The Current Experience and Training of Romanian Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) Professionals

Abstract

The study is about history of health and safety legislation in Romania, about European tools, empowerment procedures, organisations, and associations in the field. It's an overview about European tools which allow people free movements all around European Union (EU). The study presents tools which identifies the fundamental skills and the most important abilities and knowledge that people would need to be recognised in order to allow free movements all around European employment market. The study is about possibilities to be voluntary recognised as health and safety professionals across EU and--why not--around the world. It's a brief list of ways of transfering and recognising learning experiences in Europe, including vocational education and training, for a better understanding of qualifications from different EU countries. The research presents ENSHPO (The European Network of Safety & Health Professional Organisations) and EUSAFE (European project) voluntary certification procedures for occupational health and safety professionals (OHS) and where the Romanian practitioners are placed, if their qualifications could be recognised throughout Europe. The research presents the necessary characteristics for a well developed profession, as mentioned by Ferguson and Ramsay and also presents IOSH, the most valuable health and safety professional association, and the necessary steps for Romanian OHS practitioners to build a strong association. IOSH is the model of the profession and Romanian practitioners could learn to become Charted Members. The European Union single market--as well as the increasing number of companies operating across Europe that are applying a consistent set of safety and health standards to their work sites--has created a great need for safety and health managers with credentials that are recognised at a Pan-European level. The absence of a harmonised, agreed system for the mutual recognition of safety and health qualifications at a European level creates uncertainty about professional competence across countries within Europe and may create problems for multinational companies in the effective use of their safety and health expertise. It also forms a barrier for safety and health professionals wishing to offer their services across the EU. Now that Romania has joined the EU in order to allow free movement of the work force, knowing their training level is necessary to determine the training needs of OHS practitioners. Knowing where to start and what needs to be improved will allow the Romanian practitioners to be just as good and compete with their European colleagues. The study will show which of the Romanian empowerment procedures was better, with or without examinations, and if these examination procedures make them better. The research is part of a study that aims to thoroughly analyze the transformation in the Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) field in Romania following the major political, economic, social, and cultural transformations that are necessary in the context of Romania's accession to the European Union. The research evaluates the current experience and training needs of Romanian OHS professionals. A review of the changes in the legislation and qualification requirements in Romania will be presented and placed into the context of European legislation and standards.