Dr Christa Sedlatschek has been appointed as the next director of the European Agency for Safety and Health at Work (EU-OSHA). She is currently Head of Initiatives, Programmes, Transfer and Network Management and Director of the Initiative for a New Quality of Work (www.inqa.de) at the German Federal Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (BAuA).

Dr Sedlatschek's appointment has been confirmed by the Bureau of EU-OSHA's Governing Board following her nomination by the EU-OSHA Governing Board on 29 June and an exchange of views with members of the European Parliament on 13 July. She will take up her new post on 16 September 2011 and succeed Dr Jukka Takala who is retiring.

Károly György, chair of the Governing Board said: "Christa Sedlatschek has a strong track record in promoting better safety and health at work at both national and European levels. Having been strongly involved in EU-OSHA's start-up, we are delighted to have her back on board and she is a worthy successor to Jukka Takala. She has the vision, experience and commitment to lead EU-OSHA and make use of the strength of its tripartite governance in the next stage of its development. We look forward to working with her to achieve higher levels of safety and health in working conditions."

Dr Sedlatschek told members of the European Parliament's Employment and Social Affairs Committee, that as Agency Director she would focus on four priority areas. Firstly, on getting the message across and strengthening the marketing of occupational safety and health (OSH) as a ‘benefit for all'. Secondly, to stimulate the establishment of a preventive OSH culture in Europe. Thirdly, to network and cooperate with key stakeholders to develop and disseminate information that can be of use in their work at European and national level. And fourthly, to mainstream OSH into other policy areas such as education and training.

Commenting on her appointment, Dr Sedlatschek said: "I am deeply honoured to be appointed to lead EU-OSHA. I am fortunate to inherit from Jukka Takala an agency with an excellent reputation and a highly motivated and expert staff. My overriding aim is to ensure that EU-OSHA continues to combine scientific excellence with practical solutions that can really contribute to making Europe's workplaces safer, healthier and more productive. "