Press Release: EU social partners’ agreement to prevent injuries to healthcare workers and cut risk of infections

Employers and trade unions in the healthcare sector signed an EU-wide agreement to prevent injuries from needle sticks and other sharp objects on 17 July, 2009. More than 1 million such injuries occur every year, forming one of the most common health and safety threats in the European workplace. The agreement was concluded after five months of negotiations by the European social partner organisations in the sector, which employs around 3.5 million people.