NoC84/7 4.4.92 OfficialJournaloftheEuropeanCommunities
II
(PreparatoryActs)
COMMISSION
ProposalforaCouncilDirectiveontheprotectionofyoungpeopleatwork
(92/C84/06)
COM(91)543final—SYN383
(SubmittedbytheCommissionon18March1992)
THECOUNCILOFTHEEUROPEAN COMMUNITIES ,
HavingregardtotheTreatyestablishingtheEuropean
EconomicCommunity ,andinparticularArticle118A
thereof,Whereasthespecialsituationofyoungpeopleatwork
andthespecialnatureoftheriskstowhichtheyare
subject,inparticularinviewoftheirlackofexperience,
makeitnecessarytohavespecificadditionalprovisions
gearedtotheneedsofyoungpeopleatwork;
HavingregardtotheproposalfromtheCommission,
IncooperationwiththeEuropeanParliament,
HavingregardtotheopinionoftheEconomicand
SocialCommittee ,Whereasafairbalancehastobestruckbetweenthedefi­
nitionofabasisofminimumprovisionsforensuringthe
protectionofyoungpeopleatwork,inordertoavoid
abuse,andthenecessaryflexibilityofworkingand
employmentconditions;
WhereasArticle118AoftheTreatyprovidesthatthe
Councilshalladopt,bymeansofdirectives,minimum
requirementsforencouragingimprovements ,especially
intheworkingenvironment,toensureabetterlevelof
protectionofthesafetyandhealthofworkers;
Whereas,underthetermsofthatArticle,thosedirectives
aretoavoidimposingadministrative ,financialandlegal
constraintsinawaywhichwouldholdbackthecreation
anddevelopmentofsmallandmedium-sizedunder­
takings;Whereaspoint20inparticularoftheCommunity
CharteroftheFundamentalSocialRightsofWorkers,
adoptedbytheHeadsofStateorGovernmentof11of
theMemberStatesoftheEuropeanCommunityatthe
EuropeanCouncilinStrasbourgon9December1989,
statesthat,subjecttoderogationslimitedtocertainlight
work,theminimumemploymentagemustnotbelower
thantheminimumschool-leaving ageand,inanycase,
notlowerthan15years;
Whereasthedirectivesonhealthandsafetyatwork,and
particularlyCouncilDirective89/391/EEC('),contain
provisionsdesignedtoimprovethehealthandsafetyof
workersingeneral;whereas,inparticular,Council
Directive80/1107/EECof27November 1980
concerningtheprotectionofworkersagainstrisksas­
sociatedwithexposureatworktochemical,physicaland
biologicalagents(2),aslastamendedbyDirective
88/642/EEC(3),andCommissionDirective91/322/
EEC(4)envisagetheestablishmentoflimitvalueson
exposureatwork;Whereasunderpoint22ofthesaidCharter,appropriate
measuresmustbetakentoadjustlabourregulations
applicabletoyoungworkerssoastomeettheirspecific
developmentandvocationaltrainingandaccessto
employmentneeds;whereasthedurationofworkof
workersundertheageof18yearsmustbelimited—
withoutitbeingpossibletocircumventthislimitation
throughrecoursetoovertime—andnight-work
prohibited,saveinthecaseofcertainjobslaiddownin
nationallegislationorregulations ;
(')OJNoL183,29.6.1989,p.1.
(2)OJNoL327,3.12.1980,p.8.
(3)OJNoL356,24.12.1988,p.74.
(')OJNoL177,5.7.1991,p.22.Whereaspoint23ofthesaidCharterstressesthatvo­
cationaltrainingforyoungworkersshouldtakeplace
duringworkinghours;

NoC84/8 OfficialJournaloftheEuropeanCommunities 4.4.92
Whereas,initsresolutiononchildwork('),the
EuropeanParliamentsummarizedthevariousaspectsof
workbyyoungpeopleandstresseditseffectsontheir
health,safetyandphysicalandintellectualdevelopment ,
andpointedtotheneedtoadoptaCommunitydirective
harmonizingnationallegislationinthefield;
Whereas,toensurethatyoungpeoplearenotallowedto
workbeforereachinganappropriateage,itisnecessary
forMemberStatestobanworkbelowaminimumage;
whereasanyderogationfromthisbanmustberestricted
tocertainspecificlightworkwherethereisnoriskof
harmingthehealthandsafetyofchildren;
Whereas,inordertoprotectthehealthandsafetyof
youngpeople,MemberStatesshouldtakethenecessary
measurestoensurethatapriorevaluationofrisks
affectingyoungpeopleinparticulariscarriedoutand
theresultsofthisevaluationarecommunicated tothose
concerned ;
Whereasexposureonthepartofyoungpeopletocertain
physical,chemicalorbiologicalagentsandtocertain
processes,andassignmenttosuchwork,affectsthe
healthandsafetyofyoungpeople;whereasitis
thereforeappropriatetoplaceabanonsuchwork;Whereasthesystemofprotectionenvisagedbythis
Directiverequires,foritseffectiveapplication,theimpo­
sitionbytheMemberStatesofsanctions,
HASADOPTEDTHISDIRECTIVE :
Article1
Scope
ThisDirectiveshallapplytoallpersonsunder18years
ofageworkingforoneormoreemployers,exceptthose
workingonalimitedoroccasionalbasisfortheirfamily.
Article2
Definitions
ForthepurposesofthisDirective:
(a)'employer'meansanynaturalorlegalpersonwho
hasanemploymentrelationshipwiththeyoung
worker;
(b)'youngperson'meansallpersonsunder18yearsof
age:
—'adolescent'meansanyyoungpersonofatleast
15yearsofagebutlessthan18yearsofage,
—'child'meansanyyoungpersonoflessthan15
yearsofage;
(c)'workingtime'meansanyperiodduringwhichthe
youngpersonisatworkandcarryingouthisacti­
vitiesordutiesinaccordancewithnationallegis­
lationand/orpractice.Whereayoungpersonis
employedbymorethanoneemployer,working
hoursandworkingdaysshallbeaccumulated ;
(d)'lightwork'meansallworkwhichdoesnotcause
anyabnormalfatiguewhetherasaconsequenceof
theinherentnatureofthetaskstobeperformedor
asaconsequenceoftheparticularconditionsunder
whichtheymustbeperformed .
ArticleJ
Restrictionsduetoage
1.MemberStatesshallensurethattheemployershall
provideyoungpersonswithworkingconditionswhich
areappropriatetotheirageandwhichwill,inparticular,
avoiddamagetotheirphysicalandpsychologicaldevel­
opment.
2.MemberStatesshalladoptthenecessarymeasures
toprohibitchildwork.Suchprovisionsshallnotbean
obstacleto:Whereascertaintypesofactivityandcertainworking
conditionsmayaffectthehealthofyoungpeople;
whereasstepsshouldthereforebetakentoarrangetheir
workingconditionsandworkingtimeaccordingly ;
Whereasworkingtimemustbeadaptedtothespecific
requirementsofthephysicaldevelopmentoftheyoung
peopleaddressedbythisDirective;whereas,againwitha
viewtoprotectingthehealthandsafetyofyoungpeople,
thereshouldbeaminimumsetofprovisionson
night-workforvoungpeople;
Whereas,althoughderogationsfromthebansandlimi­
tationsimposedbythisDirectivewouldappearindis­
pensibleforcertainactivitiesorparticularsituations,
applicationthereofmustnotprejudicetheprinciples
underlyingtheestablishedprotectionsystem;
Whereas,itisimportanttoensurethatyoungworkers
areproperlyprotectedagainstaccidentsatworkand
occupationaldiseases;whereassuchprotectionmust
include,inaccordancewiththeprovisionsinforceinthe
MemberStates,coverinrespectoftheserisks;
(')OJNoC190,20.7.1987,p.44. (a)childrenpursuingtheactivitiessetoutinArticle4;

4.4.92 OfficialJournaloftheEuropeanCommunities NoC84/9
timetopreventsuchexposureonthepartofyoung
people.
2.Whereitistechnicallyorobjectivelyimpossibleto
modifyworkingconditionsand/orworkingtime,the
employershalltakethenecessarymeasurestoprovide
theyoungpersonwithachangeofjob.
Exceptionsmaybeallowedforcertainspecified
categoriesofworkwhichareessentialtothevocational
trainingofadolescents .(b)childrenworkinginanundertakingundera
combinedwork/trainingschemesuchasanappren­
ticeshiporworkexperienceplacements;
(c)childrenofnotlessthan13yearsofageperforming
lightwork.
3.Derogationsfrompoint(c)ofparagraph2maybe
grantedforlimitedperiods,takingaccountofestablished
nationalpracticeandtraditions,providedsuchdero­
gationsdonotcompromisetheobjectivesofthis
Directive .
3.Priortoexposureandatregularintervals
thereafter,appropriatemedicalsurveillanceshallbe
providedforyoungworkersinrespectofwhomthe
resultsoftheevaluationreferredtoinArticle5indicate
theexistenceofaspecificrisktotheirsafetyorphysical
ormentalhealth,notablyapossibleeffectontheirdevel­
opment.Article4
Culturalandsimilaractivities
Theemploymentofchildrenincultural,artistic,sports
andadvertisingactivitiesshallbesubjecttopriorauthoriz­
ation,theconditionsofwhichshallbedeterminedbythe
competentauthoritiesoftheMemberStates.
Article7
Exposureban
WithoutprejudicetotheprovisionsofDirectives
80/1107/EECand91/322/EEC,youngpersonsmayin
nocaseberequiredtoperformactivitieswherethe
evaluationhasrevealedariskofexposuretoagentsand
proceduresenvisagedbyAnnexIIwhichwouldputthe
youngperson'ssafetyorphysicalormentalhealthin
jeopardy.Article5
Evaluation—information
1.TheprovisionsofDirective89/391/EECshall
applytoallyoungpersonsaddressedbythisDirective.
Inapplyingtheseprovisionstheemployershalltake
accountofanyspecificrisktothephysicalandmental
healthandsafetyoftheyoungpersonsaswellasthe
possiblerepercussionsfortheirdevelopment .
2.WithoutprejudicetotheprovisionsofDirective
89/391/EEC,andinparticularArticles6,7,10and12
thereof,youngpersonsshallbeevaluatedinrelationto
thenature,degreeanddurationofexposurewithinan
undertakingofallactivityliabletopresentaspecificrisk
ofexposuretoagentsandproceduresofwhicha
non-exhaustive listissetoutinAnnexI.
Theyoungpersonsshallbeinformedoftheresultsof
thisevaluationandofallmeasurestakenconcerning
theirhealthandsafetyatwork.Article8
Durationofwork
1.Thedurationofworkperformedbychildrenand
adolescentswhoareinfull-timeeducationshallbe
restrictedto15hoursperweekandtothreehoursona
schooldayforlightwork.
Suchworkmaybeperformedonlyoutsidethehours
fixedforschoolattendanceandonlyprovidedthatitis
notsuchastoprejudicetheirattendanceatschoolor
theircapacitytobenefitfromtheinstructiongivenat
school.
2.Workingtimeforyoungpersonswhoarenot
undergoingfull-timecompulsoryeducationoryoung
personsworkingduringtheirschoolholidaysmaynot
exceedeighthoursperdayor40hoursperweek.Article6
Consequencesoftheresultsofevaluationandhealth
surveillance
1.Wheretheresultsoftheevaluationreferredtoin
Article5indicatearisktothesafetyortothephysicalor
mentalhealthoftheyoungperson,notablyaneffecton
hisdevelopment ,theemployershalltakethenecessary
measuresintermsofworkingconditionsand/orworking3.Thetimespentattendingschoolfortrainingaspart
ofacombinedwork/trainingschemeshallbecountedas
workingtime.

4.4.92 NoC84/10 OfficialJournaloftheEuropeanCommunities
4.Wherethereareobjectivereasonsforsodoing,
derogationsfromtheprovisionsofparagraph2maybe
allowedsubjecttotheagreementoftheauthority
competenttodeterminethetermsofthederogationsand
providedsuchderogationsdonotcallintoquestionthe
objectivesofthisDirective.
Article9
Nightwork
1.WithoutprejudicetotheprovisionsofArticle4,
youngpersonsmaynotbeemployedbetween20.00
hoursand06.00hours.
2.Exceptionstothebanonnight-worksetoutin
paragraph 1maybeauthorizedbylegislativeorregu­
latoryprocessinspecifiedsectorsprovidedthatnowork
isperformedbetweenmidnightand04.00hours.
3.Priortoanyassignmenttonight-work,andat
regularintervalsthereafter,youngpersonsmustbegiven
anassessment,freeofcharge,oftheirhealthandcapa­
bilities.
Article10
Resttime
Youngpersonsdulyreleasedfromfull-timecompulsory
educationoryoungpersonsworkingduringtheirschool
holidaysshallhavetwoconsecutiverestdaysperweek
andarestperiodof12consecutivehoursduringeach
24-hourperiod.
Ifjustifiedontechnicalororganizational grounds,the
weeklyrestperiodmaybereducedbutmayonno
conditionbereducedbelow36hours.
Article11
Paidleave
Youngpersonsdulyreleasedfromfull-timecompulsory
educationshallreceiveannualleaveofatleastfour
weeks,paidinaccordancewiththeconditionsgoverning
thereceiptandgrantingofleavelaiddowninnational
legislationand/orpractice.
Article12
Restperiod
Anyworkingperiodoffourandahalfconsecutivehours
shallbefollowedbyarestperiodofnotlessthan30
minutes.Article13
Protectionfromoccupationalaccidentsanddiseases
MemberStatesshalladoptthenecessarymeasuresto
ensurethatyoungpersonsareadequatelyprotectedin
respectofoccupationalaccidentanddisease.Young
personsmustbeinsuredagainstsuchrisksinaccordance
withthelaws,regulationsandadministrative provisions
inforceintheMemberStates.
Article14
Sanctions
EachMemberStateshalldeterminethepenaltiestobe
imposedintheeventoffailuretocomplywiththe
measuresadoptedtogiveeffecttothisDirective;such
penalitiesmustbeeffective,proportionateanddissuasive .
Article15
Amendments totheAnnexes
AdjustmentstoAnnexesIandIIasaresultoftechnical
progress,changesininternationalregulationsorspecifi­
cationsandnewfindingsintheareacoveredbythis
Directiveshallbeadoptedinaccordancewiththe
procedurelaiddowninArticle17ofDirective
89/391/EEC.
Article16
ThisDirectivemaynothavetheeffectofreducingthe
levelofprotectionaffordedtoyoungpersonsatworkas
comparedwiththesituationwhichexistsineach
MemberStateonthedateonwhichthisDirectiveis
adopted.
Article17
Finalprovisions
MemberStatesshallbringintoforcethelaws,regu­
lationsandadministrative provisionsnecessarytocomply
withthisDirectiveby31December1993atthelatest.
TheyshallimmediatelyinformtheCommissionthereof.
WhenMemberStatesadopttheseprovisions,theseshall
containareferencetothisDirectiveorshallbeac­
companiedbysuchreferenceatthetimeoftheirofficial
publication .Theprocedureforsuchreferenceshallbe
adoptedbyMemberStates.
Article18
ThisDirectiveisaddressedtotheMemberStates.

4.4.92 OfficialJournaloftheEuropeanCommunities NoC84/11
ANNEXI
NON-EXHAUSTIVE LISTOFAGENTS,PROCESSES ANDWORKING CONDITIONS
(ARTICLE5)
1.Agents
Physicalagents
Directorindirectmanualhandlingofloadsinvolvingarisk,particularlyofbackinjury
Workinahigh-pressureatmosphere(forexample,pressurizedcontainers,diving)
Extremesofheatandcold.
Biologicalagents
BiologicalagentsbelongingtogroupsIIIandIVwithinthemeaningofArticle2(d)ofDirective
90/679/EEContheprotectionofworkersfromrisksrelatedtoexposuretobiologicalagentsatwork.
Chemicalagents
Hydrofluoricacid
Fumingnitricacid
Arsenicandcompoundsthereof
Thiophosphoric esters
Mercuryandcompoundsthereof
Methylbromide
Freesilica
Carbonmonoxide
Chlorine
Asbestos .
2.Work
WorkinvolvingtheuseofworkequipmentwithaspecificriskwithinthemeaningofArticle5of
Directive89/655/EEC
Manufactureandhandlingofmachinery,fireworksorotherobjectscontainingexplosives
Workwithfierceorpoisonousanimals
Workinvolvingdangerousfeatsofstrengthorcontortionistexercises
Metalcasting
Glass-blowing
Animalslaughtering
Workinvolvingthehandlingofequipmentfortheproduction,storageorapplicationofcompressed,
liquifiedordissolvedgases
Workwithvats,tanks,reservoirsorcarboyscontainingtoxic,harmfulorcorrosiveflammableliquids,
gasesorvapourscoveredbyDirective67/548/EEC
Undergroundwork
Workataheight
Demolitionwork

NoC84/12 OfficialJournaloftheEuropeanCommunities 4.4.92
Workinvolvingariskofelectrocution .
Workinvolving:
—thedrivingofagriculturalorforestrytractorsnotequippedwithroll-overprotectionstructures,
—thedrivingofcombine-harvestersandothermultiple-function ormultiple-movement agricultural
machinery,
—thedrivingofearthmovingequipmentandvehicles,
—constraintsduetothepaceofwork,particularlyinrespectofworkinvolvingpaymentbyresults.
ANNEXII
NON-EXHAUSTIVE LISTOFAGENTS,PROCESSES ANDWORKING CONDITIONS
(ARTICLE7)
1.Agents
Physicalagents
Ionizingradiation.
Chemicalagents
Hydrocyanicaid
Leadandcompoundsthereof
Neurotoxicchemicalagents
Substancesclassifiedascarcinogenic ,mutagenicand/ortoxicforreproduction
Substancesclassifiedasliabletocauseseriousdamagestohealthbyprolongedexposure(R48)
ChemicalagentsinAnnexItoDirective90/394/EEContheprotectionofworkersfromtherisks
relatedtoexposuretocarcinogensatwork.
2.Processes
IndustrialprocessesinAnnexItoDirective90/394/EEC.