Beijing, China – 1 July 2023 — In a significant milestone, the National Institute of Occupational Health and Poison Control (NIOHP) and the Information Institute of the Ministry of Emergency Management (IIEM) have successfully completed the planned data collection phase in both the Occupational Safety (OS) and Occupational Health (OH) pilot projects as of June 30, 2023.
The OS pilot, initiated in August 2022, faced challenges due to COVID-related travel restrictions and lockdowns in China. Despite these obstacles, a total of 535 accidents were reported by the official end of the data collection period, falling short of the initial target of 800 cases. However, this discrepancy is largely attributed to economic inactivity during pandemic-related lockdowns. DGUV statisticians confirmed that the number of collected data sets still allows for a comprehensive assessment of the methodology’s practical applicability.
NIOHP conducted 6293 interviews, surpassing the original goal of 500 completed questionnaires. The success of this phase lays a foundation for meaningful insights into the early symptoms of occupational diseases, contributing to policymaking in occupational safety and health in both China and the European Union.
The data collection journey, which began with launch events in July, August, and September 2022, faced initial hurdles due to strict travel restrictions to China. However, innovative solutions, such as video conferences and a detailed presentation of the German accident reporting system as a comparison, contributed to a significant increase in data collection during the latter part of the pilot phase.
In the OS pilot, IIEM facilitated seven technical meetings between May 25, 2021, and June 30, 2022, introducing the European Statistics at Work (ESAW) methodology into the Chinese data collection methodology. Despite initial challenges, EHS managers successfully coded accidents directly on-site using an electronic form. The pilot revealed suggestions for adapting ESAW to better fit the Chinese context, but also provided fresh ideas for the EU to consider for ESAW in Europe.
Meanwhile, the OH pilot, led by NIOHP, held six Expert Working Group meetings between March 15, 2022, and July 1, 2022, developing a novel approach to recording early symptoms of occupational diseases. The project resulted in 6293 interviews across pilot regions, demonstrating the feasibility and acceptance of the new methodology.
Both IIEM and NIOHP expressed enthusiasm for further collaboration and adaptation of the methodology. The positive reception and constructive feedback from Chinese partners indicate a commitment to using and expanding these methods beyond the project’s duration.
