WRITTEN QUESTION E-1187/01

by Juan Naranjo Escobar (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(19 April 2001)

Subject: Work-related accidents in the European Union

A recent study by Eurostat into the situation of workers in the EU reveals that, in 1998, 4,7 million work-related accidents occurred in the EU, of which (again according to the report) 5 476 out of every 100 000 were fatal.

Age plays an important role in the accident rate: the average number of accidents amongst workers between the ages of 18 and 24 is 5725, although this figure falls by almost half in the case of workers between the ages of 45 and 54.

All of these figures vary according to type of work: the highest rate was recorded in the construction industry, where 8 008 accidents (including 13 fatal ones) occurred for every 100 000 workers. Sex is a further risk factor: for every 100 000 workers a total of 5 292 fatal accidents occurred involving men, but in the case of women the figure was only 1 890.

In addition to their effects on individuals, accidents at work carry a high socio-economic cost, since it is calculated that, in 1998, such accidents caused the loss in the EU of approximately 149 working hours per worker.

In view of the above figures, is the Commission intending to do anything to encourage the governments of the Member States to adopt more stringent measures which may help to cut the rate of accidents at work? If so, is there any EU initiative which is designed to promote working attitudes and practices which may lead to greater safety at work?

Answer given by Mrs Diamantopoulou on behalf of the Commission

(21 June 2001)

The Commission fully shares the Honourable Member's concern about the work-related accident situation in the Community.

Nevertheless, these 1988(1) data - the most recent available - show an improvement at European level in both the rate of work accidents with more then three days' absence (4 089 per 100 000 employed persons in 1998, compared with 4 229 in 1996 and 4 539 in 1994) and the rate of fatal work accidents (5,0 per 100 000 employed persons in 1998 compared with 5,3 in 1996 and 6,1 in 1994). These figures include traffic accidents and accidents on board all means of transport during work.

These statistical indicators show that the application at European level of Community legislation on safety and health protection for workers at work has had a positive effect in terms of improving working conditions by reducing accident rates. In other words, the legislation, when correctly applied, improves the health and safety of workers at work.

The Commission feels that it is the task of the Member States to promote and ensure the correct and effective application of the national measures implementing the Community directives.

Since 1992 the Commission has supported several initiatives to boost the awareness of the various parties concerned, at European level and in close cooperation with the Member States, with a view to improving the effectiveness of measures adopted in this field.

These were:

- the European Year of Health and Safety at Work (1992);

- PRevent actions(2) in small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) as part of the Safety Actions for Europe Programme (SAFE) in 1997 and 1998, which will continue under the new initiative for SMEs launched with the creation of a specific line in the Community budget which will be managed by the European Agency for Safety and Health at Work in Bilbao;

- several European Weeks, which the European Agency for Safety and Health at Work in Bilbao is now responsible for organising. In 2000 the European Week's subject was musculoskeletal disorders, and in October 2001 the theme will be the prevention of accidents at work.

Finally, the Honourable Member's attention is drawn to the preparation of the new Community strategy on safety and health at work, which will establish a framework for future action to achieve an ongoing improvement in working conditions for European workers.

(1) ESAW data (European Statistics on Accidents at Work) from Eurostat, http://www.cc.cec/eurostat/eudor-stat/mst3/en/titres.htm.

(2) Awareness actions on safety and health at work in general as well as the promotion and exchange of best practices in SMEs.