The HORECA sector (hotel, restaurant, café) encompasses a wide variety of workplaces and workers from this sector are exposed to a series of occupational hazards. The most important risks relate among others to slips and trips, burns, hazardous substances and stress.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. Risk assessment is the cornerstone of OSH management and helps employers to identify the risks and take appropriate measures. Therefore, the Social Partners of the European HORECA sector, EFFAT (European Federation of Food, Agriculture and Tourism Trade Unions) and Hotrec (Association of Hotels, Restaurants, Pubs and Cafes) have developed together an OiRA tool to support small and medium sized companies in the proper management of occupational health and safety risks. The tool has been developed at EU level and serves as a basis when developing an OiRA HORECA tool at national level. Useful information on how the EU directives have been transposed into all national legislations can be found on the website of EU-OSHA.  

Seafaring still belongs to one of the most dangerous occupations worldwide. Risk assessment as a cornerstone in risk management has been widely introduced by internationally operating shipping companies. In contrast, small and micro sized shipping enterprises operating in coastal areas often have no systematic approach to occupational health and safety management. In order to tackle this challenge the “SHIPSAN-ACT – Joint Action” has developed this OiRA tool on maritime transport. The Risk Assessment Tool was structured into ten modules. Based on two general modules dealing with the general approach to safety and health on board (“Occupational Safety and Health Management” and “General Hazards on Board”), six modules cover relevant areas of the ship (“Working on the Bridge”, “Working on the Deck and Cargo Decks”, “Working in the Engine Room”, “Working in the Galley”, “Living Accommodation” and “Working in the ships offices”). Two extra modules were created to treat specific topics (“Dealing with Emergencies” and “Vulnerable Working Groups”). The OiRA tool for Maritime Transport can be used by anyone wishing to assess health and safety-related risks that might exist in their workplace on a ship.

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.