NEPSI in Action: Strengthening Occupational Health and Safety, and Social Dialogue Across Europe

Eighteen years ago, industriAll Europe signed an agreement with employers’ organisations to protect workers from silica dust exposure and promote health and safety at work. Together, the 19 signatory industry employers and industriAll Europe form the European Network on Silica (NEPSI). NEPSI represents a unique partnership between employers and workers committed to minimising occupational exposure to crystalline silica. By fostering social dialogue and providing practical tools, NEPSI remains a cornerstone of efforts to protect workers’ health and well-being.

Milestones of the NEPSI Project (2022-2024)

NEPSI in Action sought to disseminate new tools and resources to workplaces across Europe. Through a combination of national seminars and high-level conferences, the initiative engaged a wide audience and achieved several key objectives:

Seven national seminars across Europe

Held in France, Sweden, Poland, Hungary, Spain, Italy and Germany, these events engaged 450 participants, fostering discussions on national RCS legislation and the implementation of NEPSI good practices. These seminars served as a platform for dialogue, enabling participants to exchange experiences, debate challenges, and strengthen collaboration between employers, workers and policymakers. These workshops highlighted existing national good practices in various countries, while reinforcing NEPSI’s potential role to centralise and better promote these initiatives. Furthermore, by bringing together social partners, authorities and workers, the seminars fostered a network of active national NEPSI contact points, enhancing collaboration at local and sectoral levels.

National reports can be found here

Development of new e-learning resources

Two new modules were added to NEPSI’s e-learning platform, expanding access to crucial training for workers, especially those in small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and young or new workers entering the industry.

The Path Forward

While the Final Conference celebrated the project’s successes, it also marked the beginning of a new chapter. Social partners have submitted a proposal to the European Commission to continue the vital work of NEPSI, ensuring that the momentum generated over the past two years is sustained.

As Isabelle Barthès, deputy general secretary of industriAll Europe emphasised, “Health and safety at work is not just a policy priority; it is the cornerstone of workers’ rights. The NEPSI in Action project demonstrated that collaboration among trade unions, employers, and policymakers yields tangible results, providing a roadmap to build good quality jobs. It also shows that strong social dialogue is essential to deliver on health and safety on the shopfloor.” 

The conclusion of NEPSI in Action underscores the need for continued investment in health and safety policies and robust social dialogue. As Europe faces industrial transformations – whether through digitalisation, decarbonisation, or economic shifts – the lessons learned from NEPSI remain important to protect workers today and secure their futures tomorrow.

More information on the Final Conference here