WRITTEN QUESTION P-3500/02

by Roberta Angelilli (UEN) to the Commission

(2 December 2002)

Subject: Safety in Rome schools

In September 2002 the schools division of the national workers' union UIL (Unione Italiana del Lavoro) published the findings of the fourth annual report on school buildings, based on a survey initiated in 2001 by the Ministry of Education in relation to 90 % of Italian schools.

The figures regarding the safety of buildings are extremely alarming, notably in the Lazio region and more specifically in the Rome municipality, where 399 schools out of a total of 558 and 155 higher education establishments out of a total of 245 failed to obtain static compliance certification, 80 % do not have fire prevention certification and 75 % do not have hygiene and public health certification.

Inspections showed that some buildings were virtually dilapidated: unstable ledges, below-standard electrical installations, cold and dirty premises, doors and windows in very poor condition and even asbestos, contrary to the provisions of a large number of directives on safety in the workplace (Directive 83/477/EEC(1) on exposure to asbestos at work, Directive 89/391/EEC(2) on improvements in the safety and health of workers at work, Directive 92/58/EEC(3) on minimum requirements for the provision of safety and/or health signs at work, etc.).

Codacons, the Italian consumer protection organisation, decided to refer the matter to the Public Prosecutor in order to denounce the shameful state of schools in Rome.

Given Common Position No 53/2002(4) recently adopted by the Council with a view to adopting a directive amending Directive 83/477/EEC on the protection of workers from the risks related to exposure to asbestos at work, the ESC guidelines of 11 July 2001(5) and the European Parliament's resolution of 20 September 2001 calling for the definition of a Community strategy and the drafting of a framework directive and a Green Paper on safety at the workplace, can the Commission state whether:

- Rome City Council has submitted plans for bringing the buildings into compliance with the rules applicable,

- studies or other documents on bringing buildings into compliance with Community rules governing such matters in the European Union are available,

- it has expressed a specific interest in conditions within schools during the consultations held with the social partners prior to the adoption of the above common position?

(1) OJ L 263, 24.9.1983, p. 25.

(2) OJ L 183, 29.6.1989, p. 1.

(3) OJ L 245, 26.8.1992, p. 23.

(4) OJ C 269 E, 5.11.2002, p. 1.

(5) OJ C 260, 17.9.2001, p. 97.

Answer given by Mrs Diamantopoulou on behalf of the Commission

(14 January 2003)

The Italian authorities have informed the Commission of measures to transpose Council Directive 83/477/EEC of 19 September 1983 on the protection of workers from the risks related to exposure to asbestos at work(1), Council Directive 89/391/EEC of 12 June 1989 on the introduction of measures to encourage improvements in the safety and health of workers at work(2), Council Directive 92/58/EEC of 24 June 1992 on the minimum requirements for the provision of safety and/or health signs

at work (ninth individual Directive within the meaning of Article 16(1) of Directive 89/391/EEC)(3) and Council Directive 89/654/EEC of 30 November 1989 concerning the minimum safety and health requirements for the workplace (first individual Directive within the meaning of Article 16(1) of Directive 89/391/EEC)(4). The national authorities are responsible for monitoring the application of the Directives.

Whether or not Rome City Council has submitted plans for bringing the buildings into compliance with the rules applicable to health and safety at work is therefore a matter for the Member State concerned.

The Commission is not in possession of any studies carried out at Community level on bringing buildings into compliance with Community rules in this field.

Council Directive 83/477/EEC on the protection of workers from the risks related to exposure to asbestos at work is intended to protect all workers who might be exposed to asbestos, including teachers. Since the effects of this protection cover everyone present in the buildings concerned, including pupils, they of course benefit from the same protection.

(1) OJ L 263, 24.9.1983.

(2) OJ L 183, 29.6.1989.

(3) OJ L 245, 26.8.1992.

(4) OJ L 393, 30.12.1989.