PROPOSAL FOR A COUNCIL DECISION ON AN ACTION PROGRAMME FOR THE EUROPEAN YEAR OF SAFETY, HYGIENE AND HEALTH PROTECTION AT WORK ( 1992 )
Date: 1990-11-07
Institutions: European Commission
Subjects: European symbol, occupational health, occupational safety, public health, workplace

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 
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. 

recommended 

the 

in 

5.  Nature of expenditure and form of calculation 

Overall cost 1991-1992-1993  : 12 million ecus. 

(1) OJ C28/1 Of 3.2.88 

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). 

6. 

Financial  consequences  of  the  proposed  measure  on 
intervention appropriations 

6.1. 

Schedule  of  due  dates  for  commitment  and  payment 
appropriations 

COMMITMENT 

PAYMENT 

91 

92 

93 

91 

92 

93 

3.150.000 

2.800.000 

350.000 

6.200.000 

2.650.000 

6.200.000 

2.650.000 

TOTAL 

12.000.000 

2.800.000 

6.550.000 

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 
1.450.000 ecus from 1991. 

appropriations 

are 

estimated 

at 

xxxxx 
xxxxxxx 
xxxxx 

J° 

BUDGET FOR THE EUROPEAN YEAR 

OF SAFETY, HYGIENE AND HEALTH PROTECTION AT WORK 

ANNEX 

1991 

1992 

1993 

TOTAL 

Fixed costs: administr.,  management 

350.000 

500.000 

250.000 

1.100.000 

Consultants 

250.000 

100.000 

350.000 

Support  for actions  undertaken 
by the Member States 

Support  for actions undertaken 
by international  organizations 

1.100.000 

2.500.000 

400.000 

4.000.000 

350.000 

100.000 

-

450.000 

j Actions organized by the  Commission 
j See Annex, item A,  1, 3, 4 

1.100.000 

3.000.000 

2.000.000 

6.100.000 

1 TOTAL 

3.150.000 

6.200.000 

2.650.000  1  12.000.000 
1 

1 

I 

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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