RESOLUTION OF THE ECSC CONSULTATIVE COMMITTEE on Social Research Programmes in Coal-mines and in the Steel Industry (adopted uanimously at the 241st session of 23 March 1984) (84/C 114/03)

THE CONSULTATIVE COMMITTEE, 1. Whereas the following research programmes which it has approved have been or are being carried out: - "Technical control of nuisances and pollution at the place of work and in the environment of iron and steelworks", 1979 to 1983, budget : 15 million ECU,

- "Fourth ECSC programme on ergonomics for the steel and coal industries", 1980 to 1984, budget : 13 million ECU,

- "Effects on the health of workers of physical and other occupational factors at the workplace" (Fourth ECSC medical research programme), 1981 to 1985, budget : 9 million ECU,

- "Safety in mines", 1982 to 1986, budget : 12,5 million ECU,

- "Industrial hygiene in mines", 1983 to 1987, budget : 11 million ECU,

- "Influence of technological changes on safety in the steel industry and in particular in continuous casting", 1983 to 1985, budget : 1 million ECU,

2. Having regard to Article 55 of the ECSC Treaty,

3. Convinced that ECSC social research can make an esential contribution to the improvement of working conditions, to health conditions and to the industrial safety of persons employed in collieries and in the iron and steel industries,

4. Accepting the principle that the ECSC should only encourage research whose expected results will definitely be of practical application in the industry,

5. Insists that the Commission ensure that the objectives and the selection of ECSC social research projects and action be defined solely by representatives of industry and workers and that a practical application of the results be possible,

6. Proposes the following, therefore, to ensure that this requirement is met: (a) The composition of the ECSC research advisory committees should be altered so that they mainly comprise experts from industry (industrial medical officiers, ergonomists, safety engineers and technicians) and workers' representatives.

(b) The objectives of the new research programmes must fulfil the needs of industry or of the workers employed therein. This will mean that the selection of research projects of interest to industry and workers is the sole responsibility of, on the one hand, industrial experts and workers' representatives on the research committees and, on the other, the representatives of both sides of industry on the Producers' and Workers' Committee for Industrial Safety and Medicine. Enquiries carried out under the current programmes as to the principal needs could provide valuable assistance in this respect.

(c) Research applications received by the Commission under current programmes should be forwarded to the ECSC committees responsible for their evaluation only if it is clear that they have been submitted with the approval of one or more ECSC companies or of experts on coal or iron and steel industry committees in which the workers' representatives participate.

(d) The research proposals must clearly state what practical results are anticipated. The research results must be of direct practical use to industry.

The final research reports must present the results in a clear and precise manner to allow them to be used by those putting them into practice in the companies. This form of presentation of the results is also absolutely necessary for their dissemination to the general public for ECSC purposes.