News

Highly demanding and emotional work, irregular hours, low wages and inadequate funding make long-term care an especially challenging sector for workers. Within the health and social care sector, workers caring for older and dependent adults are particularly exposed to occupational safety and health (OSH) risks, which can have significant negative impacts on their physical and mental health.

On International Day of Care and Support, EU-OSHA is releasing a new report exploring the most prevalent risks to OSH in the sector and offering policy pointers. With data from ESENER 2024 and the European Working Conditions Survey 2024, the report is accompanied by six case studies.

• EasyMAPO tool for safer resident handling in care homes
• Germany’s emergency programme for carers: strengthening occupational safety and staff retention
• Evaluating working conditions in residential care: a participatory approach from Poland
• Staffing ratios in Finnish residential care: implications for safe and healthy work
• Your rights, the best medicine: union campaign to reduce psychotropic drugs in residential care
• Preventing risks in nursing homes through safer design and renovation