same period in 2021), 463 of which with a fatal outcome (+41% compared to the previous year). In the absence of the health emergency, which in the midst of its lethality had in any case managed to reduce the number of work-related deaths compared to the previous year, since the pandemic, work-related deaths have thus dramatically increased by +164%. Alarming and worrying data that confirm an upward trend and highlight the need to invest more and more in safety in the workplace, also considering the proliferation of construction sites under the National Recovery Plan financed with European Recovery Fund money. “Companies certified with UNI ISO 45001 have a much lower frequency rate and severity index than those that are not certified,” asserts Manolo Valori, Technical Director of CVI Italia, the Italian branch of the Slovakian group CVI SRO, one of the most important companies in the voluntary certification sector with international accreditation, in this long interview.
by Roberta Imbimbo
Dr Valori, there have already been 463 work-related fatalities since January 2022, in a situation where the COVID19 pandemic is having less and less of an impact on work-related accidents. Dramatic numbers that tell of the pain of so many Italian families. The mortality incidence index – the ratio of fatal accidents to the working population – dramatically and objectively describes an emergency that can no longer be ignored.
In our country, from January to June of this year, the number of reports of accidents at work skyrocketed: compared to the same period in 2021, INAIL recorded an increase of 43.3%, which, together with the growing incidence of fatalities in the workplace, traces a scenario that is alarming, to say the least. After the drastic drop in cases during the pandemic, when the world of work had had to come to a halt, with the resumption of production activities and the frenzy to necessarily increase production once again, the accident numbers are running again. Especially in the construction sector – where the consequences of accidents are often fatal – targeted prevention policies and a greater safety culture are therefore needed.
Investing in safety is therefore essential, and UNI ISO 45001 certification is a valid tool for effectively combating the sad phenomenon of accidents at work. Why?
UNI ISO 45001 ‘Occupational health and safety management systems – Requirements and guidance for use’ is the first international standard for health and safety in the workplace and was developed by the International Organisation for Standardisation (ISO) with the contribution of experts from over 70 countries. The standard – which applies to all organisations, regardless of size and sector – is a valuable tool for companies that choose to certify their health and safety management system. In fact, it defines the minimum standards of good practice for the protection of workers, allows the implementation of all best practices useful to prevent adverse situations and to proactively implement all corrective actions to eliminate the cause of a given accident, improving the safety and health performance of any organisation. Experience to date has shown that where there is a proactive safety culture starting with top management, there is a significant reduction in accidents and injuries at work compared to the average (a 2018 INAIL report clearly shows that UNI ISO 45001 certified companies have a 16% lower frequency rate than non-certified companies and a 40% lower accident severity index), an improvement in the efficiency of business processes, a conspicuous reduction in costs related to INAIL insurance premiums and the acquisition of additional scores in public tenders, but above all the ability to meet the organisation’s legal and regulatory obligations (legislative decree no. 81/2008). The UNI ISO 45001 is therefore not only a valid tool for the social protection of workers, but also and above all a distinctive element that will enable companies to gain a competitive advantage in the global market and improve their brand reputation.
This standard is therefore a real opportunity for companies (to be pursued freely and voluntarily) to improve their overall business performance. Why is it essential in this sector to turn to experienced professionals for Certification/Attestation?
Because it is important to map all company processes in order to verify that a given company’s operations comply with mandatory regulations and that it has therefore correctly implemented management systems for the safety and health of workers, thus complying with the new regulations. By virtue of its integrated structure with that of the management standards for quality (UNI EN ISO 9001) and for the environment (UNI EN ISO 14001), UNI ISO 45001 can undoubtedly contribute to degenerating a new model of sustainable competitiveness. In this operational context, CVI Italia, active in the market since 2015, aims to assert its leadership in the market of voluntary certifications with international accreditation, supporting companies that want to innovate to win the new challenges of global competition.
For more info (https://www.cvi-italia.com)
