# CE2004084EN.01091501.xml

| 3.4.2004 | EN | Official Journal of the European Union | CE 84/915 |
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3.4.2004

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

CE 84/915

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(2004/C 84 E/1012)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0926/04

by Claude Turmes (Verts/ALE) to the Commission

(26 March 2004)

Subject:   Health and safety in the European institutions

Subject:

In his reply to Written Question E-2641/99 (1), Mr Kinnock said that ‘national health and safety legislation does not apply to European institutions’ but that ‘European institutions respect Community law in this area’.

1

Would the Commission indicate if a formal decision was taken by the Commission to apply Community health and safety law to its staff and buildings?

Has the Commission had carried out an assessment of the risks to safety and health at work, as provided for by Article 9(1)(a) of Council Directive 89/391/EEC (2)? What were the principal findings of that risk assessment?

2

Has the Commission developed a coherent overall prevention policy, as provided for by Article 6(2)(g) of Council Directive 89/391/EEC? What is the principal thrust of that policy?

Does the Commission keep a register of occupational accidents which have resulted in a worker being unfit for work for more than three working days, as provided for by Article 9(1)(c) of Council Directive 89/391/EEC?

What are the occupational accident statistics for the last three years? Could the Commission also give separate statistics for Luxembourg and Brussels?

Answer given by Mr Kinnock on behalf of the Commission

(30 April 2004)

(30 April 2004)

As the Commission reported in its reply to written question E-2641/99 by Mrs Lynne, the European Institutions, as employers, respect the safety and health requirements as they are laid down in Directive 89/391/EEC (3) and in various subsequent Directives.

3

As a result of the administrative reforms undertaken by the Commission the new Staff Regulations, which enter into force on 1 May 2004, establish in Article 1(e) (2): ‘Officials in active employment shall be accorded working conditions complying with appropriate health and safety standards at least equivalent to the minimum requirements applicable under measures adopted in these areas pursuant to the Treaties.’

In line with, and consequent to, this explicit obligation the Commission is drawing up new internal health and safety arrangements to ensure protection from hazards at work as a basic element in an overall policy which includes clear emphasis on risk prevention.

An action plan will follow which will develop this policy that is based on evaluation and risk assessment of the work place. A pilot exercise was carried out in 2002 and analysis of results indicates the need to focus on ergonomic issues.

The Commission keeps a list of occupational accidents which result in a worker being unfit for work for more, as well as for less, than three working days. For the years 2001-2003 there were respectively 93, 142 and 144 recorded accidents at work in the Commission in Brussels and 22, 29 and 34 in Luxembourg.

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(1)  OJ C 330 E, 21.11.2000, p. 32.

1

(2)  OJ L 183, 29.6.1989, p. 1.

2

(3)  Council Directive 89/391/EEC of 12 June 1989 on the introduction of measures to encourage improvements in the safety and health of workers at work.

3

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