Background
The European Commission has published a communication about the new Community strategy on health and safety at work (2007-2012). It is aimed to improve quality and productivity of working life. Health and safety at work is considered as one of the most important aspects of the EU policy on employment and social affairs. The overall objective of the strategy is to reduce by 25 % the total incidence rate of accidents at work per 100 000 workers in the EU 27 during the strategy period. Companies need to be convinced that integrating OSH strategies into their general company objectives is worth the effort, as many companies are still unaware of the economic aspects of occupational safety and health. Company management concepts have changed to such a degree that company performance is not only measured in financial terms, but other aspects such as the customer, internal business, innovation and learning factors are also taken into consideration. This provides possibilities for identifying health and safety as important business enablers that can push companies to better performance.

A better understanding of positive effects of a good working environment supports the implementation of effective health and safety policy at company level. It complements the set of rules and regulations with a significant parameter that is directly linked to the intrinsic motivation of a company.

Objectives
This two-part course (each course 3 days), provides the participants with tools for designing their own workplace strategy for linking productivity and good work environment. In the first part of the course (in Saariselkä, Lapland), the key concepts and tools are introduced. In the second part of the course (in Leuven, Belgium), the results from the workplaces are analysed and feedback is provided.

It is also possible to attend only one part of the course.

The course is organised jointly with Prevent Academy for Working Life.

Target group
Company representatives, researchers, administrators and representatives of social partners.

Main topics
Introduction to the themes
Productivity and quality of the working environment
Cost-benefit analysis
Costs of accidents and costs of prevention
Guidance to writing a course report

Course structure
The course will consist of lectures, group work and discussions.

Location and accommodation
The first course week 7-10 March 2010 will take place in Saariselkä, Lapland. Saariselkä is located in the largest area of wild country in Europe, 200 km north from the Arctic Circle. The greatest attraction is the splendid mountainous landscape. The weather in March is usually nice and sunny the temperature ranging from -10 Cº to -15 Cº. Saariselkä is easy to reach by Finnair daily flights from Helsinki to Ivalo. The flight time is only one hour 20 minutes and from the Ivalo airport there is bus transportation from each
flight directly to the conference hotel taking about 20 minutes (for more information, please visit: (www.saariselka.fi)).

Rooms have been reserved for the participants from Sunday to Wednesday at Lapland Hotel Riekonlinna, which is a first-class holiday and conference hotel (www.laplandhotels.fi). The total price of a single room with full board is EUR 627 including morning and afternoon coffees, lunches and dinners during the course days plus a special lumberjack programme with dinner at the "Revontuli(=northern lights) Court" on Tuesday evening. The price of an extra night with bed&breakfast is EUR 117.

The second course period will take place in Prevent - Academy for Working Life, Leuven, Belgium. Leuven city centre is easy to reach from the Brussels International Airport by train (30 min) or by bus (60 min). Rooms will be reserved for the participants at the nearby Novotel Hotel. The approximate price of a single room with breakfast is EUR 140/day. The price of light lunches and coffees (served at the premises of the Academy) is EUR 50, and for 3 dinners (optional) EUR 70/each. There might be minor changes in these prices in 2010.

The precise date and programme will be announced at a later stage.

Deadline for registration
January 2010. The maximum number of participants is 30.

Registration fee
600 EUR per course, joint registration for both courses 1000 EUR (accommodation and meals are not included in these prices).
When paying the registration fee, please indicate:

1. Your name, 2. registration fee, 3. course code Productivity

The payment should be made four weeks before the start of the course to:
NIVA
Nordea Bank Finland Plc
Meilahti Branch, Tukholmankatu 2
FI-00250 Helsinki , Finland
Account no: 226238-2043
IBAN: FI79 2262 3800 0020 43
Swift code: NDEAFIHH

Please, note that if you cancel your participation later than four weeks before the start of the course, without an acceptable reason (e.g. illness) the organiser is obliged to charge a cancellation fee of EUR 273.

Language
The language of the course is English.

Course leaders
Team leader Markku Aaltonen, PhD
Finnish Institute of Occupational Health
Topeliuksenkatu 41 a A
FI-00250 Helsinki, FINLAND
Tel. +358 30 474 2784
E-mail: markku.aaltonen@ttl.fi

Prof. Marc de Greef, CEO
Prevent
Rue Gachard 88
BE-1050 Brussels, BELGIUM
Tel. +32 2 643 44 51
E-mail: marc.degreef@prevent.be

Course coordinator
Zsuzsanna Renkó-Michelsén
NIVA
Topeliuksenkatu 41 a A
FI-00250 Helsinki, FINLAND
Tel. +358 30 474 2498
E-mail: zsuzsanna.renko@ttl.fi

Programme managers
Brigit Cosemans & Conny Goethals
Prevent - Academy for Working Life
Kasteel de Maurissens
Weligerveld 6
BE-3212 Pellenberg, BELGIUM
E-mail: b.cosemans@prevent.be
E-mail: conny.goethals@prevent.be
http://www.lucina-academy.be





Yes I want to register to the course