European Trade Union Committee for Education

OiRA is an online interactive tool, designed to assess occupational health and safety risks in higher education and research institutions. Beyond being a cornerstone to create safe and healthy education environments, risk assessment is also a mandatory obligation for all education employers in the EU. Jointly developed by ETUCE and EFEE, in collaboration with EU-OSHA, this free, easy-to-use tool is specifically tailored to the unique needs of academic and research settings. It provides a comprehensive approach to assessing health and safety risks and building concrete action plans to address them.

• 2024 OiRA for HER – Online Interactive risk assessment tool for Higher Education and Research
• 2019 : OiRa Tool for the Early Childhood Education and Care Sector

The European Trade Union Committee for Education (ETUCE) is glad to announce the launch of a new Online Interactive Risk Assessment (OiRA) tool, tailored specifically for Higher Education and Research (HER) institutions. This tool, developed jointly by ETUCE, the European Federation of Education Employers (EFEE), and the European Agency for Safety and Health at Work (EU-OSHA), is designed to foster safer and healthier workplaces within the HER sector. 

Why Risk Assessment Matters 

Safety and health management in HER institutions are essential for quality education and research. Under the EU Occupational Safety and Health (OSH) Framework Directive (89/391/EEC), assessing occupational health and safety risks is a legal requirement for all education employers. Effective risk assessment is also crucial to provide safe learning and working environments, benefiting both education staff and students. 

A Collaborative Effort for Tailored Solutions 

Implementing the commitment of European Sectoral Social Partners in Education set out in the 2021 Statement on Promoting the Implementation of OiRA tools in Education Institutions, this OiRA tool is developed to address the unique challenges faced by HER institutions. This easy-to-use tool supports HER institutions across Europe—from universities and research centers to smaller—in assessing occupational health and safety risks and implementing solutions specific to academic and research activities. 

Features of the HER OiRA Tool 

The OiRA tool for HER institutions builds on the success of previous OiRA tools for early childhood and secondary education, adapting features for the distinct needs of the HER sector, including: 

• Risk assessment for academic and research activities: The tool addresses risks associated with workshops, laboratories, and psychosocial risks specific to the HER sector. 

• Customisable action planning: Institutions can create action plans to mitigate identified risks, aligned with national settings and tailored to specific organizational needs. 

• Modular structure: The tool is adaptable, making it suitable for HER institutions of all sizes and allowing flexibility to meet local regulations and circumstances. 

Click HERE to access OiRA for Higher Education and Research and start a test. 

Empowering HER Institutions to Act on Workplace Safety 

The OiRA tool is a critical first step in supporting HER institutions to assess occupational health and safety risks and create a concrete action plan to tackle those risks.  

It allows employers and staff, as well as institutional leaders, safety representatives, and union members to collaborate effectively on health and safety solutions that improve working conditions, reduce accidents and decrease absences. 

We invite all national social partners to actively promote this tool, encouraging its use across Europe to improve the working conditions of HER staff.