21.3.97 |EN1OfficialJournaloftheEuropeanCommunities NoC92/3
II
(PreparatoryActs)
COMMISSION
AmendedproposalforaCouncilDecisionadoptingaCommunityprogramme (SAFE—Safety
actionsforEurope)toimprovesafety,hygieneandhealthatwork(!)
(97/C92/03)
(TextwithEEArelevance)
COM(96)652final—95/0155{CNS)
(SubmittedbytheCommissionpursuanttoArticle189a(2)oftheECTreatyon9January1997)
(')OJNoC262,7.10.1995,p.18.
ORIGINAL PROPOSAL AMENDED PROPOSAL
adoptingactionsonnon-legislative measurestoimproveadoptingaCommunityprogramme (SAFE—Safety
safetyandhealthatwork actionsforEurope)toimprovesafety,hygieneand
healthatwork
THECOUNCILOFTHEEUROPEANUNION, THECOUNCILOFTHEEUROPEANUNION,
HavingregardtotheTreatyestablishingtheEuropean
Community ,andinparticularArticle235thereof,
HavingregardtotheproposalfromtheCommission,
HavingregardtotheopinionoftheEuropean
Parliament ,
HavingregardtotheopinionoftheEconomicand
SocialCommittee ,
Whereaspreventionofaccidentsatwork,occupational
diseasesandoccupationalhygienefallwithinthefields
andobjectivesreferredtoinArticles118and118aofthe
Treaty;whereasinthiscontextcollaborationshouldbe
strengthened betweentheMemberStatesandthe
CommissionandbetweentheMemberStatesthemselves ;
WhereastheincidenceintheCommunityofaccidents
anddeathatworkaswellasoccupationaldiseaseisstill
unacceptablyhigh;

NoC92/4|EN|OfficialJournaloftheEuropeanCommunities 21.3.97
ORIGINAL PROPOSAL AMENDED PROPOSAL
Whereasthisrepresentsanenormousandunnecessary
humancostaswellasbeinganeconomicburdento
society;whereasimprovingsafetyandhealthatthe
workplacecanenhancecompetitiveness sincethereisa
clearcorrelationbetweensuccessfulcompaniesandgood
safetyandhealthpractices;
Whereasitisimportanttocreateastimulatingand
psychologically soundworkingenvironmentinwhich
humanresourcesareusedtobestadvantage,thusgiving
theundertakingincreasedflexibilityandgreaterjob
satisfaction ;
Whereas,despiteconsiderableefforts,alargenumberof
companiesandespeciallysmallandmedium-sizedenter­
priseshavedifficultiesinincorporatingnewproduction
methodsoradaptingexistingoneswhilesafeguarding
thehealthandsafetyofworkersandensuringgood
workingenvironmentstandardsinconformitywithnew
legislation;
Whereaslegislationonsafetyandhealthatworkmustbe
supplemented bynon-legislative measuresincluding
raisingawarenessaimedatimprovingsafety,hygieneand
healthatwork,inparticularinsmallandmedium-sized
enterprises;
WhereasthecountriesoftheEuropeanEconomicArea,
theassociatedcountriesofcentralandeasternEurope,
CyprusandMaltaandtheEuropeanCommunitypartner
countriesintheMediterranean areamayparticipatein
theprogramme,inaccordancewiththeprovisionsset
outintherelevantagreements,
Whereasinordertohelpraisethatawareness,the
EuropeanParliament,initsresolutionof6May1994on
thegeneralframeworkforactionbytheCommissionin
thefieldofsafety,hygieneandhealthprotectionatwork
(1994to2000)('),proposedthecreationofa
programmetobecalledSafetyactionforEurope
(SAFE);
f)OJNoC205,25.7.1994,p.478.

21.3.97fENl OfficialJournaloftheEuropeanCommunities NoC92/5
ORIGINAL PROPOSAL AMENDED PROPOSAL
WhereastheCommunityneedstomakefurtherstrides
toimprovehealthandsafetyinindividualsectors,in
respectofthematerialsusedorforparticularlysensitive
riskgroupsasyetinadequatelyprotected;whereasitalso
needstoraiseawareness,traininglevelsandinformation
exchangeandtodevelopcooperationwiththird
countriesandinternationalorganizations .
Whereastheprogrammehastocontributetothe
enhancementofawarenessofsafetyandhealthdeter­
minantsandriskfactors,earlydetectionofadverse
effects,counsellingandadvice,andsocialsupport;
Whereas,inaccordancewiththeprincipleofsubsi­
diarity,actiononsafetyandhealthatwork,byreasonof
theirscaleofeffectscanbeundertakenwithmoreeffi­
ciencybytheCommunity ;
Whereasamultiannualprogrammehastobelaunched
withclearobjectivesforCommunityaction,andpriority
actionselectedtopromotethehealthandsafetyatwork
ofalltheworkersoftheCommunityaswellasappro­
priatemechanismsfortheevaluationofsuchaction;
whereasthisprogrammehastohaveafive-yearduration
inordertoallowsufficienttimeforactionstobeim­
plementedtoachievetheobjectivesset;
WhereasthereexistotherCommunityprogrammesand
initiativesfullyorpartlyrelevantasregardshealthand
safetyatworkandthereforethereisaneedtoensure
consistencybetweenvariousCommunityactions;WhereasthereexistotherCommunityprogrammesand
initiativesfullyorpartlyrelevantasregardshealthand
safetyatworkandthereforethereisaneedtoensure
consistencyandbudgetarycomplementarity between
variousCommunityactions;
Whereas,pursuanttoCouncilDecision74/325/EEC(*),
theAdvisoryCommitteeonSafety,HygieneandHealth
ProtectionatWorkcanbeconsultedbytheCommission
onthedrawingupofproposalsinthisfield;
WhereastheTreatyprovidesnopowersfortheadoption
ofthisDecision,otherthanthoseinArticle235.
(')OJNoL185,9.7.1974,p.15.

NoC92/6EN OfficialJournaloftheEuropeanCommunities 21.3.97
ORIGINAL PROPOSAL AMENDED PROPOSAL
HASDECIDED ASFOLLOWS :
Article1 Article1
ACommunityprogrammeonnon-legislative measuresto
improvehealthandsafetyatworkisadoptedfora
five-yearperiod,from1January1996to31December
2000.ACommunityprogramme(SAFE—Safetyactionsfor
Europe)toimprovehealthandsafetyandpreventor
reduceoccupational risks,particularlyinsmalland
medium-sized enterprises,isadoptedforafive-year
period,1January1996to31December2000.
Theprogrammeshallconsistof:
—guidancenotesandcoreinformationmaterialtohelp
applycorrectlytheCommunitylegislation;improving
information,educationandtraining;investigating
keyproblemareasasreferredtointheAnnexI,
—theSAFE(SafetyActionsforEurope)programme
referredtointheAnnexIIaimedatimproving
safety,hygieneandhealthatwork,inparticularin
smallandmedium-sized enterprises .
Article2
Theprogrammeshallhavethegeneralobjectiveof
supportingatEuropeanlevelactionsdesignedtoimprove
theworkenvironment ,workorganizationandworking
practicesby:
—promotingthedevelopmentofpracticalsolutionsto
workplacerisks,
—providingsupportfortheidentificationanddissemi­
nationofbestpracticesforcombatingoccupational
accidentsanddisease,
—suggestingmeansofeffectivelyapplyinglegislation
onhealthandsafetyatworkinenterprises,
—promotinginnovativeapproachestoemergingareas
ofoccupationalrisk,
—promotingeducationandtrainingaimedatimproving
knowledgeofCommunitylegislationandawareness
asregardstheworkingenvironment .

21.3.97 EN OfficialJournaloftheEuropeanCommunities NoC92/7
ORIGINAL PROPOSAL AMENDED PROPOSAL
Article2 Article3
TheCommissionshallensureimplementation ofthe
actionsetoutinAnnexesIandIIinaccordancewith
Articles5and6inclosecooperationwiththeMember
Statesandtheinstitutionsandorganizations activein
safety,hygieneandhealthatwork.TheCommissionshallensureimplementation ofthe
actionsetoutinAnnexIinaccordancewithArticles6
and7inclosecooperationwiththeMemberStatesand
theinstitutionsandorganizations activeinsafety,
hygieneandhealthatwork.
Article3 Article4
TheCommissionshallensurethatthereisconsistency
andcomplementarity betweentheCommunityactionto
beimplementedunderthisprogrammeandtheother
relevantCommunityprogrammesandinitiatives .TheCommissionshallensurethatthereisconsistency
andcomplementarity betweentheCommunityactionto
beimplementedunderthisprogramme,otherrelevant
Communityprogrammesandinitiativesaswellasthe
workcarriedoutbytheEuropeanFoundationforthe
ImprovementofLivingandWorkingConditionsandthe
EuropeanAgencyforHealthandSafetyatWork.
Article4 Article5
1.TheactionsreferredtoinAnnexIshallbecarried
outbytheCommunity ,theMemberStates,management
andlabourandpublicorprivateorganizations .1.TheactionreferredtoinAnnexIshallbecarried
outbytheCommunity ,theMemberStates,management
andlabourandpublicorprivateorganizations .
Applicationsforthefinancingoftheactionshallbe
submittedtotheCommission .
2.TheactionreferredtoinAnnexIIshallbecarried
outbytheMemberStates,managementandlabourand
publicorprivateorganizations .Applicationsforthe
financingoftheactionshallbesubmittedtothe
Commission .2.Applicationsforthefinancingoftheactionshallbe
submittedeithertotheCommissionbythecompetent
bodiesdesignatedbytheMemberStatesordirectlyto
theCommission .Copiesofallapplicationsshallbesent
totheCommissionandtothecompetentbodyofthe
MemberStateconcerned .
2a.Inthecaseofmultilateralprojectstheparticipants
mentionedinparagraph 1shalldecidewhichcompetent
bodyshallsubmittheapplicationtotheCommission .
However,wheretheapplicationissubmitteddirectlyto
theCommission ,copiesshallbeforwardedtoeach
competentbodyofthememberStatesconcerned .
Article5 Article6
Theselectionoftheprojectstobefinancedandthe
determination oftheamountoffinancialassistancetobe
grantedinconformitywiththeobjectivesandcriteriaset
outinAnnexesI,IIandIIIshallfollowtheprocedure
providedforinArticle6(2).Theselectionoftheprojectstobefinancedandthe
determination oftheamountoffinancialassistancetobe
grantedinconformitywiththeobjectivesandthecriteria
setoutinAnnexesIandIIshallfollowtheprocedure
providedforinArticle7.
TheCommunityfinancialcontributionshallbe:
—ingeneralamaximumrateofupto60%,
—upto90%forSMEsoflessthan50employees .

NoC92/8ran OfficialJournaloftheEuropeanCommunities 21.3.97
ORIGINAL PROPOSAL AMENDED PROPOSAL
Article6 Article7
TheCommissionshallbeassistedbyacommitteeofan
advisorynaturecomposedoftherepresentatives ofthe
MemberStatesandchairedbytherepresentativeofthe
Commission .TheCommissionshallbeassistedbyacommitteeofan
advisorynaturecomposedoftherepresentatives ofthe
MemberStatesandchairedbyarepresentative ofthe
Commission .
TherepresentativeoftheCommissionshallsubmittothe
committeeadraftofthemeasurestobetaken.The
committeeshalldeliveritsopiniononthedraft,withina
timelimitwhichthechairmanmaylaydownaccording
totheurgencyofthematter,ifnecessarybytakinga
vote.
Theopinionshallberecordedintheminutes;inaddition
eachMemberStateshallhavetherighttoasktohaveits
positionrecordedintheminutes.
TheCommission shalltaketheutmostaccountofthe
opiniondeliveredbytheCommittee .Itshallinformthe
committeeofthemannerinwhichitsopinionhasbeen
takenintoaccount.
Article8
TheCommissionmayconsultthecommitteereferredto
inArticle7onanyquestionconcerningtheapplication
ofthisDecision.
Article7 Article9
1.TheCommissionwillencouragecooperationwith
thirdcountriesandwithUnitedNationsbodiesand
otherorganizationsoragenciesinvolvedinthefield.1.Theprogrammeactivitieswhichmaybeopenedup
totheparticipationofthecountriesoftheEuropean
EconomicArea,theassociatedcountriesofcentraland
easternEurope(Accee),CyprusandMaltaandthe
EuropeanCommunity'spartnercountriesintheMediter­
raneanareashallbedefinedinthecontextofthe
EuropeanCommunity'srelationswiththosecountries.
2.EFTAcountriesintheframeworkoftheEEA
AgreementandcountrieswithwhomtheCommunityhas
concludedassociationagreementsmaybeassociatedwith
theactivitiesdescribedinAnnexesIandII.2.Thecostoftheparticipationreferredtoin
paragraph 1shallbecoveredeitherbythecountries
concernedoutoftheirownbudgetsorbyCommunity
budgetheadingsrelatingtotheimplementation ofthe
cooperation,associationorpartnershipagreementswith
thesecountriesintheareaconcerned,inaccordancewith
theprovisionssetoutintheseagreements .
Article8 Article10
1.TheCommissionwillregularlypublishinformation
ontheactionundertakenandpossibilitiesofCommunity
supportinthevariousfieldsofaction.

21.3.97 |EN1OfficialJournaloftheEuropeanCommunities NoC92/9
ORIGINAL PROPOSAL AMENDED PROPOSAL
2.TheCommissionshalldevelopstandardcriteria
concerningthedisseminationoftheresultsoftheactions
undertakenbythisprogramme .Thesecriteriashall
includeguidelinesfor:
—promotingtheresultsoftheprojectstothepress,
employers,employeesandinterestedparties,
—involvingelectedrepresentatives inthepromotionof
theresults.
TheEuropeanAgencyforHealthandSafetyatWork
maybeconsultedinthedevelopmentofthesecriteria.
3.TheCommissionshallsetup,whereappropriate
withtheassistanceoftheEuropeanAgencyforHealth
andSafetyatWork,aninformationpointforsmalland
medium-sized enterprisesandotherapplicantorgan­
izationstoofferpracticaladviceinformulatingand
developingprojectproposals.Theinformationpointshall
providedetailsoflocalandnationalcontactsinvolvedin
thehealthandsafetyarea.Itshallalsoofferahelpline
andfullon-lineservice.
2.TheCommissionwillsubmittotheEuropean
Parliament,theCouncil,theEconomicandSocial
Committeeamid-termreportontheactionsundertaken,
aswellasanoverallreportby31ofDecember2001.4.Theresultsoftheprogrammeshallbeevaluatedby
theCommissionwiththeassistanceofexternalorgan­
izationsincluding,whereappropriate,theEuropean
AgencyforHealthandSafetyatWork.Onthebasisof
thesefindingstheCommissionshallsubmittothe
EuropeanParliament,theCouncil,theEconomicand
SocialCommitteeandtheAdvisoryCommitteeon
Safety,HygieneandHealthProtectionatwork,not
laterthan30June1998,amid-termreportontheaction
undertaken,includingadetailedstudyontheresponsi­
bilitiesandtheactivitiesundertakenonthismatterbythe
specializedagenciesconcerned,aswellas,notlaterthan
30June2001,anoverallassessmentreportdemon­
stratingtheimpactoftheprogrammeonthestructures
andpopulationgroupstargetedbytheaction.
Article11 Article9
ThisDecisionshallenterintoforceon

NoC92/10EN OfficialJournaloftheEuropeanCommunities 21.3.97
ORIGINAL PROPOSAL AMENDED PROPOSAL
ANNEXI Deleted
Guidancenotesandcoreinformationmaterialtohelpapply
correctlytheCommunitylegislation;information,educationand
training;importantornewproblems
(1996-2000)
1.Guidancenotesandcoreinformationmaterialtohelpapply
correctlytheCommunitylegislation,takingintoaccount
wherenecessarythereportsrequiredbythevariousDirectives
1.1.Preparenon-bindingguidestolegislation,which,whilenot
pretendingtoguaranteeandprovidethedetailnecessaryto
covereverylegalaspect,providetoemployers,enterprises,
workersandMemberStatesusefulassistance,technical
supportandbackground .
1.2.Foreffectivetargetingofsuchinformationitisessentialto
knowwhatemployers,inparticularinsmalland
medium-sized enterprises,wantandneedinrelationto
healthandsafetyatwork.
2.Information,educationandtraining
2.1.Developmentofhealthandsafetyawareness
2.2.InformationonCommissionpolicies:inordertoensure
transparencyofitsmeasures,theCommissionwilldraft
anddisseminateinformationonCommunities activities.
2.3.InkeepingwiththeCommission'sinformationpolicy
relatingtoCommunityactivityandtheraisingof
awareness,particularlyamongstthegeneralpublic,the
Commissionwill,inconsultationwiththeMemberStates,
arrangeregularlyaEuropeanweekofhealthandsafetyat
work,colloquiaonhealthandsafetyeducationand
training,competitionsontrainingmaterials,festivalsof
audio-visualproductsonsafety,hygieneandhealthat
work.
3.Investigationofcertainkeyproblemareas,takinginto
accountexistinginformationandresearchresultsand/or
promote,whereappropriate,newinvestigations

2i.3.97HEN OfficialJournaloftheEuropeanCommunities NoC92/11
ORIGINAL PROPOSAL AMENDED PROPOSAL
ANNEXI ANNEXII
Actionstoimprovestandardsofsafetyandhealthatwork,in
particularinsmallandmedium-sizedenterprisesSAFE(SafetyActionsforEurope)aimedatimprovingsafety,
hygieneandhealthatwork,inparticularinsmallandmedium
sizedenterprises
(1996to2000)
(1996-2000)
Theprogrammeistosupportpracticalprojectsdesignedto
improvetheworkingenvironment asregardsthesafetyand
healthofworkers,inlinewiththegeneralobjectivessetoutin
Article2.Inparticular,itwillsupportprojectsrelatingtooneor
moreofthefollowingpoints:
1.developmentofreferenceworkplaceswhichhavedeveloped
practicalsolutionstoworkplacerisksandwhichcanserveas
models;
2.initiativesinthefieldofinformation,trainingandeducation
designedtoimproveknowledgeofhealthandsafetylegis­
lationandimproveawarenessofsafetyandhealthatwork;
3.projectswhichprovideguidanceonsafetyandhealth
measuresrelevanttooneormoresectorsofactivity,
especiallyinmorethanoneMemberState;
4.innovativeapproachestoemergingareasofriskorto
high-riskactivitiesincludingtheuseofsafeand/orclean
technologies .1.1.SAFE(SafetyActionsforEurope)willsupportprojectsofa
practicalnatureintendedtodemonstrate :
—thepromotionofimprovements intheworksituation
specificallydirectedatsafety,hygieneandhealthat
work,especiallyinsmallandmedium-sizedenterprises,
—theimprovements intheorganizationofworkpractice
whichinfluenceattitudestowardshealthandsafetyat
work,inordertoreduceworkaccidentsandoccupa­
tionaldiseases.
1.2.OneoftheobjectivesoftheSAFEprogrammeistherefore
tosupportpracticesdesignedtoimprovethework
situation,workorganizationandworkingpracticeswhich
maybedirectedtowardsaspecificproblemimpactingon
healthandsafetyattheworkplaceorbydemonstrating
bestpracticestocombatworkaccidentsand/oroccupa­
tionaldiseasesoratthewaysandmeansofeffectively
complyingwithCommunitylegislationinindividualenter­
prisesorundertakings .
1.3.ThisiswhytheSAFEprogrammewillalso*supportthe
development ofreferenceworkplaces,whichhave
developedpracticalsolutionstoworkplacerisksandwhich
willserveasmodelsforotherswhowouldliketochange
existingworkplacesordesignnewones.Itwillalso
promoteinnovativeapproachestoemergingareasofriskor
tohighriskactivities,whetherthisisbypromotingtheuse
ofsafeand/orcleantechnologies ,orbyotherinnovative
measures .
1.4.Supportwillalsobeprovidedforspecificeducationand
traininginitiativesdesignedtoimproveknowledgeof
Communitylegislationandimproveawarenessofthe
workingenvironment .
1.5.TheSAFEprogrammewillalsoconsiderprojectsprepared
byEuropeanorganizations ,individualenterprises,
employersorworkers.Suchprojectsshouldprovide
guidancefordecisionsconcerningmeasurestobeputinto
practicethroughoutentiresectorsofactivityespeciallyin
morethanoneMemberState.

NoC92/12[ENl OfficialJournaloftheEuropeanCommunities 21.3.97
ORIGINAL PROPOSAL AMENDED PROPOSAL
ANNEXII ANNEXIII
SELECTION CRITERIA
I.Generalcriteria I.Generalcriteria
Inordertobeeligibleforselectiontheprojectssubmittedmust
meetallthefollowingcriteria:InordertobeeligibleforCommunityassistance,theprojects
submittedmustmeetallthefollowingcriteria:
—haveagoodcost-effectiveness ratio, 1.generateaCommunityaddedvalue,
2.berelevanttotheneedsofSMEs, —generateaEuropeanplusvaluee.g.throughalasting
multipliereffectontheEuropeanscale,
—demonstrateaneffectiveandbalanceddegreeofcooperation
betweenthevariouspartnersatthelevelsof:
—projectdesign,
—projectimplementation ,
—financialparticipation .3.haveagoodcost-effectiveness ratio,
4.specifyexpectedoutcomesandhowtheywillbemeasured,
5.aimatoutcomesthatcanbetransferred,
6.specifyameansofdisseminatingthoseoutcomes,
7.avoidduplicatingprojectscarriedoutatnationallevel,
8.demonstrateresourcescommitmentfrompartnersinvolvedin
theproject,
9.demonstratethenecessityofCommunityfunding.
II.Evaluationcriteria II.Othercriteria
Prioritywillbegiventoactionswhichmeetoneormoreofthe
followingcriteria.Theymust:Prioritywillbegiventoprojectssatisfying,asfaraspossible,
thefollowingcriteria.Projectsshould:
—contributetothepreventionofcausesofaccidentsandoccu­
pationaldiseasesratherthanremedyingtheireffects,
—facilitatethelastingintegrationofsafetyandhealthatwork
inenterprisemanagementorinthequalitymanagementof
products,
—promotethetransferandexploitationofinnovative
experimentsonaEuropeanscale,1.contributetothepreventionofaccidentsandhealthrisks
(ratherthanremedyingtheireffects)andpromotemental­
healthprotection;
2.encourageinnovationinparticularintacklinghighrisk
activities;
3.haveaninnovativecharacter:
—promotesocialdialogue, 4.supportthedevelopmentofpracticalsolutionstoworkplace
risks;
5.aimtoaddressprovenriskswhicheitheralreadyaffector
havethepotentialtoaffectworkersandoffersubstantial
reductionsinthoserisks;
6.demonstratelikelyeffectivenessbeyondthelifeofthe
project,e.g.byintegratinghealthandsafetyintomanagment
practices;—promotepermanenteffortsratherthanquantifiedresults,
—encourageinnovationandenterpreneurial activity,in
particularinhighriskactivities,
—supportthedevelopmentofpracticalsolutionstoworkplace
risks,
—supportcooperationbetweenfirms,

21.3.97fENl OfficialJournaloftheEuropeanCommunities NoC92/13
ORIGINAL PROPOSAL AMENDED PROPOSAL
—supportimprovedinformationexchange,educationand
training;
—contributealsototheimplementation ofactionprogrammes
orCommunitypoliciesconcerning :
—lifelonglearning,7.promotesocialdialogueandcooperationbetweenfirms;
8.contributealsototheimplementation ofactionprogrammes
orCommunitypoliciesconcerning :
—lifelonglearning,
—equalopportunities ,
—integrationofthedisabled,—equalopportunities ,
—integrationofthedisabled,
—bringingbacktoemploymentthelong-termunemployed,
—preventionofaccidentstothepublic(domestic,sport,
road,etc.),—bringingbacktoemploymentthelong-termunemployed ,
—preventionofaccidentstothepublic(domestic,sport,
road,etc.),
—sectoralpolicies(tobespecified), —sectoralpolicies(tobespecified),
—otherprogrammesorpolicies(tobespecified). —otherprogrammesorpolicies(tobespecified).
III.Exclusioncriteria
Thefollowingarenoteligible:
—ActionslimitedtoasingleMemberStateandnottrans­
ferabletoothers
—Actionslimitedtoachievingcompliancewithnational
requirementseveniftheseresultfromCommunitylaw.