“Maintenance work is required everywhere. The most significant risks in care and maintenance work are issues related to ergonomics and planning work. When malfunctions and equipment breakdowns are dealt with too quickly, health and safety risks increase. In this work, the consequences of accidents are often serious,” says Senior Officer Hannu Stålhammar from the Ministry of Social Affairs and Health.

  The campaign focuses specifically on operations that take place in the workplace. Senior Officer Stålhammar believes that cooperation between employers, employees and occupational safety and health personnel is a key factor.

“In addition, paying attention to maintenance work within the work context in general, and ensuring the usability and functionality of tools, machinery and equipment is important. There are five stages in preventive work that stand out: planning work, ensuring safety, working safely, working according to plans and checking work that has been completed.”

 Henry Mikkonen, executive director of the maintenance association Promaint, believes that the campaign will promote awareness of the specific safety risks related to maintenance work, thus offering a resource for improving work safety in the field.

  This is the second time the European Agency for Safety and Health at Work is organising the campaign. According to Jukka Takala, the agency’s Finnish director, the campaign’s most significant partners are the coordination centres in each EU member state, in each EU candidate country and each member of the European Free Trade Association.

 

Visibility at the fair adds credibility to the campaign
The Security Campaign of Maintenance is shown in Kunnossapito 10 Fair in Oulu 19.-20.5.2010.

The Occupational Health and Safety Administration is taking part in the fair with their occupational safety exhibit, containing material relevant to the campaign.
 One of the campaigns goals is to increase co-operation between different operators.The Ministry’s campaign partners in Finland are the maintenance association, Promaint, and The Finnish Association for Labour Safety Equipment Suppliers, STYL.

 “Partnership is highlighted in the fair activities. The Maintenance 10 fair is an important event as far as the campaign theme goes - being visible together increases the credibility of the message,” says Hannu Stålhammar.

A number of exhibitors offering various solutions for the improvement of occupational safety at work have also registered for the fair.

Three strong industrial fair events in Oulu

For the 8^th time now, Kunnossapito 10 – Maintenance introduces the latest solutions and methods for industrial maintenance and upkeep of the infra to increase productivity and competitivity.

In addition to safety issues concerning maintenance work, the safety of mines stands out as an important theme at the event. At the same time, the Contract Manufacturing 10 fair and the Norrkama 2010 car exhibition will be taking place at Ouluhalli.

 “Industry in North Finland is booming thanks to mines and the much hoped for nuclear plant project. I believe this is also visible at the fair in addition to the safety theme. Three professional fair events will be focusing on the North Finland and Perämeri markets. We are expecting a varied group of industry professionals to visit the fair in Oulu”.

Further information:

 

Senior inspector Hannu Stålhammar

Ministry of Social Affairs and Health

Tel. +358 9 160 73108

 

Director of Operations Henry Mikkonen

Kunnossapitoyhdistys Promaint

Tel. +358 40 778 73108

 

Project Manager Juha Nyholm
Expomark Oy

Tel. +358 10 830 0802

 

Expomark Oy organizes trade fairs with over 20 years of experience. The company is a daughter company of The Finnish Fair Corporation and operates as a moving fair organizer all around Finland. The company arranges for example Industrial Services, Maintenance, Subcontracting, Energy, Pinta and Materia Fair.

 

KP-Media Oy, owned by Kunnossapitoyhdistys Promaint ry., is a company manufacturing educating and publishing services. The meaning of Kunnossapitoyhdistys is to improve competitivity of Finnish industry and functioning of society’s structures. The association´s goal is to increase the knowledge and know-how of the importance of maintenance as a competition maker for companies and associations in controlling of life cycle costs and profits. The association has almost 2000 company and  person members.
 

 

POHTO is a Finnish centre for training and development specializing in business management, management of technology, organizational development and professional skills. POHTO is administered by a foundation. The members of the foundation are: Boliden Kokkola Oy, Kemira Plc, Oy Metsä-Botnia Ab, Nokia Plc, The City of Oulu, Outokumpu Plc, Development Organisation of Electricity Suppliers, Rautaruukki Plc, Stora Enso Oyj, UPM-Kymmene Oyj, Akava – The Confederation of Unions for Academic Professionals in Finland, SAK – The Central Organisation of Finnish Trade Unions, STTK – The Finnish Confederation of Salaried Employees, EK – The Confederation of Finish Industries.