COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES 
Brussels, 07.01.1998 
COM(97) 729 final 
Activity report 
Safety and Health Commission for the Mining 
and Other Extractive Industries 
1996 
Approved on 5 May 1997 
(presented by the Commission) 
1. DESCRIPTION OF THE SAFETY AND HEALTH COMMISSION 4 
1.1 Origins, responsibilities, terms of reference 4 
1.2 Structure, methods of work 4 
1.3 Secretariat 4 
1.4 Annual report 5 
2. THE WORK OF THE SAFETY AND HEALTH COMMISSION IN 1996 5 
2.1 Meetings, workshops 5 
2.2 Exchange of views on particular occurrences 5 
2.3 Proposals and recommendations 5 
2.4 Reports 6 
2.5 Organisation of workshops 7 
2.6 Community directives 7 
2.7 Cooperation with other bodies 8 
2.8 Improvement of the organisation, operation and image of the Safety and 
Health Commission 9 
2.9 Work programme 9 
3. THE WORK OF THE COMMITTEES 10 
3.1 Committee on Underground Workings 10 
3.2 Committee on Surface Workings 11 
3.3 Committee on Borehole Operations 12 
3.4 Committee on Health Protection 13 
3.5 Committee on Human Factors 14 
4. ANNEXES 15 
Extracts from the Council Decisions of 27 June 1974 and 9 July 1957 
Major SHCMOEI documents relevant to the annual report 
List of heads of delegation, Committee chairmen and the Secretariat 
l. DESCRIPTION OF THE SAFETY AND HEALTH COMMISSION 
1.1 Origins, responsibilities, terms of reference 
Institutionalised cooperation on safety in the extractive industries within the European 
Union dates from the severe mine fire on 8 August 1956 at the Bois du Cazier Colliery in 
Marcinelle (Belgium), in which 262 miners from various European countries were killed. 
In view of the scale of the disaster, the High Authority of the European Coal and Steel 
Community immediately called a conference on safety in coal mines, which was attended 
by representatives of governments, employers and workers. The positive outcome led the 
Council of Ministers to decide on 6 September 1956 and 10 May 1957 to continue to 
work together in safety matters and to set up the Mines Safety Commission for the coal­
mining industry. Its terms of reference and rules of procedure were approved on 
9 July 1957 and its responsibilities were extended to include health protection and the 
whole of the extractive industries sector by the Council Decisions of 11 March 1965 and 
27 June 1974 (see Annex A). The Mines Safety Commission has since been officially 
known as the Safety and Health Commission for the Mining and Other Extractive 
Industries (abbreviated as "Safety and Health Commission" or "SHCMOEF'). Its main 
tasks are to monitor developments in safety and health in the extractive industries, make 
proposals to the governments of the Member States for practical improvements in 
workplace conditions and promote the exchange of relevant information (see Annex A). 
1.2 Structure, methods of work 
Each Member State may send four representatives, of whom two represent the 
government, one the employers and one the workers. The Safety and Health Commission 
was thus the first European body not composed solely of government representatives. 
Within limits, advisors may also be appointed. 
The government representatives on the Safety and Health Commission form a Restricted 
Committee, whose task is to maintain permanent contact among the governments of the 
Member States and between the governments and the Safety and Health Commission and 
to prepare the work of the Safety and Health Commission. The Restricted Committee is 
also responsible for adapting to technical progress the annexes to Directive 82/130/EEC. 
As a general rule, technical questions are dealt with by tripartite working groups. In the 
past, there were as many as 20 Working Parties but, for reasons of efficiency and because 
of the administrative and financial constraints, these have been reduced to five 
Committees: Underground Workings, Surface Workings, Borehole Operations, Health 
Protection and Human Factors, which are chaired by members of the Restricted 
Committee. It has also proved useful to have specific technical questions dealt with by 
small ad hoc groups of experts. 
1.3 Secretariat 
The Secretariat of the Safety and Health Commission, the Restricted Committee, the 
specialised Committees and the ad hoc groups is provided by the Commission and forms 
part of Directorate-General V (V/F/4). 
M--
1.4 Annual report 
Since the working methods of the Safety and Health Commission and the situation in the 
Secretariat have stabilised, it has been possible to resume the production of an annual 
report after a gap of several years. In this period, the Safety and Health Commission's 
activities consisted mainly in drawing conclusions from mine accidents (e.g. at the Simon 
Colliery, Doc. No 5147/89) and assisting the Commission in the preparation of directives 
(in particular Directives 92/91/EEC and 92/104/EEC). 
The Safety and Health Commission adopted this report at its meeting on 5 May 1997. 
2. THE WORK OF THE SAFETY AND HEALTH COMMISSION IN 1996 
2.1 Meetings, workshops 
The Safety and Health Commission met twice during the report period (on 8 March and 6 
November 1996), with meetings of the Restricted Committee on the previous day. The 
Committees held seven meetings in all. As far as was possible, ad hoc groups met to 
prepare the work of the Committees. Two workshops, each attended by about 150 
participants, were held on topics of current interest in the surface and underground 
sectors. 
2.2 Exchange of views on particular occurrences 
An incident at Thoresby Colliery in the United Kingdom was discussed in detail. On 12 
October 1995, an outburst of mineral associated with gas, water and oil occurred in a 
development heading, causing the death of one miner. The incident occurred as the 
drivage was approaching a geological disturbance within a wider shatter zone in the 
immediate vicinity of an oil field. 
In the light of a report by a representative of the competent national authorities (Doc. 
No 5630/96) and subsequent detailed discussion in the Safety and Health Commission, it 
would appear that the outburst could not have been predicted on the basis of previous 
experience. Since outburst precautions are prescribed by law and relevant research has 
begun in the United Kingdom, the Committee on Underground Workings will not deal 
with the incident as a whole but only with specific aspects, especially since it is rare for 
coal to be mined in the immediate vicinity of an oil field. 
2.3 Proposals and recommendations 
In the course of the report year, the Safety and Health Commission adopted various 
proposals and recommendations to the Member States for improving the safety and health 
protection of workers. These pertain to various subject areas and were prepared by the 
competent Committees. 
2.3. J Principles of strata control and support in underground workings of the mineral-
extractive industries 
The Safety and Health Commission looked closely at this question following two deep 
mining accidents, which had caused several fatalities. Doc. No 486/95, which had been 
-5-
approved the previous year, contained general considerations and specific 
recommendations on strata control and support for underground workings of coal and 
other stratified minerals. In the reference year, it was supplemented by Doc. 
No 1189/1/95, which contains proposals and recommendations for other underground 
mineral workings. 
2.3.2 Accident statistics for the European offshore oil and gas industry 
A report with a view to recommendations (Doc. No 5908/4/94) describes the efforts made 
and difficulties encountered in producing comparable occupational accident and illness 
statistics within the European Union. Seven comprehensive accident causation categories 
and ten type-of-injury categories were identified for the offshore oil and gas industry. It is 
recommended that the Member States use the principles of the above document as a 
model for accident reporting to the Safety and Health Commission. 
2.3.3 Human factors affecting reliability and their role in risk prevention 
Doc. No 5324/4/96 investigates the part played by human factors in risk analysis and 
prevention and sets out proposals for the improvement of occupational safety and health. 
The discussion and recommendations are based on the Framework Directive 89/391/EEC 
and the two individual directives on the extractive industries, Directives 92/91/EEC and 
92/104/EEC, and on European research into the socio-technical man-machine system and 
the associated concept of reliability. The proposals set out in the document seek to 
indicate how the requirements of the above Community directives can be satisfied and a 
genuine safety and health culture developed in industry. 
2.4 Reports 
Two reports on important fire and explosion prevention issues in the offshore and 
underground mining sectors were drafted in the competent Committees and approved by 
the Safety and Health Commission. 
2.4.1 Piper Alpha accident 
Doc. No 302/3/95 contains a description of the course of events during the accident on 
the Piper Alpha production platform, together with the findings and recommendations 
from the United Kingdom investigations, the offshore industry's reaction and the work 
undertaken by the Safety and Health Commission and other international bodies. The 
conclusions drawn from the accident are leading to further development of the offshore 
safety regime. 
2.4.2 Explosion protection workshop 
The papers read, discussions and conclusions of the workshop held on 27 November 1995 
are reported in Doc. No 1184/95. The purpose of this event was to determine whether 
knowledge and experience arising from recent explosion accidents make it necessary to 
update the basic document, Doc. No 5147/89 "Measures to reduce the explosion and fire 
risk in auxiliary-ventilated workings and to improve the protection of personnel in the 
event of explosions and fire in coal mines" (Simon Report). The workshop showed that 
changes and additions are needed in certain areas. 
2.5 Organisation of workshops 
Two workshops were held on topical subjects from the underground and surface sectors. 
They were primarily organised by the competent Committees. 
2.5.1 Safety in quarries - risk assessment 
The workshop took place in Gubbio (Italy) on 21-22 June 1996, during the Italian 
Presidency. It allowed an exchange of views on risk determination and assessment in 
quarries as required by the Community Directives 89/391/EEC and 92/104/EEC. Various 
delegations described how they comply or intend to comply with the European 
requirements. Particular attention was paid to the situation in small and medium-sized 
firms. Simplicity of implementation was emphasised in the discussion. The event was 
combined with site visits. 
2.5.2 Control of hazards caused by noxious substances resulting from the use of diesel 
engines and blasting operations underground 
The workshop was held on 25-26 September 1996 in Luxembourg and centred on the 
health protection of workers in underground mine workings. The legislative, medical and 
technical aspects of the risks posed by diesel engine emissions and shotfiring fiimes were 
discussed. One point of interest was the proposal for a Community directive on the use of 
diesel engines in non-road mobile machinery. In addition to the papers from the mining 
industry, an account was given of experience and trends in tunnelling. It emerged from the 
papers and discussions that the legal and technical options currently available are 
contributing to a substantial reduction in pollution in underground mining and tunnelling. 
Current and foreseeable developments give grounds for expecting further improvements in 
workplace conditions. 
2.6 Community directives 
In 1996, as in other years, the Safety and Health Commission was involved in preparing 
and advising on Community directives or draft directives and in monitoring their 
transposal. The instruments in question were either specific to the extractive industries or 
had important implications for them. 
2.6.1 Transposai 
Transposai of Directives 92/91/EEC and 92/104/EEC on requirements for improving the 
safety and health protection of workers in drilling operations and in surface and 
underground mineral workings were closely scrutinised. Discussion between the 
delegations helped to clarify various questions and to eliminate or reduce problems. At the 
end of the report year, the Commission had received notifications indicating that both 
Directives had to a large extent been transposed into national law, although notifications 
from four Member States were outstanding in respect of each Directive. Preparatory work 
is, however, well advanced in these countries and national regulations will thus be in place 
shortly. 
2.6.2 Preparatory work 
Work began at the Safety and Health Commission on drafting a Commission Directive 
adapting to technical progress Council Directive 82/130/EEC on the approximation of the 
laws of the Member States concerning electrical equipment for use in potentially explosive 
atmospheres in mines susceptible to firedamp. The content of the harmonised technical 
standards has to be updated because of the developments which have taken place. This is 
the task of the Restricted Committee. 
2.6.3 Opinion 
In the report year, the Safety and Health Commission considered the draft prepared by 
Directorate-General XI for a directive on the approximation of the laws of the Member 
States relating to the measures to be taken against the emission of gaseous and particulate 
pollutants from internal combustion engines to be installed in non-road mobile machinery 
(COM (95) 350 final). This Directive will also apply to surface and underground workings 
of the extractive industries. It proved possible to allay concern within the Safety and 
Health Commission that EU legislation governing the design of engines would in future 
prevent the imposition of worker protection requirements for their use. Joint efforts by the 
delegations led to an addition to the proposal for a directive. A new provision has been 
included to ensure that the Directive does not curtail Member States' right to lay down, in 
accordance with the Treaty, such requirements as they think necessary to safeguard 
workers when mobile machinery and plant is used. Another important point clarified was 
that the Directive would apply only to new diesel engines. 
2.7 Cooperation with other bodies 
The Safety and Health Commission cooperates or is in contact with a number of other 
organisations at European and international level, and in particular with the following 
institutions. 
2.7.1 European standardisation bodies 
As a primarily technical body, the Safety and Health Commission has to work with the 
European standardisation bodies. Contact is maintained with the CEN as regards 
machinery and equipment for the extractive industries. The CEN is also to produce a 
European Standard incorporating the Safety and Health Commission's requirements for 
hydraulic fluids for power transmission. A full exchange of information with the Safety 
and Health Commission is regarded as essential to preparations for the standard on 
explosion prevention and protection in mines in order to avoid departures from the 
pertinent directives. Close liaison with CENELEC is also necessary, if only because the 
Restricted Committee is responsible for adapting to technical progress the annexes to 
Directive 82/130/EEC on electrical equipment for use in potentially explosive 
atmospheres in mines. 
2.7.2 International Labour Organisation 
There are long-established and close links between the International Labour Organisation 
and the Safety and Health Commission, as reflected in the fact than an observer from the 
ILO regularly attends Safety and Health Commission meetings. Relations currently centre 
on Convention 176 concerning safety and health in mines and the corresponding 
-8-
Recommendation 183. The Convention and Recommendation were adopted by the 
General Conference of the International Labour Organisation on 22 June 1995. Many of 
the requirements contained in the Convention are derived from Directive 92/104/EEC. 
The Safety and Health Commission will monitor ratification of the Convention, for which 
preparations are currently being made by the Member States. 
2.7.3 Advisory Committee 
For some time, observers from the Safety and Health Commission have attended meetings 
of the Advisory Committee on Safety, Hygiene and Health Protection at Work and, 
conversely, representatives of the Advisory Committee are invited to meetings of the 
Safety and Health Commission. It is hoped that this will improve the two-way flow of 
information. Experience to date indicates that the two bodies do have points in common, 
but it is becoming increasingly clear that they are different in character. The Safety and 
Health Commission is primarily a technical body concerned with the specific problems of 
safety and health protection in the extractive industries. Its main focus is on practical 
technical matters. The Advisory Committee, on the other hand, can be described as a 
forum for discussion, mainly of fundamental questions of occupational safety and health 
protection but also of technical details in this area. 
2.8 Improvement of the organisation, operation and image of the Safety and Health 
Commission 
In order to make its activities even more effective than in the past while working within 
the administrative and financial constraints applying, the Safety and Health Commission 
has for some time been seeking to improve its organisation, operation and, as an accessory 
consideration, its image. The thrust of the proposals is that the Restricted Committee 
should act as a steering body for the five working Committees, that the Committees' work 
should be focused on priority projects and be carried out to a large extent without 
assistance from the Secretariat and that the membership of ad hoc groups should be 
limited and should depend on the subject being dealt with. It is proposed to issue 
information bulletins on meetings of the Safety and Health Commission and special events 
(cf. Doc. No 1173/2/95). 
2.9 Work programme 
A work programme was drawn up for 1997 and corresponding remits issued to the 
Committees. Work already in hand on certain important areas will continue and new 
issues of current interest in occupational safety and health improvement will be addressed. 
Salient points in the work programme are: risk determination in small and medium-sized 
firms for the purposes of the safety and health document, escape from underground mines, 
mutual recognition of qualifications and the relationship between training and safety. Two 
workshops are planned: on borehole operations and on hazards associated with the use of 
free-steered vehicles above and below ground. 
-9-
3. THE WORK OF THE COMMITTEES 
3.1 Committee on Underground Workings 
3.1.1 Meetings 
The Committee on Underground Workings met twice in 1996: on 18 April and 5 June. Ad 
hoc meetings of experts on rescue arrangements and mine ventilation were also held. 
3.1.2 Document on strata control and support 
The Committee continued its work on revising the remaining section of the proposals and 
recommendations to the Member States on principles of strata control and support in 
underground workings of the mineral-extractive industries. This section (Part IV) deals 
with underground workings other than those of coal and other stratified minerals. The text 
was considerably amended and was approved by the Committee. It was finally adopted by 
the Safety and Health Commission at its meeting on 6 November 1996. 
3.1.3 Explosion protection workshop 
Doc. No 1184/95 was produced following the explosion protection workshop organised 
by the Safety and Health Commission in November 1995. It contains the papers read, an 
account of the discussions and the chairman's conclusions. The document was discussed 
by the Committee on Underground Workings and was adopted by the Safety and Health 
Commission at its meeting on 6 November 1996. 
3.1.4 Additions to Doc. No 5147/89 
In the light of the explosion protection workshop, proposals were made for changes to 
Doc. No 5147/89 (Measures to reduce the explosion and fire risk in auxiliary-ventilated 
workings and to improve the protection of personnel in the event of explosions and fire in 
coal mines), which had been produced by the Safety and Health Commission after the 
firedamp and dust explosion in 1985 at Simon Colliery in France, where 22 miners were 
killed. These proposals were discussed and it was agreed to place before the Safety and 
Health Commission a supplement to Doc. No 5147/89 which addressed the aspects 
identified by the workshop. Doc. No 5346/96 was therefore produced by mine ventilation 
experts. It deals with detection and control of firedamp in deep/extended cut methods and 
in inaccessible cavities, dust deposition in ventilation ducting, the risk of ignition by rock-
on-rock friction and ventilation problems at the face/gate junction. 
3.1.5 Self-rescuers and refuge chambers 
On 25 June 1996, mine rescue experts met to compare notes and acquaint themselves with 
the latest developments in the use of self-rescuers and refuge chambers. The rescue 
aspects of an oil, gas and water outburst which occurred in October 1995 at Thoresby 
Colliery in the United Kingdom were also discussed. At this meeting, work began on 
producing an information paper on escape from underground workings in an emergency. 
An initial draft produced by the United Kingdom delegation is under discussion. 
10 
3.1.6 Use of nitrogen to control spontaneous combustion 
The Committee received full information from the French delegation on two cases of 
spontaneous combustion which occurred in the goaf of a longwall face in the Lorraine 
Area, and on the use of nitrogen to fight the fires. Two miners suffered burns when the 
second of these fires provoked a firedamp ignition. 
3.2 Committee on Surface Workings 
3.2.1 Events organised 
The Committee on Surface Workings was responsible for organising the workshop on 
safety in quarries and risk assessment in Gubbio (Italy) on 21-22 June 1996. On 5 
December 1996, a plenary meeting of the Committee was held and the draft report of the 
workshop proceedings (Doc. No 5619/96) was given a first reading. 
3.2.2 Main focus of work 
In the report year, the Committee was primarily concerned with risk determination and 
assessment in quarries, especially in small and medium-sized firms. The work is based on 
the Framework Directive 89/3 91/EEC and the individual directive on surface and 
underground mineral-extracting industries, Directive 92/104/EEC. The first of these 
requires evaluation of the workplace risks and the second requires risks to be determined 
and assessed and the measures to protect workers described as part of the safety and 
health document. It is generally recognised that the Community directives have 
contributed to improving safety and health protection, but some difficulties are 
encountered in implementing them. 
3.2.3 Workshop 
The purpose of the workshop, which was held during the Italian Presidency, was to allow 
a comparison of experience of risk determination and assessment in quarries in accordance 
with the Community directives. The German and Italian delegations, in particular, 
described how they comply or intend to comply with the European requirements. The 
Framework Directive 89/391/EEC and the individual Directives 92/91/EEC and 
92/104/EEC were incorporated into German mining law by the Order of 23 October 
1996. The "Employers' Guide" (Unternehmermodell) provided by the German 
Steinbruchs-Berufsgenossenschaft helps employers to discharge their obligations. 
It Italy, various steps are being taken to put Directive 92/104/EEC into practice. An 
important aspect is the production of guidance for assessment of occupational safety and 
health risks. The Spanish delegation reported on the situation in Spanish collieries and the 
risks arising there. Simplicity of implementation was stressed in the discussion. 
Site visits were arranged in conjunction with the workshop. 
-11-
3.3 Committee on Borehole Operations 
3.3.1 Meetings, areas of work 
The Committee on Borehole Operations met twice early in 1996 to complete the report 
on the Piper Alpha accident (Doc. No 302/3/95) and the report and proposals on accident 
statistics for the European offshore oil and gas industry (Doc. No 5908/4/94). 
3.3.2 Piper A Ipha accident 
Under its terms of reference, the Safety and Health Commission is required to evaluate 
and produce a report on major accidents in the mining and other extractive industries. 
Since it was deeply involved in post-Piper Alpha developments, and in particular with the 
preparation of a directive on the extractive industries, it "was decided that the report 
should be more general than usual. It therefore summarises the facts concerning the 
disaster and the subsequent findings and recommendations of the UK Department of 
Energy Technical Investigation and Lord Cullen's Public Inquiry. It discusses the 
industry's reaction to the disaster, the work undertaken by the Safety and Health 
Commission and other international bodies and post-Piper Alpha developments in the 
offshore safety regime in the UK and other Member States. 
3.3.3 Accident statistics 
The Safety and Health Commission is also required under its terms of reference to help 
the European Commission to devise a method for compiling comparable statistics on 
accidents and damage to health. The Committee's contribution is collect and assess 
accident statistics and relevant information on serious accidents in the oil and gas industry. 
In 1983, the Safety and Health Commission approved two pertinent recommendations to 
the Member States for the offshore and onshore sectors. However, the Committee found 
that no accident statistics had been collected and assessed over a period of several years 
and that the 1983 recommendation on the format for publishing accident statistics was not 
in practice followed by all Member States. 
The Committee therefore asked the Member States to submit their statistics for the years 
1991-1994 in whatever format was available. The Committee succeeded in establishing 
seven comprehensive accident causation categories and ten type-of-injury categories. 
Since the Member States applied different criteria, frequency rates had to be assessed for 
each country individually. Accident frequencies proved to be highest in the first three 
categories: "slipping/falling of person", "falling objects/hit by objects" and "handling 
objects, tools, machinery, etc.". 
The Committee made the following recommendations: 
• For the time being, Member States should not submit offshore accident statistics in the 
form set out in 1983 in Doc. No 2897/6/81. 
• In the meantime, Doc. No 5908/4/94 should be used as the format for reporting 
accidents to the Safety and Health Commission. 
• Cooperation with Eurostat and the ILO should be intensified. 
12 
• The system should be improved by the development of an agreed basis for reporting 
accident rates (preferably based on the rate per 100 000 hours worked). 
The Safety and Health Commission accepted these recommendations. The 1997 work 
programme provides for the Committee to continue work on accident statistics and also to 
address the problems of mutual recognition of qualifications (in the context of staff 
rotation on North Sea oil rigs). 
3.4 Committee on Health Protection 
3.4.1 Event organised, main focus of work 
The Committee on Health Protection presented current topics from its area of activity at a 
workshop held in Luxembourg on 25-26 September 1996. The main emphasis of its work 
lay on the prevention or reduction of health hazards in underground workings of the 
extractive industries. 
3.4.2 Workshop 
The workshop on "Control of hazards caused by noxious substances resulting from the 
use of diesel engines and blasting operations underground" was divided into three parts: 
• Legal framework for the use of diesel engines underground and noxious emissions 
caused by blasting operations 
• Measurement of diesel engine emissions and medical aspects 
• Measures to reduce pollution. 
Two papers dealt with legislative aspects from the point of view of the European 
Commission. Pollution by diesel engines was discussed in the broad context of European 
environmental protection, an important element being the proposal for a Community 
directive on control of gaseous and particulate pollutants from diesel engines in non-road 
mobile machinery. The efforts made in the field of industrial medicine wee illustrated with 
reference to the Community action programme 1996-2000. A further paper reported on 
the establishment of exposure limits in Sweden. 
Part n dealt with experience and research findings from Germany, France, the United 
Kingdom and Sweden. Special methods are required for sampling and analysis of 
emissions from diesel engines used below ground. There is a substantial corpus of 
research on possible health risks from diesel exhaust and shotfiring fumes. Industrial 
medicine in the context of noxious gases and particulates was also covered. The results of 
epidemiological studies in the mining industry of one Member State were described. 
Part HI provided an opportunity to describe and discuss field and laboratory experience of 
diesel exhaust abatement below ground and corresponding developments. A report on the 
current state of the art and prospective developments in tunnelling supplemented the 
discussion of underground mining conditions. There were contributions from Germany, 
Switzerland, France and the United Kingdom. The papers and discussion indicated that 
present technology allows a substantial reduction in pollution in underground mining and 
13-
tunnelling. Current and foreseeable developments give grounds for hoping that workplace 
conditions will improve further. 
The report on the proceedings of this workshop is being prepared as Doc. No 5980/96. 
3.5 Committee on Human Factors 
3.5.1 Meetings 
The Committee on Human Factors met in plenary session on 14 May and 24 September 
1996. An ad hoc group met on 27 June and 3 September 1996. 
3.5.2 Main focus of work 
In the report year, the Committee concentrated on the role of human factors in risk 
analysis and prevention with the aim of submitting proposals for improvement of safety 
and health at work, primarily in the extractive industries. The results of this work are 
recorded in Doc. No 5324/4/96. 
3.5.3 Report and proposals on the role of human factors in risk prevention 
The Committee based its work and proposals on the Framework Directive 89/3 91/EEC 
and the two individual directives specifically concerned with the extractive industries, 
Directives 92/91/EEC and 92/104/EEC. These stress the importance of human factors for 
further progress in safety and health protection at work. The Committee links the aims of 
the above Directives with the knowledge and experience accumulated in the field of 
human factors and advocates a global approach. 
The document describes how human factors can be taken into account in risk 
identification and assessment. Various methods of diagnosis can be used, such as analysis 
of planned or existing work situations, incident and accident analysis or error analysis. 
The main systemic analysis methods for reliability assessment are explained and 
summarised in an annex, indicating the advantages and disadvantages. 
One of the main features of the document produced is that it shows the important part 
played by human factors in preventive action and indicates how they can be taken into 
account in operational practice. Relevant factors are: workstation and production system 
ergonomics; aptitudes and career development; worker information and training; 
consultation and participation of workers; management. 
The Committee considers that the safety and health document required by the Community 
Directives 92/91/EEC and 92/104/EEC provides a good basis for considering human 
factors. The safety and health management system called for in these Directives 
encourages the involvement of all levels of management and the participation of workers. 
Overall, the measures described and proposed will foster the emergence of a true 
company health and safety culture. 
The Safety and Health Commission adopted Doc. No 5324/4/96 at its meeting on 6 
November 1996. 
14 
4. ANNEXES 
A: EXTRACTS FROM THE COUNCIL DECISIONS OF 27 JUNE 1974 
AND 9 JULY 1957 
B: MAJOR SHCMOEI DOCUMENTS RELEVANT TO THE ANNUAL 
REPORT 
C: LIST OF HEADS OF DELEGATION, COMMITTEE CHATRMEN AND 
THE SECRETARIAT 
15 
m II IC* r> 
COUNCIL DECISION 
of 27 June 1974 
on the extension of the responsibilities of the Mines Safety and Health Commis-
-- sion to all mineral-extracting industries 
(Excerpt) 
(74/326/EEC) 
THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN 
COMMUNITIES. 
Having rcgnrcl to the Treaty establishing the European 
Economic Community, and in particular Article 145 
thereof ; 
Whereas the representatives of the Governments of 
the Member States meeting within the special Council 
of Ministers, by Decision of 9 and 10 May 1957, set 
up a Mines Safety and Health Commission whose 
terms of reference .is laid down by Decision of 9 July 
1957 (-) of the representatives of the Governments of 
the Member States meeting within the Special 
Council ot Ministers, amended by Decision of 11 
March l%^() are to follow developments in safety 
and in the prevention of occupational risks to health 
in coal mines and to draw up proposals appropriate 
for the improvement of safety and health in coal 
mines ; HAS DECIDED AS FOLLOWS : 
Article 1 
I. Preventive action against Tisks of accident and 
occupational risks to the safety and health of workers 
tn all mineral-extracting industries except simple exca­
vation, excluding the protection of the health of 
workers against the dangers arising from ionizing radi­
ations which is subject to special regulations pursuant 
to the Treaty establishing the European Atomic 
Energy Community shall be the responsibility of the 
Mines Safety and Health Commission within the 
terms of reference laid down by Decision of 11 March 
1965 of the representatives of the Governments of the 
Member States meeting within the special Council of 
Ministers. 
(•') O.I No 2*. 3*. M «7, P- 4X7/57. 
('•) O.I No 4fc. liAOtf. p. 698/65. 
DECISION 
of 9 July 1957 
concerning the terms of reference of SHCMOEI 
/. The Commission shall follow developments regarding 
safety in coalmines, including those regarding the safety 
regulations instituted by the public authorities, and 
assemble the necessary information concerning progress 
and practical results obtained, more especially in the 
matter of accident prevention. 
To secure the necessary information, the Commission 
shall apply to the Governments concerned. 
The Commission shall evaluate the information in its 
possession and submit to the Governments proposals for 
the improvement of safety in coalmines. 
2. The Commission shall help the High Authority to work 
out a method of compiling intercomparable accident 
statistics. 
3. The Commission shall ensure the prompt forwarding 
to the quarters directly concerned (including in particular 
mines inspectorates and employers' and workers' 
associations) of relevant information assembled by it. 5. The Commission shall propose such study and research 
as it deems most indicated for the improvement of safety, 
with notes as to the way in which these can best be 
effected. 
6. The Commission shall facilitate the exchange of 
information and experience among persons responsible for 
safety matters, and propose appropriate measures for this 
purpose (e.g. organization of study sessions, establishment 
of documentation services). 
7. The Commission shall propose appropriate measures 
for ensuring the necessary liaison among the rescue 
services in the Community countries. 
8. The Commission shall submit annually to the Council 
of Ministers and the High Authority a Report on its 
activities and on developments regarding safety in 
coalmines in the different member States. In this 
connection, it shall in particular examine the statistics 
compiled on accidents and incidents in coalmines. 
4. The Commission shall ascertain, by regular contact 
with the Governments, what action is being taken to 
implement the proposals of the Conference on Safety in 
Coalmines, and such proposals as it may itself draw up. 
L6> 
Annex B 
Major SHCMOEI documents relevant to the annual report 
Document Title 
Thoresby Colliery: Fatal accident to Mr A. Fielding 
following an outburst of mineral associated with heavy 
emissions of gas, water and oil, 12 October 1995 
Proposals and recommendations to Member States 
on principles of strata control and support in 
underground workings of the mineral-extractive 
industries 
- Parts I to m 
-Part IV 
Report and proposals on European offshore oil 
and gas industry accident statistics 
Safety and Health at Work: human factors affecting 
reliability and their role in risk prevention 
Report on the Piper Alpha accident 
Explosion protection workshop of 27 November 1995 - summary 
Measures to reduce the explosion and fire risk 
in auxiliary-ventilated workings and to improve 
the protection of personnel in the event of explosions 
and fire in coal mines 
Proposals for improving the organisation, 
operation and image of the Safety and Health 
Commission Document No 
5630/96 
486/95 
1189/1/95 
5908/3/94 
5324/4/96 
302/3/95 
1184/95 
5147/89 
1173/2/95 
a 
Annex C 
Member State 
Austria 
Belgium 
Denmark 
Finland 
France 
Germany 
Greece 
Ireland 
Italy 
Luxembourg 
Netherlands 
Portugal 
Spain 
Sweden 
United Kingdom List of heads of delegation 
Head of delegation 
Maier 
Rzonzef (until 1.11.96), Mainjot 
Noergaard 
Reinikka 
Bonneviale 
Keusgen (until 30.4.96), Mager 
Paitas 
Walsh 
RetacchL 
Weber 
van der Tuin 
da Silva Daniel 
Ortiz Garces de Los Fayos 
(until 11.11.96), de Molina 
Andersson 
Mitchell 
List of Committee chairmen 
Committee Chairman Member State 
Underground Workings 
Surface Workings 
Borehole Operations 
Health Protection 
Human Factors Mitchell 
Retacchi 
Noergaard 
de Retana (until 5.11.96) 
Cocude 
Keusgen (until 5.11.96) 
Andersson United Kingdom 
Italy 
Denmark 
Spain 
France 
Germany 
Sweden 
Secretariat 
European Commission 
Directorate-General V - Employment, Industrial Relations and Social Affairs 
Unit V/F/4 
Tel: Fax : E-mail : 
Biosca de Sagastuy 4301 34988 4301 34259 
(Secretary) 
Rother 4301 32268 4301 34259 
(Secretariat) 
Esterbet 4301 37157 4301 34259 claire.esterbet@lux.dg5.cec.be 
(Secretariat) 
l& 
ISSN 0254-1475 
COM(97) 729 final 
DOCUMENTS 
EN 05 14 
Catalogue number : CB-CO-97-749-EN-C 
ISBN 92-78-29877-8 
Office for Official Publications of the European Communities 
L-2985 Luxembourg