NoC169/44 OfficialJournaloftheEuropeanCommunities 6.7.92
OpinionontheproposalforaCouncilRegulation (EEC)establishingaEuropeanAgency
forSafetyandHealthatWork(*)
(92/C169/14)
On25October1991theCouncildecidedtoconsulttheEconomicandSocialCommittee,
underArticle198oftheTreatyestablishingtheEuropeanEconomicCommunity ,onthe
abovementioned proposal.
TheSectionforSocial,Family,EducationalandCulturalAffairs,whichwasresponsiblefor
preparingtheCommittee'sworkonthesubject,adopteditsOpinionon22April1992.The
RapporteurwasMrEtty.
Atits296thPlenarySession(meetingof29April1992)theEconomicandSocialCommittee
adoptedthefollowingOpinionbyaunanimousvote.
ationwithandbetweenspecialisednationalinstitutes
andotherbodiesinthefieldofoccupationalsafetyand
healthisindeeddesirableincludingthepromotionof
supportfortechnicaltraining.AEuropeanAgency,
workingwellintheserespects,couldcontributecon­
siderablytoareductionoftheriskofduplication .In
thiscontext,theCommitteeaccepts,ingeneralterms,
theinitiativetakenbytheCommission ,subjecttothe
followingpoints.
2.2.TheCommitteeconsidersthattherangeof
activitiesandtheenvisagedhighqualityofworkofthe
Agencyiscertainlyambitious,especiallyinthelightof
themodestbudgetwhichisforeseenforit.1.Introduction
1.1.TheEuropeanCommunityhasdeterminedthat
thepromotionofhealth,safetyandhygieneatworkis
anessentialpriorityforaneffectivesocialpolicy.Ithas
alsoidentifiedanumberofkeyelementsforrealising
thatpriority.Theseincludeaccessto,andexchange
of,informationandexperience,andthegatheringof
reliableandobjectiveeconomic,scientific,andtechnical
datafortheintroductionofmeasuresbyMemberStates
andtheCommunity .
1.2.TheCommission ,whileremainingresponsible
formonitoringthetechnicalapplicationofCommunity
law,proposestoestablishanAgencyforSafetyand
HealthatWorkasanappropriatemechanismforhelp­
ingtoprovide,technical,scientificandeconomicassist­
anceandcoordinationinthefieldofoccupationalsafety
andhealth,andfororganizingtraining.Theneedfor
asourceofinformationandexpertisesuchasthepro­
posedAgencyisrecognizedbyrelevantCommunity
institutions,workers'andemployers'representatives ,
andothersinthesafetyandhealthfield.Thedynamic
natureofCommunitylegislationcontinuestocreatea
growingdemandforinformation,adviceandtraining
anditselfrequiresthedevelopmentofasoundinfor­
mationbase.2.3.AsregardstheAdministrative Board,theCom­
mitteecriticisesbothitscompositionandtheway
workers'andemployers'representatives shouldbe
appointed.
2.4.ItisnotedthattheCommission'sdraftRegu­
lationdoesnotincludeaproposalforthelocationof
theAgency.
3.Specificcomments1.3.InadditiontotheAgencyitself,theCommission
proposesthattherewouldbe'thematiccentres'inMem­
berStatestoconcentrateonspecificissuesandareasof
concern.TheAgencywouldbuildonexistinghealth
andsafetyinformationsystemsandnetworksinthe
Communitycountries.Agreementswouldbedrawnup
withthesecentresandnetworks .3.1.Article1
2.Generalcomments
2.1.TheCommitteethinksthatimprovementofthe
exchangeofinformationandexperienceandofcooper­3.1.1.TheCommitteedoesnotseeitasitstaskto
makeaproposalfortheAgency'slocation.Itwould
stresshoweverthat,inordertofunctionproperly,the
Agencyshouldbelocatedsoastohaveoptimalaccess
toECresourcesandCommission services.Thismust
beastrictconditionfortheAgency'slocation.The
Agency'soperationalliaisonwiththeEuropeanFoun­
dationfortheImprovementofLivingandWorking
Conditionsshouldalsobeseriouslyconsideredinthe
choiceoflocation.(')OJNoC271,16.10.1991,p.3.

6.7.92 OfficialJournaloftheEuropeanCommunities NoC169/45
3.2.Article2
3.2.1.Theprovisionofinformation,asindicated
inthisArticle,isofgreatimportance,butrequires
clarification (forexampleasregardstheroleandinput
ofnationalnetworks).Theinformationtobeprovided
shouldofcoursebeconfinedtooccupationalsafetyand
healthmatters.
ThiscouldhelpshortenthelistofAgencytasksdrawn
upinArticle3.
3.3.Article3
3.3.1.TheCommitteethinksthatthisAgencywith
amodestbudgetasforeseenwillnotbeabletofulfil
inasatisfactorywayallthetasksmentionedinthis
Article.Evenifitisassumedthatstaffcandrawupon
theproductsoftheworkofothersinawell-organized
network,itseemsthattheCommission isover­
ambitiousinitsproposal.Thisimpressionisreinforced
bycertainstatementsintheExplanatoryMemorandum ,
forinstanceontheroleoftheAgencyasa'centreof
excellence'forthetechnicalandscientificaspectsof
healthandsafetyatwork.3.3.6.TheCommitteethinksthatArticle3(i)should
bedeleted.ThelistoftasksfortheAgencyisalready
toolongandinsufficientlyclearwithoutthis'catch-all'
text.
3.4.Article4
3.4.1.Theword'may'inparagraphs3and4istoo
vague.MemberStatesshouldspecifya'nationalfocal
point',andtheyshouldnominateinstitutionsororgan­
izationsasproposed.
3.5.Article5
3.5.1.Theword'may'inthetextofthisArticleis
toovague.Here,again,theCommissionshouldmake
itclearthatitwishestheAgencytoreachtheagreements
withtheinstitutionsorbodiesbelongingtothenational
network.
3.5.2.TheCommitteethinksthattheAgencyshould
alwaysinvolve,inonewayoranother,the'national
focalpoint'inarrangements/agreementswithother
institutionsorbodiesbelongingtotherelevantnational
network.
3.6.Article7
3.6.1.ThisArticlemightbemademoreclearby
explainingthattheterm'themostextensivelegal
capacityaccordedtolegalpersonsundertheirlaws'is
instrictaccordancewithArticle211oftheTreaty.
3.7.Article8
3.7.1.Point1(b)putsworkers'andemployers'rep­
resentativesinafarweakerpositionthanintheDublin
Foundation .Withaviewtothegreatvarietyofthetasks
oftheAgencyandthelevelofcompetenceexpected,and
takingintoaccountthestillconsiderabledifferencesin
nationallegislationandpracticeinthefieldofoccu­
pationalsafetyandhealthintheMemberStates,such
restrictedrepresentation ofworkersandemployersis
notdesirable.
3.7.2.TheCommitteehasreservationsaboutthe
workers'andemployers'representatives fortheAgency
beingselectedbytheCommissionafterconsultation
withtheMemberStates.TheCommitteewouldpro­
poseinsteadthattheworkers'andemployers'represen­
tativesshouldbeappointedbytheCommissionincon­
sultationwiththeMemberStatesafternominationby
themostrepresentativeEuropeanfederationsoftrade
unionsandemployerassociations .
3.7.2.1.TheCommitteealsohascertaindoubts
aboutpossiblejointmembershipofboththeAdvisory
CommitteeandtheAgency,asthiscouldleadtocon­
fusionofrolesandresponsibilities .3.3.2.Article3(a)shouldbereformulated soasto
avoidthepossibleinterpretationthattheAgencycould
begivenaroleinthelegislativeresponsibilities ofthe
EuropeanCommission .
3.3.3.Severalnationalinstitutes,workinginthefield
ofoccupationalsafetyandhealth,arealreadycoordin­
atingtheiractivitiesinonewayoranother.TheCom­
missionandtheDublinFoundationareinvolvedin
someofthiscoordination .
3.3.3.1.TheAgency'scontributiontobettercoordi­
nation,[Art.3(b)]shouldpayspecialattentionto
efficientandwellpreparedjointmeetings.
3.3.4.Giventhefactthatseveralnationalinstitutes
arealreadyintensivelyengagedintrainingactivities,
theCommissionmightreconsiderthetextofArticle
3(d)andgivemoreattention,inthefieldoftraining,
tocurriculaonCommunitysafetyandhealthregu­
lation.TheCommitteethinksthat,generally,training
coursesshouldbegivenatthenationallevel.
3.3.5.Ensuringthatnationaldataonsafetyand
healthattheworkplaceiscomparable [Art.3(e)]isa
taskofmajorimportance .TheCommitteenotesthat
theDublinFoundationhasdonesomeworkinthis
respect.

NoC169/46 OfficialJournaloftheEuropeanCommunities 6.7.92
3.7.3.TheCommitteerecommends theCommission
toconsidertheoptionofrotationofthePresidencyof
theAgencyamongthefourgroupsrepresentedonthe
Administrative Board.3.7.4.Withaviewtotheobservationsmadeinpara­
graph3.7.1,theCommitteecannotacceptthepro­
visionsinArticle8(6).DecisionsintheAdministrative
BoardoftheAgencyshouldbetakenbyasimple
majority.
DoneatBrussels,29April1992.
TheChairman
oftheEconomicandSocialCommittee
MichaelGEUENICH
OpinionontheproposalforaCouncilDirectiveconcerningtheminimumsafetyandhealth
requirementsforworkonboardfishingvessels—10thindividualDirectivewithinthemeaning
ofDirective89/391/EEC(!)
(92/C169/15)
On23December1991theCouncildecidedtoconsulttheEconomicandSocialCommittee,
underArticle118AoftheTreatyestablishingtheEuropeanEconomicCommunity ,onthe
abovementioned proposal.
TheSectionforSocial,Family,EducationalandCulturalAffairs,whichwasresponsiblefor
preparingtheCommittee'sworkonthesubject,adopteditsOpinionon22April1992.The
RapporteurwasMrEtty.
Atits296thPlenarySession(meetingof29April1992)theEconomicandSocialCommittee
adoptedthefollowingOpinionbyaunanimousvote:
inotherhighrisksectorssuchasmining,constructions
andagriculture .Onsmallvesselstheincidenceofacci­
dentsishigherthanonlargeones.In1989,280000
fishermenwereemployedinthesector.1.Introduction
1.1.TheCommissionproposalisanotherindividual
Directiveunderthe'FrameworkDirective'(89/391/
EEC)ontheintroductionofmeasurestoencourage
improvements inthesafetyandhealthofworkersat
theworkplace.Theannextothe'FrameworkDirective'
listsanumberoffieldsforwhichspecificinstruments
willbeprepared.'Fisheries'arementionedamongthem.
1.2.OneimportantreasonfortheCommissionto
proposeaspecialDirectiveforworkplacesonboard
fishingvesselsisthatfishingisahighrisksector.
Workingconditionsandoccupationalsafetyandhealth
conditionscontributesignificantlytothishighrisk.
Accidentstatisticsshowthat,inallthemaritimeMem­
berStatesoftheEC,seafishingisthemostdangerous
ofallthemajorindustries.Onaveragefatalaccidents
occuralmosttentimesmoreofteninseafishingthan1.3.Againstthisbackgroundofhighrisk,itisaston­
ishingthatanumberofMemberStatesdonothave
anyspecificprovisionsatallforsomeofthesubject
areasaddressedbythepresentCommissionproposal.
1.4.Relevantinternationalinstruments,createdby
interaliatheInternationalLabourOrganization (ILO)
andtheInternationalMaritimeOrganization (IMO)
concentrateontheintrinsicsafetyofvesselsandemer­
gencyequipmentanddealtoamuchlesserextentwith
safetyandhealthoffishermenatwork.Onlyasmall
numberofMemberStatesoftheEChaveratifiedthese
instruments .TheCommitteeurgesgovernmentsof
MemberStatestostudyonceagainthepossibilityof
ratification .Furthermore ,inseekingtoimprovethe
safetyandhealthoffishermen,MemberStatesshould
turntothefollowinginternationalinstrumentsand
codesofpracticeforadviceandguidance:ILOConven­
tions112,113,119,125,134and140;ILORecommen­ (i)OJNoC337,31.12.1991,p.21.