WRITTEN QUESTION E-3965/00

by Vincenzo Lavarra (PSE), Pasqualina Napoletano (PSE), Guido Sacconi (PSE), Fiorella Ghilardotti (PSE) and Giovanni Pittella (PSE) to the Commission

(20 December 2000)

Subject: Health and safety of workers in industrial plants which produce dangerous chemical substances

The EU places a high priority on policies concerning environmental protection, protecting the health of citizens and safeguarding workers in the workplace.

In Italy we are continuing to see suspected and established cases of injury and serious illnesses because of a lack of precautionary measures in the production of certain substances in chemical and petro-chemical firms (in Venice, Taranto and Val Basento).

In Brindisi a judicial enquiry is in progress, with 68 notices of investigation issued, to establish responsibility, within the petro-chemical undertaking, for possible large-scale manslaughter, deliberately-caused environmental disaster and failure to take adequate measures to safeguard the health of employees working on the production of polyvinyl chloride.

Can the Commission therefore say:

1. whether there are any maps of at-risk areas in connection with the industrial production, past or present, of substances which pose a danger to the health of workers and residents in surrounding regions?

2. what initiatives the EU has undertaken or intends to undertake to prevent, monitor, check and reclaim the sites in question?

3. how it intends to follow up the issue of health and safety at work as part of its social agenda and, specifically, to improve it considerably, as called for by Parliament in the Van Lancker report?

Answer given by Mrs Diamantopoulou on behalf of the Commission

(21 May 2001)

The Commission agrees with the Honourable Members on the role of preventive policies for the protection of the health and safety of workers and citizens.

Important Community legislation exists on this matter. As far as the protection of workers inside industrial premises is concerned the measures provided for by Community legislation on health and safety at work, such as 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(1); Council Directive 89/654/EEC of 30 November 1989 concerning the minimum safety and health requirements for the workplace(2); Council Directive 89/655/EEC of 30 November 1989 concerning the minimum safety and health requirements for the use of work equipment by workers at work(8); Council Directive 89/656/EEC of 30 November 1989 on the minimum health and safety requirements for the use by workers of personal protective equipment at the workplace(9); Council Directive 90/394/EEC of 28 June 1990 on the protection of workers from the risks related to exposure to carcinogens at work(3); and Council Directive 98/24/EC of 7 April 1998 on the protection of the health and safety of workers from the risks related to chemical agents at work(4) are relevant. Such Directives lay down minimum requirements which are to be applied in the workplace in order to ensure that all the necessary steps have been taken to prevent or adequately control the workers' exposure.

As stated in Article 6 (1) of Directive 89/391/EEC Within the context of his responsibilities, the employer shall take the measures necessary for the safety and health protection of workers, including prevention of occupational risks and provision of information and training, as well as provision of the necessary organisation and means. The employer shall be alert to the need to adjust these measures to take account of changing circumstances and aim to improve existing situations.

In any case, it should be highlighted that the enforcement of national legislation transposing Community health and safety rules is the responsibility of Member States.

Within the framework of the Seveso II Directive (Council Directive 96/82/EC on the control of major-accident hazards involving dangerous substances(5)), a European map is being developed that should show all industrial sites coming under the Directive, e.g. all sites where dangerous chemicals are present in certain quantities.

For these sites, the Seveso II Directive requires specific safety measures to be taken by the operators (notification, establishment of a major accident prevention policy and safety reports, establishment and regular testing of internal and external emergency plans, land-use planning, inspections ).

Following its Communication on a Community programme concerning safety, hygiene and health at work (1996-2000)(6), the Commission intends to adopt a new Communication on a Community strategy on this issue by the year 2002, as indicated in the Communication from the Commission to the Council, the Parliament, the Economic and Social Committee and the Committee of the Regions on the Social Policy Agenda(7). The issue raised by the Honourable Members will be taken into account in order to improve the health and safety of workers exposed to dangerous chemical substances.

(1) OJ L 183, 29.6.1989.

(2) OJ L 393, 30.12.1989.

(3) OJ L 196, 26.7.1990.

(4) OJ L 131, 5.5.1998.

(5) OJ L 10, 14.1.1997.

(6) COM(95) 282 final.

(7) COM(2000) 379 final.

(8) OJ L 393, 30.12.1989.

(9) OJ L 393, 30.12.1989.