The processes and activities in the leather and tanning industry can expose workers to occupational hazards. The most important risks are related to the use of machinery and other equipment, chemicals, and the work environment. Occupational safety and health (OSH) management is essential not only to create healthy workplaces but also to reduce costs and other negative consequences of work related accidents and sick leaves Therefore the Social Partners of the European Leather Industry, industriAll-Europe and COTANCE have developed an OiRA tool to support small and medium sized companies in the proper management of occupational health and safety risks. The tool helps companies to carry out a risk assessment and take adequate measures to eliminate and minimise health and safety risks. Furthermore, the self-assessment reports based on this OiRA tool can be used as an instrument in the supply chain for communicating on OSH. Implementation of the tool does not however ensure legal compliance with the respective national health and safety regulations. The tool has been developed at EU level and may serve as a basis when developing an OiRA leather and tanning tool at national level.

Tanneries have important risks that must be controlled to ensure the protection of workers. These risks are of various types such as: the use of heavy machinery, the use of manual cutting tools or chemicals during tanning and bleaching. Workers often have to manually manipulate skins and hides and the workplace and storage area is often wet. The European social partners in the field of leather and tanning, IndustriAll and COTANCE, developed this tool that has been adapted to Catalan, as support for small and medium companies.

This tool deals with general office cleaning. Office cleaning is performed in different work environments in various kinds of buildings. Therefore the types of risks to which cleaning workers are exposed are also specific to the premises they work in. Should the risk assessment be carried out in offices located in specific premises like laboratories, hospitals, etc. additional risks would need to be considered (for instance exposure to biological risks, radiations, etc.). This tool has been developed at EU level and may serve as a basis when developing an OiRA cleaning tool at national level. This implies that specific changes are needed for national adaptions (e.g. national legislation). The solutions the tool offers are meant to be understood as suggestions.