ESTA is calling on its members to encourage their own health and safety experts to support the expanding work of the association’s HSE Commission as it campaigns for the harmonization of European HSE regulations and systems.
The Commission started work last year as a permanent addition to ESTA’s structure, recognising the long-term and complex nature of its aims.
While health and safety laws in the European Union are governed in principle by Brussels’ directives, they are enforced at the national level and each member state has its own legislation and enforcement agencies.
This has resulted in regulations that are different from country to country – and in some cases from district to district.
The project is being led by ESTA Section Transport President Iffet Türken who said: “Common standards would reduce the need for unnecessary re-training of operatives who work across borders and jurisdictions and would dramatically reduce the paperwork required to comply with those different countries’ rules and regulations.”
Türken, who is an Executive Board Member of trailer manufacturer Kässbohrer, stressed: “Unified standards will not only enhance safety but also improve operational consistency and efficiency.”
ESTA’s HSE Commission plans to present its first report on minimum mandatory training requirements to ESTA’s autumn meeting in Istanbul in October.
The next significant step will be the creation of a dedicated platform for exchanging HSEQ experiences among ESTA members.
This will aid members in sharing best practice, boosting collaboration and fostering a culture of continuous learning with a focus on legislative coordination, standardization of procedures and risk prevention.
The Commission consults widely as required, but its core members are:
Iffet Türken, ESTA Section Transport President and Executive Board Member, Kässbohrer:
Moreno Massetti, EMEA Head of Operations, Fagioli
Luca Fantini, RSPP-HSE Manager, Fagioli
Marcel Schets, EU SHEQ Manager, Mammoet
Blanca Claeyssens, Managing Director, ASA France
Graziella Merny, SHEQ Manager, Sarens
Jade Barcelo, QSE Coordinator, ASA France