COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES 
C0MC90) 450 final 
Brussels, 7 November 1990 
Proposal for a 
COUNCIL DECISION 
on an action programme for the European Year of Safety, Hygiene and 
Health Protection at Work (1992) 
(presented by the Commission) 
EXPLANATORY MEMORANDUM 
1. Legal basis 
The draft decision is based on Article 235 of the EEC Treaty. 
2. Aim of the draft decision 
The Council Resolution of 21.12.87(1) suggested the organization in 1992 
of a European Year of Safety» Hygiene and Health Protection at Work with 
a view to conducting a number of activities designed to promote and 
enhance the value of the substantial body of Community measures in this 
field subsequent to the implementation of Article 118a of the EEC Treaty. 
These actions are to be designed specifically to heighten the awareness 
of the public at large, the various economic agents, the workers' and 
employers' representative bodies, government organizations and the 
appropriate education, training and information organizations. 
The activities will be undertaken ,by the Commission and in conjunction 
with the Member States on a Community basis. 
It is also important to bear in mind that, despite the lack of 
sufficiently reliable statistical series at European level, the data 
available at Member State level give a good idea of the high cost in 
human and social terms of the consequences of accidents at work. For 
1984, the amount of compensation paid for accidents at work and 
occupational illnesses is put at some 16 000 million ECU for the whole of 
the EC, i.e. 7% of total expenditure on sickness insurance.(2) 
3. Characteristics of the draft decision 
The draft comprises the draft decision proper and an annex setting out 
details of activities planned during the European Year. 
These activities are set out in three chapters pursuant to the form of 
financing. 
(1) 0J C28/1, 3.2.88 
(2) 0J C28/3, 3.2.88 
L 
4. Consultation of Interested parties 
Pursuant to the provisions set out in paragraph 5 of the above Council 
Resolution, the Commission has consulted and involved the representatives 
of governments and workers' and employers' organizations in drawing up 
this draft decision. 
Thus, the Advisory Committee on Safety, Hygiene and Health Protection at 
Work (set up under Council Decision 74/325/EEC of 27.6.1974) has been 
consulted and has expressed a favourable opinion. 
- 1 -
COUNCIL DECISION 
on an action programme for the European Year of Safety, Hygiene and 
Health Protection at Work (1992) 
THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES, 
Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Economic 
Community, and in particular Article 235 thereof. 
Having regard to the proposal from the Commission,<1> 
Having regard to the opinion of the European Pari lament/2) 
Having regard to the opinion of the Economic and Social Committee/3) 
Having regard to the opinion of the Advisory Committee for Safety, 
Hygiene and Health Protection at Work, 
Whereas the Council on 21 December 1987 suggested that a European year 
should be organized In 1992 in the field of safety, hygiene and health 
protection at work*4); 
Whereas the Council also welcomed the Commission's communication on its 
programme^) concerning safety, hygiene and health at work; 
Whereas 1992 sees the completion of this action programme and thus 
presents an opportunity to take stock of the programme and demonstrate 
its coherence; 
(1) OJ 
(2) OJ 
(3) OJ 
(4) OJ No C28/1, 3.2.88 
(5) OJ No C28/3, 3.2.88 
- 2 
Whereas the Council acknowledged the predominant role of the heightening of 
public awareness for the success of the measures recommended in the 
Commission's communication on its programme on safety, hygiene and health at 
work; 
Whereas the Council emphasized that the information, increased awareness and, 
if necessary, the training of employers and workers will play a fundamental 
role in the success of the measures recommended in the Commission's 
communication on its programme on safety, hygiene and health at work; 
Whereas, for the activity In question, the Treaty provides for no other 
powers than those set out in Article 235; 
HAS DECIDED AS FOLLOWS: 
Article 1 
1. 1992 Shall be declared EUROPEAN YEAR OF SAFETY, HYGIENE AND HEALTH 
PROTECTION AT WORK, running from March 1992 to March 1993. 
To this end coordinated activities shall be organized by the Community, 
the Member States, the social partners and by public and private bodies. 
2. The staff required for the implementation of the programme and the amount 
of expenditure estimated are set out in detail in the financial statement 
attached to this Decision. The appropriations necessary for the 
implementation of this Decision shall be entered every year in the General 
Budget of the European Communities. 
Article 2 
1. The Commission shall consult periodically the appropriate authorities in 
the Member States at the various stages of implementation of the activities 
provided for in this Decision. 
2. The Commission shall inform the Council, the European Parliament and the 
Economic and Social Committee of 
the progress of work, and shall send them a report and assessment of the 
activities carried out in the course of the year. 
1. 
ANNEX 
AIMS AND JUSTIFICATION OF ACTIONS ENVISAGED 
FOR THE EUROPEAN YEAR OF SAFETY, 
HYGIENE AND HEALTH AT WORK (1992) 
Despite the lack of sufficiently reliable statistical series at 
European level, the data available at Member State level give a good 
idea of the high cost in human and social terms of the consequences of 
accidents at work and occupational illnesses. For 1984, the amount of 
compensation paid for such accidents and Illnesses is put at some 
16 000 million ECU for the whole of the EC, i.e. 7% of total 
expenditure on sickness Insurance*1). 
The European Year of Safety, Hygiene and Health at Work will set out to 
conduct a number of activities designed to promote and enhance the 
value of the substantial body of Community measures in this field. 
These aims can be justified by the need to 
bring out, in the context of the internal market, the Importance of 
the social and economic aspects of problems relating to safety, 
hygiene and health at work, 
make workers, employers and young people more aware of the safety, 
hygiene and health risks at the workplace and of what can be done 
about them. 
To this end, coordinated activities will be undertaken by the 
Community, the Member States, the social partners and public and 
private organizations. 
(1) OJ C28/3, 3.2.1988. 
2. 
A. Actions to be financed entirely from the Community budget 
1. European colloquium to launch European Year 
2. Conferences in all Member States 
3. Film festival 
4. Logo design, poster campaigns 
5. Television programmes and videos 
6. European colloquium to close European Year. 
7. production of booklets and stickers on the Community's health and 
safety policy. 
B. Actions co-financed by the Community budget 
These actions may be financed from the Community budget up to a 
percentage of the total cost which will depend on the particular 
case but will not exceed 70% of the total cost of the project. 
1. Actions by public and/or private organizations to improve and 
promote the dissemination of information on occupational risks and 
their prevention. 
2. Actions by public and/or private organizations to give greater 
importance to the training of workers and employers in the field of 
safety, hygiene and hcclth protection at work. 
3. Actions by public and/or private organizations to intégrât© 
instruction in safety, hygiene and health protect ion at work snte 
teaching snd training progrmusses aim®cl ct employers and rcor'xrs. 
4. Actions by public and/or private organizations t© improve the 
understanding ©f problems ©f health, hygiene ar*cf safety at v;orh in 
SI4Ë3 and to promote specific solutions. 
5. Actions by public and/or private organizations to improve the 
exchange of information on good enforcement practice In Member 
States regarding Community legislation on safety, hygiene and 
health at work. 
Applications for grants should be submitted to the Commission by Member 
States, 
3. 
Projects selected for Community assistance will be designated 
"Community projects for the European Year of Safety» Hygiene and Health 
Protection at Work". 
C. Actions without financial Implications for the Community budget 
Actions undertaken by public or private organizations in the field of 
safety, hygiene and health protection at work: 
to promote use of the common logo and slogan of the European Year 
of Safety, Hygiene and Health Protection at Work in regular 
publicity campaigns, 
to encourage the spread of Information on European Year of Safety, 
Hygiene and Health Protection at Work through the mass media, 
other actions to be determined. 
Î 
FINANCIAL MEMORANDUM 
DRAFT COUNCIL DECISION ON THE EUROPEAN YEAR 
OF SAFETY, HYGIENE AND HEALTH 
PROTECTION AT WORK 
1. Budget line 
3054 
2. Legal base 
Council Resolution (88/C/28/01) of 21.12.1987(1), 
suggesting the organization in 1992 of a European Year 
of Safety, Hygiene and Health Protection at Work. 
Council Decision of .... on a programme of action for 
the European Year of Safety, Hygiene and Health 
protection at Work. 
3. Classification into compulsory/non-compulsory expenditure 
Non-compulsory. 
4. Description and justification 
4.1. Description of the proposed activities - see annex 
to the Council Decision. 
4.2. Justification 
In its Resolution (88/C/28/01) of 21.12.1987, the 
Council acknowledges the predominant role of 
heightening public awareness for the success of the 
measures recommended in the Commission's 
communication on its programme on safety, hygiene 
and health protection at work, and suggests the 
organization of a European Year in this field. 
5. Nature of expenditure and form of calculation 
Overall cost 1991-1992-1993 : 12 million ecus. 
(1) OJ C28/1 Of 3.2.88 
6. The appropriations will be used to finance the costs 
arising directly from the implementation of the 
measures set out in the annex to the Council Decision. 
Certain items of the administrative expenditure will 
also be financed from these appropriations. 
Form of calculation 
(see annex). 
Financial consequences of the proposed measure on 
intervention appropriations 
6.1. Schedule of due dates for commitment and payment 
appropriations 
91 
92 
93 
TOTAL COMMITMENT 
3.150.000 
6.200.000 
2.650.000 
12.000.000 91 
2.800.000 
2.800.000 PAYMENT 
92 
350.000 
6.200.000 
6.550.000 93 
2.650.000 
2.650.000 
6.2. Share of Community finance (%) in total cost of the 
proposed measure 
100 % 
7. Financial impact on staff and administrative appropriations 
7.1. Staff requirements 
Creation of a Task Force comprising outside 
specialists from 1991, as follows : 
A : 4 
B : 13 
C : 4 
7.2. Staff appropriations recruired 
These appropriations are estimated at 
1.450.000 ecus from 1991. 
xxxxx xxxxxxx xxxxx 
J° 
ANNEX 
BUDGET FOR THE EUROPEAN YEAR 
OF SAFETY, HYGIENE AND HEALTH PROTECTION AT WORK 
Fixed costs: administr., management 
Consultants 
Support for actions undertaken 
by the Member States 
Support for actions undertaken 
by international organizations 
j Actions organized by the Commission 
j See Annex, item A, 1, 3, 4 
1 TOTAL 1991 
350.000 
250.000 
1.100.000 
350.000 
1.100.000 
3.150.000 1992 
500.000 
100.000 
2.500.000 
100.000 
3.000.000 
6.200.000 1993 
250.000 
400.000 
-TOTAL 
1.100.000 
350.000 
4.000.000 
450.000 
2.000.000 6.100.000 
2.650.000 1 12.000.000 
I 1 1 
V 
IMPACT ON COMPETITIVENESS AND EMPLOYMENT 
Subject : Draft Council Decision on a programme of action for the European 
Year of Safety, Hygiene and Health Protection at Work 
1. What is the main point of the measure? 
Within the context of the internal market and with regard to the social 
and economic aspects thereof, to bring out the major benefits resulting 
from the implementation of prevention measures and of a high level of 
protection in terms of safety, hygiene and health protection at work. 
To heighten the awareness of workers, employers and young people to 
occupational risks and the means of doing something about them, in terms 
of safety, hygiene and health protection at work. 
2. Characteristics of the firms concerned. More particularly: 
a) Large number of SMEs? 
b) Concentrated in certain regions? 
i. eligible for Member States' regional aid? 
ii. eligible for ERDF aid? 
a) Given the nature of the rules and regulations on safety and health, 
most SMEs are concerned. 
b) No. 
3. What are the direct obligations on firms? 
This proposal places no direct obligations on firms. 
4. What obligations are liable to be placed indirectly on firms by local 
authorities? 
None. 
5. Are there any special measures for SMEs? If so, what? 
It is planned to devise specific activities designed to improve general 
awareness of safety, hygiene and health protection issues in SMEs and to 
promote specific solutions. 
6. What is the Iikely effect: 
a) on the competitive position of firms? 
b) on jobs? 
The proposed activities can only have a positive effect on the 
competitive position of firms. 
J^ 
7. Have the social partners been consulted? 
What are their views? 
The social partners have been consulted within the context of the 
Advisory Committee on Safety, Hygiene and Health Protection at Work set 
up under Council Decision 74/325/EEC of 27/6/1974. 
This proposal has met with considerable interest from the trade union 
organizations and from the employers' and government representatives. 
They expressed a unanimous favourable opinion on the draft proposal at 
the full meeting of the Committee on 21 and 22 February 1990 and are 
involved in deciding what activities should be undertaken and in setting 
up the necessary connections to ensure the success of the operation. 
X 

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