Activity report Safety and Health Commission for the Mining and the Other Extractive Industries (1996) - Approved on 5 May 1997
Date: 1998-01-07
Institutions: European Commission
Subjects: activity report, mining extraction, mining operation, occupational health, occupational safety

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 

1.1 Origins, responsibilities, terms of reference 

1.2 Structure, methods of work 

1.3  Secretariat 

1.4 Annual report 

2. THE WORK OF THE SAFETY AND HEALTH COMMISSION IN 1996 

2.1 Meetings, workshops 

2.2 Exchange of views on particular occurrences 

2.3 Proposals and recommendations 

2.4 Reports 

2.5 Organisation of workshops 

2.6 Community directives 

2.7 Cooperation with other bodies 

2.8  Improvement of the organisation, operation and image of the  Safety and 

Health Commission 

2.9 Work programme 

3. THE WORK OF THE COMMITTEES 

3.1 Committee on Underground Workings 

3.2 Committee on Surface Workings 

3.3 Committee on Borehole Operations 

3.4 Committee on Health Protection 

3.5 Committee on Human Factors 

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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 

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the  previous  year, 

specific 
approved 
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. 

contained  general 

considerations 

and 

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 
in  potentially  explosive 
Directive  82/130/EEC  on  electrical  equipment  for  use 
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 

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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. 

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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. 

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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. 

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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: 

B: 

C: 

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 CHATRMEN AND 
THE SECRETARIAT 

15 

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 

( E x c e r p t) 
(74/326/EEC) 

m  II  I C* 

r> 

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 
in  coal 
improvement  of  safety  and  health 
for  the 
mines ; 

HAS  DECIDED  AS  FOLLOWS : 

Article  1 

the  protection  of 

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  health  of 
workers  against  the  dangers  arising  from  ionizing  radi 
ations  which  is  subject  to  special  regulations  pursuant 
to 
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. 

the  Treaty  establishing 

(•') O.I  No  2*.  3*.  M  « 7,  P- 4X7/57. 
('•)  O.I  No  4fc.  l i A O t f.  p.  698/65. 

DECISION 
of 9 July 1957 
concerning the terms of reference of SHCMOEI 

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. 

/.  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. 

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 

Document No 

5630/96 

486/95 
1189/1/95 

5908/3/94 

5324/4/96 

302/3/95 

Explosion protection workshop of 27 November  1995 - summary 

1184/95 

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 

5147/89 

1173/2/95 

a 

List of heads of delegation 

Member State 

Head of delegation 

Annex C 

Austria 
Belgium 
Denmark 
Finland 
France 
Germany 
Greece 
Ireland 
Italy 
Luxembourg 
Netherlands 
Portugal 
Spain 

Sweden 
United Kingdom 

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 
(Secretariat) 
Esterbet 
(Secretariat) 

4301 37157  4301 34259 

4301 32268  4301 34259 

claire.esterbet@lux.dg5.cec.be 

l& 

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