22nd annual activity report of the Advisory Committee on Safety, Hygiene and Health Protection at Work - (Report 1997)
Date: 1998-12-01
Institutions: European Commission
Subjects: activity report, advisory committee (EU), health policy, occupational health, occupational safety

COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES 

Brussels, 01.12.1998 
COM(1998) 522  final 

22nd ANNUAL ACTIVITY REPORT 

OF THE 

ADVISORY COMMITTEE ON 

SAFETY, HYGIENE AND HEALTH 
PROTECTION 

AT WORK 

(Report 1997) 

1. CHARACTERISTICS  OF THE COMMITTEE 

1.1 Origin, competence, remit 

1.2 Structure, procedure 

2. ACTIVITIES IN  1997 

2.1 21st activity report of the Advisory Committee 

2.2  Draft  guidelines  on  the  assessment  of  the  chemical,  physical  and 
biological  agents and industrial  processes considered  hazardous for  the 
safety  or  health  of  pregnant  workers,  those  who  have  recently  given 
birth or who are breastfeeding 

2.3 Safety and health at work: Priorities  1998-2000 

2.4 Opinions adopted 

2.4.1 Adaptation  to technical  progress  of Directive  90/679/EEC  (risks 

related to exposure to biological  agents) 

2.4.1.1  Committee  opinion  (document  201/97)  on  the  "draft 
Commission  directive adapting to technical  progress 
Council  Directive 90/679/EEC  on  the  protection  of 
workers from  risks related  to exposure to  biological 
agents at work 

2.4.1.2  Committee  opinion  on  the  draft  Commission  directive 
adapting  to  technical  progress  for  the  third  time 
Council  Directive 90/679/EEC  on  the  protection  of 
workers from  risks related  to exposure to  biological 
agents at work 

2.4.2  Committee  opinion  on  a  proposal  for  a  Commission  Directive 
establishing  a  third  list  of  indicative  limit  values  pursuant  to 
Council  Directive 80/1107/EEC  on  the  protection  of  workers 
from  the risks related  to exposure  to chemical, physical  and 
biological  agents at work 

2.4.3  Committee  opinion  (document  723/3/97)  on  the  proposed 
the 
amendment  of  Council  Directive 90/394/EHC  on 
protection  of  workers  from  the  risk  related  to  exposure  to 
carcinogens 

.  i 

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2.4.4  Committee opinion  (document  727/97) on a draft  proposal  for  a 
Council 
the  application  of 
legislation  on  health  and  safety  at  work  to  self-employed 
workers 

recommendation  concerning 

2.4.5 Study of mandates to CEN/CENELEC 

2.4.5.1  Committee  opinion  (document  732/1/97) on  the  draft 
standardisation  mandates  13/97, 14/97 and  15/97 to 
CEN 

2.4.5.2  Committee  opinion  (document  867/97)  on  the  draft 

mandate 29/96/2 to CEN 

2.4.6 Committee opinion (document  734/2/97) on the organisation of a 

European Week on Safety and Health at Work in  1998 

2.4.7  Committee  opinion  (document  205/97)  on  a  research  proposal 

on analytical methods and sampling strategies 

2.4.8 Committee opinion  on a draft  Commission  Directive  adapting  to 
the 
improved 

technical  progress  Council  Directive 92/29/EEC  on 
minimum  safety  and  health  requirements  for 
medical treatment on board vessels 

2.4.9 Committee opinion  on a draft  Commission  Directive adapting  to 
technical  progress  Council  Directive  90/270/EEC  on  the 
minimum  safety  and  health  requirements  for  work  with 
display screen equipment 

2.4.10 Committee opinion (document  879/1/97) on a draft  proposal  for 
a  Council  Directive  concerning  minimum  safety  and  health 
requirements  for  the  use  by  workers  of  work  equipment 
provided  for  temporary  work  at  a  height  -  "Scaffolding" 
Directive 

2.4.11 Committee opinion on the  1998 work programme of the Bilbao 

European Agency 

2.5 Operational procedures. 

2.5.1 Revision of the Committee's rules of procedure 

2.5.2  1997 work programme 

2.5.3  1998 work programme 

3  ACTIVITIES OF  IHi: (iROUPS / l-ND-OJ-Yi:AR  SIR1KTURK 

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3  I Working groups active in  1997 and continuing their activities in  IW8 

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3.1.1  Standardisation 

3.1.2  Occupational  exposure levels 

3.1.3 Training 

3.1.4  Self-employed  workers 

3.1.5  Economic and social appraisal  of health and safety  legislation 

3.1.6  Multidisciplinary  protective  and  preventive  services  /  Health 

surveillance at work 

3.1.7 Scaffolding 

3.2 Working groups set up in  1997 

3.2.1  Prevention of violence at work 

3.2.2  Machinery 

3.2.3  Health and safety  management  systems 

3.3 Disbandment  of working groups 

3.3.1  Pregnant  women 

3.3.2  Biological  agents 

3.3.3  Carcinogens 

4. COOPERATION  WITH OTHER  BODIES 

4.1  Safety  and Health Commission 

4.2 Senior Labour Inspectors Committee 

4.3  Scientific  Committee  for  Occupational  Exposure  Limits  to  Chemical 

Agents 

4.4 Social partners 

4.5 Trade Union Technical  Bureau 

4.6 International  Labour Office 

4.7 European  Foundation 

4.8 Bilbao European  Agency 

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1.  CHARACTERISTICS OF THE COMMITTEE 

1.1  Origin, competence, remit 

In  view  of  the  need  to  establish  a  standing  body  to  assist  the  Commission  in  the 
preparation  and  implementation  of  activities  in  the  field  of  safety,  hygiene  and  health 
protection  at  work,  and  to  facilitate  cooperation  between  national  administrations,  trade 
unions  and  employers'  organisations,  the  Council  of  the  European  Communities,  by  its 
Decision  of  27 June  1974  (74/325/EEC),  set  up  an  Advisory  Committee  on  Safety, 
Hygiene and Health Protection at Work. 

The main tasks of the Committee (Article 2(2) of the Decision) are: 

to  conduct,  on  the  basis  of  information  available  to  it,  exchanges  of  views  and 

a) 
experience regarding existing or planned  rules and regulations; 

b) 
to  contribute  towards  the  development  of  a  common  approach  to  problems 
encountered in the fields of safety,  hygiene and health protection at work,  and towards the 
choice of Community priorities as well as the measures necessary for implementing them; 

c) 
to draw the Commission's  attention  to areas in which there is an apparent  need 
for  the  acquisition  of  new  knowledge  and  for  the  implementation  of  appropriate 
educational and research projects; 

to  define,  within  the  framework  of  Community  action  programmes,  and  in 

d) 
cooperation  with the Mines Safety and Health Commission: 

- 

- 

the criteria  and  aims underpinning  action  to  combat  the  risk  of accidents  at  work  and 
health hazards within the working environment, 

the  methods  whereby  companies  and  their  employees  can  evaluate  and  improve  the 
level of protection; 

e) 
to  contribute  towards  keeping  national  administrations,  trade  unions  and 
employers'  organisations  informed  of  Community  measures  in  order  to  facilitate  their 
cooperation  and  to  encourage  initiatives promoted  by  them  with  a  view  to  exchanging 
experience and laying down codes of practice. 

1.2  Structure, procedure 

The Committee is a tripartite body made up of full  members comprising,  for each  Member 
State,  two  government  representatives,  two  representatives  of  trade  unions  and  two 
representatives  of  employers'  organisations.  An  alternate  member  is  appointed  for  each 
full  member. The full  members and  alternate members of the Committee are appointed by 
the Council,  which  publishes the  list  of  members  in the  Official  Journal  of the  European 
Communities, for information  purposes. 

The  Committee  is  chaired  by  a  Member  of  the  Commission  or,  where  he  or  she  is 
prevented from  so doing, by a designated Commission  official. 

The  Committee  may  set  up  working  groups  chaired  by  a  Committee  member,  which 
present  the results of their  activities  in the form  of a report  to  a meeting  of the  Committee. 

The  Committee  produces  an  annual  report  on  its  activities,  which  the  Commission 
forwards  to  the  European  Parliament,  the  Council,  the  Economic  and  Social  Committee 
and  the Consultative  Committee  of the  European  Coal  and  Steel  Community. 

Opinions  of the  Committee  are  delivered  by an  absolute  majority  of the  votes  validly  cast. 
An  opinion  delivered  by  the  Committee  is  valid  when  two-thirds  of  its  members  are 
present. 

The  rales  of  procedure  adopted  by  the  Committee  entered  into  force  on  30  April  1976, 
following  approval  by the  Council  on  the basis of a Commission  opinion. 

The  representatives  of  the  governments,  trade  unions  and  employers'  organisations  are 
organised  in  three  separate  interest  groups,  each  of  which  appoints  a  spokesperson.  The 
latter  attend  meetings  of  the  interest  group  which  appointed  them  and  meetings  of  the 
Committee,  at which  they  put  forward  the groups'  views. 

Contact  between  the  members  of the governmental  interest  group  is  maintained  through  a 
member  of the  Committee  representing  the  Government  whose  country  holds  the  Council 
Presidency.  The  employers'  representatives  on  the  Committee  keep  in  touch  through  the 
Union  of  Industrial  and  Employers'  Confederations  of  Europe  (UNICE)  and  the  workers' 
representatives  through  the  trade-union  organisation  at  Community  level,  the  European 
Trade  Union  Confederation  (ETUC). 

The  Commission  provides  secretarial  services  for  the  Committee  and  the  working  groups. 
The  Secretariat  comes  under  Directorate-General  V (Unit  V/F/4). 

2.  ACTIVITIES IN  1997 

On  7 July  1997, the  Council,  acting  on  a proposal  from  the  Member  States,  appointed  the 
full  members  and  alternate  members  of  the  Committee  for  the  period  from  7 July  1997  to 
6  July  2000,  with  the  previous  term  of  office  having  run  from  4 March  1994  to  3 March 
1997.  The lists showing  the  members  in  1997 are contained  in Annex  B. 

With  many  of  the  members  having  been  rc-appoinled,  the  activities  of  the  Committee  and 
its working groups  were  not  interrupted 

In  1997,  the  Committee,  chaired  by  the  Director-General  of  the  Directorate  for 
Employment  and  Social  Affairs  (DG  V),  met  on  two  occasions  in  Luxembourg,  in  April 
and  October.  On  behalf  of  the  Commission,  the  Chairman  thanked  the  outgoing  members 
for  their  commitment  and  their  contribution  to  the  various  activities,  with  a  special 
mention  for  a  "founding"  member  of  the  Committee,  and  extended  a  welcome  to  the 
newly-formed  Committee. 

Meetings  of  the  interest  groups  representing  governments,  employers  and  workers  were 
held  on  the  day  before  the  Committee  meetings.  Two  additional  meetings  were  held  in 
February  and  December 

The  Member  of  the  Commission  with  responsibility  for  employment  and  social  affairs, 
Mr  Padraig  Flynn,  addressed  the  Committee  at  its  meeting  in  April  1997.  The  text  of  his 
speech  is contained  in Annex  E. 

The proposed  activities  and  priorities  were  put  to  the  Committee  by the Planning  Group, 
which  met  on  three  occasions  and  set  up  a  sub-group  to  prepare  for  the  revision  of  the 
Committee's  rules of  procedure. 

Progress  made  by  the  Committee  in  its  activities  during  1997  mirrored  the  work 
undertaken  by  the  Commission  in  accordance  with  the  Community  programme  covering 
the period  from  1996 to  2000. 

Twenty  meetings  were  organised  to  accommodate  the  activities  of  eleven  working  groups 
set  up to  investigate  specialised  areas  in which  the Committee  wished  to give an  opinion. 

To  keep  track  of  the  Commission's  work,  the  Committee  set  up  three  new  working 
groups,  for  which  it  adopted  terms  of  reference  covering  Violence  at  work,  Machinery 
and  Health  and  safety  management  systems,  three  groups  whose  work  had  come  to  an 
end,  dealing  with  Pregnant  women  at  work,  Carcinogens  and  Biological  agents,  were 
disbanded. 

The work  of the groups  is summarised  in section  3 of this  report. 

The  Committee's  activities  resulted  in adoption  of  its  annual  report  for  1996,  preparation 
of  the  draft  "guidelines  on  the  assessment  of  agents  and  processes  considered  hazardous 
for  the  safety  or  health  of  pregnant  workers,  those  who  have  recently  given  birth  or  who 
are  breastfeeding"  (see  section  2.2),  consideration  of  a  draft  Commission  document 
entitled  "Safety  and  health  at  work.  Priorities  1998-2000"  (section  2.3)  and  adoption  of 
thirteen  opinions,  which  are  reviewed  in section  2.4  of this  report. 

The Committee  revised  its  rules  of procedure  and  adopted  its  work  programmes  for  1997 
and  1998  (section  2.5).  It  heard  reports  by  the  Director  of  the  European  Foundation  for 
the  Improvement  of  Living  and  Working  Conditions  and  by  its  representatives  on  the 
Safety  and  Health  Commission  for  the  Mining and  Other  Extractive  Industries. 

2.1  21st activity  report  of the Advisory  Committee 

document  0725/2/97 

The  Committee  adopted  its  21st  report,  covering  activities  in  1996,  at  its  55th  meeting 
held on 29 October  1997. 

- 7-

2.2  Draft  guidelines  on  the  assessment  of  the  chemical,  physical  and  biological 
agents  and  industrial  processes  considered  hazardous  for  the  safety  or 
health  of  pregnant  workers,  those  who  have  recently  given  birth  or  who  are 
breastfeeding. 

document  5033/98/EN 

Pursuant  to  Article  3(1)  of  Council  Directive  92/85/EEC  of  19  October  1992,  the 
Commission,  assisted  by  the  Advisory  Committee  and  in  consultation  with  the  Member 
States,  is  required  to  draw  up  guidelines  on  the  assessment  of  chemical,  physical  and 
biological  agents  and 
industrial  processes  deemed  hazardous  for  workers  during 
pregnancy,  after  giving  birth  or  while  breastfeeding? The  guidelines  are  designed  to  serve 
as a basis for  the  risk  assessment  referred  to  in Article 4 of the  Directive,  and  the  Member 
States  must  bring them  to  the  notice  of employers and  workers. 

To  provide  the  necessary  assistance,  the  Committee  set  up  a working  group  in May  1996; 
this  group  studied  the  working  document  supplied  by  the  Commission  -  drawn  up  at  its 
request  by  the  Athens  Institute  of  Preventive  Medicine  -  along  with  other  recent 
documents  covering  this  problem  in  various  Member  States.  An  editorial  sub-group  was 
set  up in May  1997 within  the working  group. 

The  resultant  "draft  guidelines"  were  presented  to  the  Committee  in  October  1997  and 
studied  by each  interest  group,  whose  views  were  made  known  to  the  Commission. 

The  document  thus  amended  will  be  presented  by  the  Commission  to  the  Member  States 
in  the  first  quarter  of  1998,  for  the  purpose  of  the  consultation  provided  for  by  the 
Directive. 

2.3  Safety  and  health  at work:  Priorities  1998-2000 

(working  document  0872/97) 

As announced  by  Mr  Flynn  and  Mr  Larsson  at  the  plenary  meeting  on  23  April  1997,  the 
Commission  presented,  at  the  meeting  on  29 October  1997,  a  document  setting  out  the 
priorities  from  1998 to  2000  in the  field  of safety  and  health  at  work. 

Seven  priority  areas  are  identified:  expansion  of  the  knowledge  base  in  respect  of  health 
and  safety,  conversion  of  knowledge  into  concrete  action;  provision  of  appropriate 
information  to  small  and  medium-sized  businesses,  proper  application  of  European  health 
and  safety  legislation;  incorporation  of  health  and  safety  into  other  Community  policies; 
preparation 
international 
for  European  Union  enlargement;  and  development  of 
cooperation. 

The  governmental  group  emphasised  that,  in  setting  the  1998-2000  priorities,  particular 
attention  should  be  paid  to  the  radical  changes  taking  place  in  the  world  of  work,  the 
impact  of  the  new  technologies  and  the  fresh  perspectives  shaping  the  principles  for 
protection  of health  and  safety  at  work. 

-x-

These  objectives,  with  the  target  date  of  2000  in  mind,  should  reflect 
requirements  in the field of health  and  safety  which  are certain  to  prevail  at that  time. 

the  new 

In  its  written  opinion  submitted  to  the  Commission  aller  the  meeting,  the  employers' 
group,  stressing  that  the  protection  of  health  and  safety  is above  all  an  obligation  from  the 
human  point  of  view,  declared  that  employers  were  ready  to  assume  the  responsibility 
implied  by their  managerial  powers  for  promoting  health  and  safety  at  company  level.  The 
group  also  pointed  out  that  the  social  partners  would  always  be  willing  to  play  a 
responsible  role  in  the  consultations  aimed  at  determining  the  priorities  for  improving 
health and  safety  at the  workplace. 

2.4  Opinions  adopted 

2.4.1 

Adaptation 
related  to exposure  to biological  agents) 

to  technical  progress  of  Directive  90  679 EEC 

(risks 

2.4.1.1  Committee  opinion  (document  201/97)  on  the  "draft  Commission 
directive  adapting  to  technical  progress  Council  Directive  90/679/EEC 
on  the  protection  of  workers  from  risks  related 
to 
biological  agents  at  work 

to  exposure 

working  document  1895 

to 

to  be  added 

identified  biological  agents 

On  23  April,  the  Committee  approved  the  draft  Directive  amending  Annex  111,  making 
the  Community 
provision  for  newly 
classification  and  classified  in  accordance  with  the  requirements  of  the  Directive.  Certain 
biological  agents  already  included  in  the  classification  are  reclassified  to  take  account  of 
newly  acquired  experience  and  knowledge,  while  the  nomenclature  for  certain  biological 
agents  is adapted  in the  light  of the most  recent  international  agreements.  The  footnote  (i) 
to  Annex III  is amended  to  the  effect  that,  for  laboratory  work  which  may  entail  a  risk  of 
exposure 
the 
responsible 
containment  measures  laid  down  for  biological  agents  classified 
in  group  3(**)  in 
accordance  with  the  Directive  be  recommended  instead  of  those  provided  for  previously 
in respect  of the agents classified  in group  2. 

for  bovine  spongiform  encephalopathy, 

the  agents 

to 

2.4.1.2  Committee  opinion  on  the  draft  Commission  directive  adapting  to 
technical  progress  for  the  third  time  Council  Directive  90/679/EEC  on 
the  protection  of  workers  from  risks  related  to  exposure  to  biological 
agents  at  work. 

working  document  10116 

At  its  meeting  on  29  October,  the  Committee  approved  the  proposed  amendment  to  the 
Directive,  concerned  chiefly  with  inclusion  of the agent  responsible  for  bovine  spongiform 
encephalopathy  (BSE)  and  agents  responsible  for  other 
spongiform 
encephalopathies  (TSE)  as  agents  not  covered  by  the  Community  classification  and 
group  3(**). 

transmissible 

-«) 

2.4.2 

for  a  Commission  Directive 
Committee  opinion  on  a  proposal 
establishing  a  third  list  of  indicative  limit  values  pursuant  to  Council 
Directive  HO  1107 EEC  on  the  protection  of  workers  from 
the  risks 
related  to  exposure  to  chemical,  physical  and  biological  agents  at 
work. 

working  document  162/1/97 

The  Committee  examined  the  proposed  Directive  and,  on  29 October,  gave  its opinion  on 
the third  list  of 28 indicative  limit  values  envisaged. 

It  called  on  the  Commission  to  exclude  six  products  (phosgene,  nitric  acid,  acetone1 
(STEL),  2-aminoethanol,  hexane  and  4-methylpentan-2-one),  in  respect  of  which  it  had 
not  been possible to  reach  agreement  among  the three  interest  groups. 

2.4.3 

Committee  opinion  (document  723 3  97)  on  the  proposed  amendment 
(>f( \mncil  Directive  90  394  EEC ' on  the protection  of  workers from  the 
risk  related  to exposure  to  carcinogens 

working  document  97/1/97 

In  line with  the  Common  Position  3/97  on  the  first  amendment  of  Directive  90/394/EEÇ, 
the Committee  looked  at  mutagenic  substances,  vinyl  chloride monomer  ( VCM),  asbestos, 
a  possible  list  of all carcinogens  defined  as such  in the  Directive  and  wood  dust. 

In  its  opinion  delivered  on  29  October,  the  Committee  approved  the  text  of  the  proposed 
Directive,  while  suggesting 
two  words  "mutagenic 
the 
in  Article  1(1), 
substances" be replaced  by "germ  mutagenic  substances". 

that, 

last 

The  Committee  went  along  with  the  Commission's  proposal  to  include  the  (VCM) 
Directive  78/610/EEC  in  Directive  90/394/EEC,  subject  to  the  Commission  undertaking  a 
review  of  limit  values  which  are  outdated  in  the  light  of  technical  progress,  although  this 
should  not  delay  the  inclusion  of the  VCJV1 Directive  in Directive  90/394/EEC. 

the 
Moreover,  sharing  the  Commission's  view,  the  Committee  did  not  recommend 
inclusion  of  the  Asbestos  Directive  83/477/EEC 
in  Directive  90/394/EEC,  since  the 
Asbestos  Directive  entails  prohibitions  and  contains  specific  detailed  provisions  which 
supplement  Directive  90/394/EEC. 

The  Committee  supported  the  idea  of  a  single,  easily  accessible  source  listing  all  the 
carcinogenic  substances  defined  as  such  in  the  Directives,  as  suggested  by  the  Council 
(IV.1.p.20,  OJ  C  No 6  of  6 January  1997),  with  such  a 
to 
Directive  90/394/EEC  but  in  a  form  other  than  an  annex  because  of  the  need  for 
continuous  updating. 

list  being 

linked 

With regard lo acetone, there was failure  to reach agreement  only in respect of the STEL value 

10-

On the other hand, with regard to the inclusion of work  involving exposure to wood dus;:, 
point 5  to  Annex I  of  the  Directive,  a  majority  favoured  the  Commission's  approach 
whereby  only  beech  and  oak  dust  should  be  taken  into  consideration.  The  employers' 
group,  while  not  disputing  the  carcinogenicity  of  the  two  types  of  dust,  was  concerned 
that  this  decision  could  have  implications  preventing  the  correct  implementation  of  the 
Directive. 

2.4.4  Committee  opinion  (document  727 97)  on  a  draft  proposal  for  a 
Council recommendation  concerning the application of  legislation on 
health and safety at work to self-employed workers 

working document 522/96 

Following  on  from  the  European  Parliament's  resolution  on  the  general  framework  for 
action  by the  Commission  in  the field of  safety,  hygiene  and  health  protection  at  work, 
proposing  that  the  fourth  action  programme  contain  measures  aimed  at  extending  the 
framework  Directive  to  self-employed  persons,  the  Commission  submitted  to  the 
Committee  a  draft  proposal  for  a  Council  recommendation  addressed  to  the  Member 
States. 

In its opinion  delivered  on  29 October,  the Committee  acknowledged  that  a  Community 
initiative  was  required  m  this  field,  and  noted  that  opinions  differed  as  to  the  type  of 
measures to be taken  and  their  legal  basis.  Among other  things,  it considered  that  certain 
points of the recommendation  should  be  reformulated,  taking  into account  the  prevailing 
situation in diffèrent  Member States. 

2.4.5 

Study of mandates to CEN CENELEC 

2.4.5.1  Committee  opinion  (document  732/1/97)  on  the  draft  standardisation 

mandates  13/97,  14/97 and  15/97 to CEN 

The  Committee  examined  the  three  draft  standardisation  mandates  to  CEN  concerning, 
respectively,  standard  measuring  methods  for  sulphur  dioxide  (SO2),  nitrogen  dioxide 
(NO2),  carbon  monoxide  (CO)  and  ozone  (O')  in ambient  air  (mandate  13/97),  standard 
measuring  methods  for  benzene  in  ambient  air  (mandate  14/97)  and  standard  measuring 
methods  for  lead  (Pb),  cadmium  (Cd),  arsenic  (As)  and  nickel  (Ni)  in  ambient  air 
(mandate  15/97),  within  the  framework  of  Council  Directive 96/62/EEC  on  ambient  air 
quality assessment  and  management. 

The Committee approved the three draft  mandates on 29 October, but suggested  that they 
should  include  a  reference  to  safety  and  health  aspects  of  workers  involved  in  the 
measuring  methods  (sampling,  calibration,  analyses)  and  that,  when  a  working  method 
conforming  to  the  EN  standard  had  been  selected,  the  competent  CEN  group  should 
examine  the  applicability  of  the  method  for  purposes  of  monitoring  limit  values  at  the 
workplace and other important  factors (e.g. scope, recommendations for use). 

2.4.5.2  Committee opinion  (document  867/97) on the draft  mandate 29/96/2 to 

CEN 

On  29  October,  the  Committee  approved  the  draft  mandate  to  CEN  for  the  elaboration 
and adoption of standards in respect  of minimum technical  specifications  and test  methods 

for  fatty  acid  methylester  (BIODIESEL)  used  as  fuel  for  diesel  engines  and  for  space 
heating  (mandate  29/96/rev2),  and  recommended  that  forestry  be  specifically  mentioned 
under  section  3. 

2.4.6 

Committee  opinion  (document  734297) 
European  Week on  Safety  and  Health  at  Work in  1998 

on  the  organisation  of  a 

In  its  opinion  delivered  on  29  October,  the  Committee  gave  its  full  backing  to  the 
organisation  of a third  European  Week  on  Safety  and  Health  at  Work,  and  was  in  favour 
of holding  it in October  1998 on  the broad  theme of work  organisation. 

It  felt  that  the  Commission  needed  to  evaluate  the  contribution  made  by  this  type  of 
information  campaign  and  the  benefits  of  repeating  the  European  Week  on  a regular  basis 
after  1998,  and  wished  to  be consulted  both  on  the  principle and  on  the  periodicity. 

2.4.7 

( "ommitlee  opinion  (document  205  97)  on  a  research  proposal  on 
analytical  methods  and  sampling  strategies 

The  Committee,  in  its  opinion  adopted  on  23  April,  proposed  to  the  Commission  that  a 
dedicated  research  project  be  introduced  into  the  fourth  research  and  development  (R&D) 
programme,  on the  subject  of health  and  safety  measurements,  geared  to: 

-  identifying,  among  the  indicative  limit  values  covered  by  the  first  three  directives,  those 
which  have validated  analytical  methods  and  those  which  do  not; 

-  subjecting  to  a  validation  programme,  in  conformity  with  the  CEN  standards,  methods 
identified  but  which  have  not  been  validated; 

-  giving  priority  to  the  development  of  methods  for  substances  which  do  not  have  any, 
through  a collaborative  programme  involving  competent  EU  laboratories. 

2.4.8 

Committee  opinion  on  a  draft  Commission  Directive  adapting 
technical  progress  Council  Directive  92  29 EEC  on 
safety  and  health  requirements 
for  improved  medical 
board  vessels 

to 
the  minimum 
treatment  on 

working  document  851/97 

On  29 October,  the Committee  approved  the draft  Directive aimed  at  amending the text  of 
the  note  contained  in  Section  III  of  Annex  II  and  in  Annex  III,  with  the  reference  to  the 
"1990  Consolidated  Edition"  of  the  IMO  International  Maritime  Dangerous  Goods  Code 
being  replaced  by a reference  to  the "1994  Consolidated  Edition". 

2.4.9 

Committee  opinion  on  a  draft  Commission  Directive  adapting 
to 
technical  progress  Council  Directive  90  270  EEC  on  the  minimum 
safely  and  health  requirements  for  work  with display  screen  equipment 

working  document  805/97 

On  29  October,  the  Committee  approved  the  draft  Directive  aimed  at  excluding  telephone 
devices  with  display  screens  from  the  requirement  whereby  the  screen  and  keyboard  must 
be  separate. 

-  12-

2.4.10  Committee  opinion  (document  879  I  97)  on  a  draft  proposal 

for  a 
Council  Directive  concerning  minimum  safety  and  health  requirements 
for  the  use  by  workers  of  work  equipment  provided  for  temporary  work 
at a height  -  'Scaffolding"  Directive 

working  document  202/3/97 

The  opinion,  proposing  amendments  to  the  text  of  the  Directive,  was  accepted  by  the 
three  "interest  groups",  each  of  which  forwarded  their  comments  to  the  Commission 
under the special  consultation  procedure  adopted  in the time available. 

In  particular,  the  workers'  group  wanted  it  to  be  made  clear  that  workers  should  receive 
adequate  training  in preventing  any  risk  associated  with  the  use  of  such  equipment,  whiie 
the governmental  group  sought  to  extend  the  definition  of "fall  from  a  height"  in  line  with 
the definition  given in the  Directive  on  "temporary  or  mobile construction  sites"; the  latter 
group  also wanted  the  text  to  make  provision  generally  for  collective  means  of  protection 
and,  exceptionally,  for  individual  means of  protection. 

2.4.11  Committee  opinion  on  the  1998  work  programme  of  the  Bilbao 

European  Agency 

Draft programme  of  15 September  1997 

Article  10  of  Council  Regulation  (EC)  No  2062/94  of  18  July  1994  establishing  the 
European  Agency  for  Safety  and  Health  at  Work  provides  that  "the  Administrative  Board 
shall  adopt  the  Agency's  annual  work  programme  on  the  basis  of a draft  drawn  up  by  the 
Director  referred  to  in  Article  11,  after  consultation  of  the  Commission  and  of  the 
Advisory  Committee on  Safety,  Hygiene and  Health  Protection  at  Work". 

At  its  plenary  meeting  held  on  15  September  1997,  the  Administrative  Board  of  the 
Agency  adopted  the  draft  annual  programme  of  work  and  forwarded  it,  for  consultation 
purposes, to the Commission  and  to  the  Advisory  Committee. 

The  programme for  1998 is based  on  the  four-year  rolling  programme covering  the  period 
1998-2000. 

Priority  is  given  to  creation  of  the  Agency's  information  network  and  to  active 
participation  of  all  its  components,  with  special  emphasis  on  organisation,  planning  and 
management  of  the  network,  creation  of  Internet-based  network  technology  and  a 
common  plan for  developing the content  of the  information 

A further  priority  entails the dissemination  of information  on  matters  relating to  health  and 
safety  on  the  basis  of  supplementary  services:  response  to  queries,  production  of  four  to 
six  newsletters  and  two  or  three  reviews  on  safety  and  health,  press  service,  organisation 
of conferences,  seminars  and  exhibitions 

The  Agency also plans to carry  out  large-scale  information  projects. 

The ( 'ommittee  endorsed  the programme  at  its meeting  on  29 October  1997. 

- n 

2.5  Operational  procedures 

2.5.1 

Revision of the Committee 's rules of procedure 

document 199/97 

At its meeting on 23 April  1997, the Committee adopted  the draft  modification  of its rules 
of procedures, prepared by the Planning Group, which it presented to the Commission. 

The  revised  version  accurately  reflects  the  current  situation,  with  particular  reference  to 
the working methods of each interest group. 

2.5.2 

1997 work programme 

document 203/97 

At  its  meeting  on  23  April  1997, the  Committee  adopted  its  work  programme  for  1997 
and revised the terms of reference  of the working groups Mull^disciplinary protective and 
preventive sendees  Health surveillance at  work and  Economic and social appraisal of 
health and safety legislation. 

2.5.3 

1998 work programme 

document  728/1/97 

At its meeting on 29 October  1997, the Committee adopted  its work  programme  for  1998 
and asked the Planning Group to suggest  priorities in the light of the available resources. 

3.  ACTIVITIES OF THE GROUPS /  END-OF-YEAR  STRUCTURE 

3.1  Working groups active in  1997 and continuing  their  activities  in  1998 

3.1.1 

Standardisation 

The  activities  of this group  are  of  an  ongoing  nature,  since  the  Committee  instructs  the 
group  to  study  standardisation  mandates  as  and  when  they  are  submitted  by  the 
Commission.  The group  also  deals  with  general  problems  relating  to  health  and  safety  at 
work in the context  of standardisation. 

The  group  met  once  in  1997  and  prepared  two  draft  opinions  on  mandates  to 
CEN/CENELEC (section 2.4.5). 

3.1.2  Occupational exposure levels 

m 

This  group  is  consulted  on  the  fixing  of  priorities  in  respect  of  substances  for  which 
occupational  exposure  levels  should  be  established  and  prepares  opinions  on  the 
procedures  to  be  followed  for  collecting  the  data  needed  to  establish  occupational 
exposure levels. 

The  group  monitors  the  work  of  the  Scientific  Committee  for  Occupational  Exposure 
lor  establishing 
Limits  (section 4.3),  prepares  opinions  on  Commission  proposals 

-  14 

occupational  exposure  levels  and  gives  reports  on  progress  made  with  its  activities  at 
meetings  of the  Committee. 

The group  met  once  in  1997 and  prepared  one opinion  for  the Committee  (section  2.4.2). 

3.1.3 

Training 

The group  was  set  up  in  November  1996 to  advise  the  Committee  on  the  implementation 
of  the  "Training"  chapter  of  the  programme,  with  particular  emphais  on  the  possible 
preparation  of a reference  document  which  could  provide  a basis  for  recommendations  on 
occupational  safety  and  health  training,  and  focusing  also  on  the  needs  of young  people  as 
future  workers;  a further  task  of the  group  is to  advise  the  Committee  in  connection  with 
the implementation  of any back-up  activities at  Community  level. 

The group  met  once in  1997. 

3.1.4 

Self-employed  workers 

Set  up  in  November  1996,  this  group  met  on  one  occasion  and  an  editorial  sub-group 
prepared  an  initial  Committee  opinion  (section  2.4.4)  on  the  need  for  a.proposal  for  a 
Council  recommendation  concerning  the  safety  and  health  at  work  of  self-employed 
workers; the group  is required  also  to examine  the  range of possible actions  at  Community 
level  for  meeting  the  needs  arising  and  tackling  the  problems  liable  to  result  from  the 
extension  of Community  health  and  safety  measures  to  self-employed  workers  (action  8  of 
the  programme). 

The group  is expected  to continue  its work  in  1998. 

3.1.5 

Economic  and  social  appraisal  of  health  and  safety 

legislation 

Set  up  in November  1996,  this  group  is  required  to  prepare  a  Committee  opinion  on  the 
Commission's  proposals  for  a  methodology  in  respect  of  the  economic  and  social 
appraisal  of  existing  legislation  in  the  field  of  health  and  safety,  and  a  procedure  for  the 
appraisal  of European  directives  concerned  with  health  and  safety,  using this  methodology 
and  methods  already  employed  in the  Member  States. 

The  group  will  draw  upon  a  report  compiled  for  the  Commission  on  "the  economic 
appraisal  of  European  health  and  safety  at  work  legislation",  which  analyses  the  current 
procedures  and  available  methods  for  assessing  the  economic  impact  (both  costs  and 
benefits)  of  health  and  safety  legislation  at  European,  national  and  company  level,  and 
puts  forward  proposals  for  practical  impact  assessment  models  at  European  and  national 
levels,  including  a procedure  specifically  designed  for  European  directives. 

The group  met  once in  1997. 

3.1.6  Multidiscipimary 

protective 

and  preventive 

services 

Health 

surveillance  ai work 

Amalgamation  of  two  groups  previously  in  existence;  the  terms  of  reference  were 
confirmed  in November  1996. 

The  aim  of  this  group  is  to  investigate  the  problems  encountered  and  the  experience 
acquired  in setting  up  multidisciplinary  protective  and  preventive  services  for  employees  in 
all sectors,  industries  and  undertakings,  public or  private 

A  further  task  of the group  is to  analyse  how  health  monitoring  of  workers  is carried  out 
in the different  Member  States. 

The group  met  once  in  1997. 

3.1.7 

Scaffolding 

Set  up  in  May  1996,  the  group's  remit  is  to  prepare  a  Committee  opinion  on  a  draft 
proposal  for  a  Council  Directive  on  scaffolding  (section  2.4.10).  The  group  met  once  in 
1996  and  three  times  in  1997,  and  is  expected  to  be  formally  disbanded  at  the  next 
meeting  of the  Committee. 

The  group  studied  an  initial  version  of  the  draft  Directive  (document  5408/96)  and,  in 
1996,  drew  up  an  interim  draft  opinion  (document  5825/96).  The  Commission  put 
forward  a  new  proposal  (document  202/3/97),  being  the  subject  of  the  opinion  adopted 
under  the  written  procedure  following  discussion  within  the  interest  groups.  The  opinion 
is accompanied  by the comments  of the interest  groups. 

3.2  Working  groups  set  up  in  1997 

On the basis of information  supplied  by the  Commission  regarding  progress  made  with  the 
Community  programme  concerning  safety,  hygiene  and  health  at  work  (COM(95)  282 
final)  and  activities  in  related  areas,  the  Committee  decided  to  set  up  three  working 
groups. 

3.2.1 

Prevention  of  violence  at  work 

One  of  the  measures  provided  for  under  Action  3  of  the  Community  programme  is 
"analysis  of  the  action  necessary  at  Community  level  on  prevention  of  violence  at  work 
and  follow-up". 

The  group  will  be  required  to  prepare  a  Committee  opinion  on  proposals  put  forward  by 
the  Commission  and  on any other  steps which  may be necessary  at  European  level. 

3.2.2 

Machinery 

The task  of this group  is to  prepare  a Committee opinion  on a draft  proposal  for  a Council 
Directive  on the approximation  of the  laws of the  Member  States relating to  machinery. 

Directive  89/392/EEC  on  the  approximation  of  laws  relating  to  machinery  has  major 
implications  for  safety  and  health  at  work.  Besides  the  direct  effects  attributable  to  new 
machinery,  there  may  be  an  indirect  impact  under  Directive  89/655/EEC  concerning  the 
minimum  safety  and  health  requirements  for  the use of work  equipment  by workers. 

To  facilitate  the  preparation  of the opinion,  the social  partners,  with  one  representative  for 
each group,  will  participate  in the  work  initiated  by the competent  Directorate-General. 

-  16-

3.2.3  Health and safety management systems 

The purpose  of this group  is to  advise and  assist  the Commission  in  the  development  of 
guidelines  for  health  and  safety  management  systems,  and  to  make  recommendations  for 
applying them. 

3.3  Disbandment of working groups 

The Committee decided to disband three groups whose work had been completed. 

3.3.1  Pregnant women 

Set  up  in  May  1996,  this  group  met  on  one  occasion  in  1996  and  twice  in  1997.  The 
editorial  sub-group  also  met  twice  and  the  document  which  it  helped  to  draw  up  was 
presented  to the  55th  meeting  of the Committee  (section 2.2).  The group  was  disbanded 
on 29 October  1997. 

3.3.2  Biological agents 

Having  been  inactive  since  November  1994,  when  its  draft  opinion  was  adopted  by the 
Committee,  this  group  was  reactivated  in  1996  and  given  the  new  task  of  preparing  a 
Committee  opinion  on  the  proposed  amendment  of  the  Council  Directive  of  12 October 
1993 amending Directive 90/679/EEC2 on the protection of workers from  the risks related 
to  exposure  to  biological  agents  at  work  (93/88/EEC1)  so  as  to  adapt  to  technical  and 
scientific  progress the annexes to the Directive in the light  of the most  recent  knowledge. 
The  group  met  on  one  occasion  in  1997  and  prepared  an  opinion  for  the  Committee 
(section 2.4.1.1). The group was disbanded on 23 April 1997. 

3.3.3  Carcinogens 

Set  up  in  November  1996,  this  group  prepared  a  Committee  opinion  on  a  proposal  for 
amending  Council  Directive  90/394/EEC  on  the  protection  of  workers  from  the  risks 
related to exposure to carcinogens at work (section 2.4.3). 

The group met three times in  1997 and was disbanded on 29 October  1997. 

4.  COOPERATION  WITH  OTHER  BODIES 

The  Committee  collaborates  or  is  in  contact  with  other  organisations  at  European  and 
international level. 

4.1  Safety and Health Commission 

The main tasks of the Safety  and Health Commission  for the Mining and Other  Extractive 
Industries  (SHCMOEI)  are:  to  monitor  developments  in the field of  safety  and  health  in 
the  extractive  industries,  to  submit  to  the  governments  of  the  Member  States  practical 

2  OJNoL374.  31.12.1990. p. I 

'  OJ NoL26X.  29.10  1993. p. 71 

-  17 

proposais  for  improving  safety  and  health  protection  at  the  workplace,  and  to  foster 
exchanges of useful  information. 

*ov 

Since  1994,  representatives  of  the  SHCMOE1  attend  meetings  of  the  Committee  as 
observers.  Similarly,  representatives  of  the  Committee  are  invited  to  the  plenary  meetings 
of  the  SHCMOEI,  with  each  interest  group  sending  two  observers.  This  process  ensures 
more  effective  dissemination  of  information  between  the  two  bodies.  Although  they 
clearly  share  areas  of  common  interest,  the  two  bodies  are  largely  perceived  as  separate 
entities.  The  SHCMOEI  is  essentially  a  technically-oriented  body  which  deals  with  safety 
problems  inherent  in the  extractive  industries.  Technical  aspects  constitute  a  key  element 
of  its  work,  whereas  the  Committee  is  also  qualified  to  discuss  fundamental  issues  of 
safety  and  health  protection  at  work. 

At  its  meeting  on  29  April  1997,  the  Committee  approved,  the  report  prepared  by  its 
SHCMOEI  observers. 

4.2  Senior  Labour  Inspectors  Committee 

Created  by  Commission  Decision  95/319/EC  of  12 July  1995,  the  Senior  Labour 
Inspectors  Committee  is  composed  of  two  representatives  of  the  labour  inspection 
services from  each  Member  State,  and  is chaired  by a representative  of the  Commission. 

The  Committee  submits  an  annual  report  on  its  activities  to  the  Commission,  with 
particular  reference  to  any  problem  relating  to  the  enforcement  or  monitoring  of 
in  the  field  of  health  and  safety  at  work.  The 
secondary  Community 
Commission  forwards  the  report  to  the  Council,  the  European  Parliament,  the  Economic 
and  Social  Committee  and  the  Advisory  Committee  on  Safety,  Hygiene  and  Health 
Protection  at  Work. 

legislation 

4.3  Scientific  Committee  for Occupational  Exposure  Limits  to  Chemical  Agents 

Set  up  in  response  to  a  request  from  the  Council,  by  Commission  Decision  95/320/EC  of 
12 July  1995,  this  scientific  committee  is  required  to  examine  the  health  effects  of 
chemical  agents  on  workers  at  work.  Its  activities  are  monitored  by  the  Advisory 
Committee  and,  more  particularly,  by  the  Occupational  Exposure  Levels  Group  in 
connection  with  the  preparation  of  its  opinions  on  proposals  for  a  Directive  implementing 
Council  Directive  80/1107/EEC  as amended  by  Directive  88/642/EEC. 

4.4  Social  partners 

A  representative  of  the  European  Trade  Union  Confederation  (ETUC)  and  a  member  of 
the  Union  of  Industrial  and  Employers'  Confederations  of  Europe  (UNICE)  are  invited  to 
attend  meetings  of the Committee  as observers. 

4.5  Trade  Union  Technical  Bureau 

The  European  Trade  Union  Technical  Bureau  for  Health  and  Safety  (TUTB)  was  set  up in 
1989  by  the  ETUC  as  a  vehicle  for  keeping  close  track  of  the  technical  work  carried  out 
by the  standardisation  organisations.  Backed  by the  European  Parliament,  which  allocated 
a  budget  heading  in  1989,  the  TUTB  signed  a  multiannual  agreement  with 
the 
Commission  in the  same year.  It  conducts  studies  and  supplies  information  tying  in  closely 

-  18-

with the European harmonisation  and standardisation  work  in the field of safety  and health 
at  the  workplace  and  with  the  Committee's  Standardisai ion Group  A representative  of 
the TUTB attends the Committee's  meetings as an observer. 

4.6 

International  Labour Office 

A representative of the ILO is invited to meetings of the Committee as an observer. 

4.7  European  Foundation 

A representative of the European Foundation for the Improvement  of Living and Working 
Conditions  is invited  to  meetings  of the  Committee  as  an  observer  and  presents,  among 
other  things,  the  Foundation's  work  programme.  Cooperation  with  the  Foundation 
became more clearly defined  in the wake of the  1996 report on work-related stress. 

The Director of the Foundation  presented  to the Committee, at its meeting on 23 April, a 
report on the Foundation's work. 

4.8  Bilbao European Agency 

Under  the  decision  establishing  the  Agency,  the  Committee  is  consulted  on  its  annual 
work programme and receives a copy of its annual report (section 2.4.11). 

1 9-

ANNEX A 

COUNCIL DECISION 

LEGAL BASIS 

(Extract) 

Council Decision of 27 June  1974 on the setting up of an Advisory Committee on  Safety, 
Hygiene and Health Protection at Work (extracts): 

"The Council of the European Communities  (...) 

Whereas a standing body should be envisaged  to assist  the Commission  in the preparation 
and  implementation  of  activities  in  the fields of  safety,  hygiene  and  health  protection  at 
work  and  to  facilitate  cooperation  between  national  administrations,  trade  unions  and 
employers' organisations... 

HAS DECIDED AS FOLLOWS 

Article 1 

An Advisory  Committee  on  Safety,  Hygiene  and  Health  Protection  at  Work  (hereinafter 
called the "Committee") is hereby established. 

Article 2 

The  Committee  shall  have  the  task  of  assisting  the  Commission  in  the  preparation  and 
implementation of activities in the fields of safety,  hygiene and health protection at work. 

Article 3 

1. 

2. 

The Committee shall produce an annual report on its activities. 

The  Commission  shall  forward  that  report  to  the  European  Parliament,  the 
Council, the Economic and  Social  Committee and  the Consultative  Committee of 
the European Coal and Steel Community. 

Article 4 

The  Committee  shall  consist  of  (.)  full  members,  there  being  for  each  Member 
State two  representatives  of the Government,  two  representatives  of trade  unions 
and two representatives of employers' organisations. 

An alternate member shall be appointed  for each full  member.  (...) 

Full members and  alternate  members of the  Committee  shall  be appointed  by the 
Council  which,  in  respect  of  representatives  of  trade  unions  and  employers' 
associations,  shall  endeavour  to  achieve  a  fair  balance  in  the  composition  of  the 
Committee between the various economic sectors concerned. 

20 

4. 

The  list  of  the  full  members  and  alternate  members  shall  be  published  by  the 
Council  in  the  Official  Journal  of  the  European  Communities  for  information 
purposes. 

Article 5 

1. 

The  term  of  office  of  full  members  and  alternate  members  shall  be  three  years 
Their appointments  shall be  renewable 

Article 6 

1. 

2. 

4. 

5. 

The  Committee  shall  be  chaired  by  a  member  of  the  Commission  or,  where  such 
member  is prevented  from  so  doing  and  as  an  exception,  by  a Commission  official 
to be nominated  by him. The Chairman  shall  not  vote. 

The  Committee  shall  meet  when  convened  by  the  Chairman,  either  at  the  latter's 
initiative or at the request  of at  least  one-third  of its members. 

The  Committee  may  establish  working  parties  under  the  chairmanship  of  a 
Committee  member.  They  shall  submit  the  results  of their  proceedings  in  the  form 
of a report  at  a meeting  of the  Committee. 

Representatives  of  the  Commission's  departments  concerned  shall  participate  in 
meetings  of  the  Committee  and  of  working  parties.  Secretarial  services  shall  be 
provided  for  the Committee  and  for  working  parties by the  Commission. 

Article 7 

An  opinion  delivered  by  the  Committee  shall  not  be  valid  unless  two-thirds  of  its 
members are  present. 

Article 8 

The Committee  shall  adopt  its rules of procedure,  which  shall  enter  into  force  after 
the  Council,  having  received  an  opinion  from  the  Commission,  has  given  its 
approval." 

21 

ANNEX B 

Bl  - COMPOSITION  OF THE COMMITTEE  in 1997 

Period  1994-97 

I. GOVERNMENT  REPRESENTATIVES 

a) Full members 

Belgium 

Denmark 

Germany 

Greece 

Spain 

France 

Ireland 

Italy 

Luxembourg 

Netherlands 

Austria 

Portugal 

Finland 

Sweden 

Mr HESELMANS 

Mr WAMPACH 

Mr O  ANDERSEN 

Mr J.  ANDERSEN 

Mr OPFERMANN 

Mrs STREFFER 

Mrs KAFETZOPOULOU  Mr KOUMERTAS 

Mr CHOZAS  PEDRERO  Mr G  HORTIGUELA 

Mrs GU1GUEN 

Mr BOISNEL 

Mr WALSH 

Dr FAVENTI 

Dr RUME 

Mr HENRY 

Dr ROCCA 

Mr WEBER 

Dr DEN HELD 

Mr VOS 

Dr SZYSMANDKI 

Dr BREINDL 

Dr COSTA MARINHO 

Dr DURAO 

Mr HURMALAINEN 

Mr LAMBERG 

Mr BYLUND 

Mr CLOAREC 

United Kingdom 

Mr CLIFTON 

Miss DEAKINS 

.  11 

b) Alternate  members 

Belgium 

Denmark 

Germany 

Greece 

Spain 

France 

Ireland 

Italy 

Mr RZONZEF 

Mr STEEN 

Mrs  SKJOLDAGER 

Mrs  STEFFENSEN 

Mr GIESEN 

Mr RIESE 

Mr TANGAS 

MrsPISSIMISSI 

MrsG.  DEL  CASTILLO 

Mr CASTELLA 

Mr PASQUIER 

Mr ROBERT 

Mr FUREY 

Mr DONNELLAN 

DrGUERRIERI 

MrALVINO 

Luxembourg 

MrFEYREISEN 

Mr  DEMUTH 

Netherlands 

Dr  MIDDELPLAATS 

MrMEPPELDER 

Austria 

Portugal 

Finland 

Sweden 

Dr FINDING 

Dr JENNER 

Mr CASTELO  BRANCO 

Mrs PINTO  MARVAO 

MrKALLIO 

Mr RANTANEN 

Prof.  KILBOM 

Mr BARREFELT 

United  Kingdom 

Mrs SOAVE 

Mr HIGHAM 

23-

II. WORKERS'  REPRESEN  I ATIVES 

a) Full members 

Belgium 

Denmark 

Germany 

Greece 

Spain 

France 

Ireland 

Italy 

Luxembourg 

Netherlands 

Austria 

Portugal 

Finland 

Sweden 

Mr FONCK 

Mrs CYPRES 

Mr MALTESEN 

Mr POULSEN 

Mr KONSTANTY 

Mr ANGERMAIER 

Mr POLITIS 

Mr DRIVAS 

Mr CARCOBA 

Mrs DIAZ OJEDA 

Mr PHILIP 

Mr WALL 

MrsBRIGHl 

Mr MILLER 

Mr MARTIN 

MrCRONIN 

Mrs  BENEDETTINl 

Mr GIARDIN 

Mrs VERBURG 

Mr WILDERS 

Mrs CZESKLEBA 

Mr HEIDER 

Mr GOMES TAVARES 

Mr SARAMAGO 

Mr METSAMAKI 

Miss  T Y O L A J A R VI 

Mr TENGBERG 

Mrs BREIDENSJO. 

United  Kingdom 

MrMELLISH 

Miss GIBSON 

24-

anosHMHaawtapi 

b) Alternate  members 

Belgium 

Denmark 

Germany 

Greece 

Spain 

France 

Ireland 

Italy 

Mr PHILIPS 

Mr VAN  DER  HAEGEN 

Mr HEEGAARD 

Mr NORSKOV 

Mr GROW1TSCH 

MrZWINGMANN 

Mr PAPANAYOTOU 

DrCHATZIS 

Mr FERNANDEZ 

Mrs VILLAR 

ARROYO 

FERNANDEZ 

Mr LEMITRES 

Mr SEDES 

Mr O'NEILL 

MrO'HALLORAN 

DrTASCINI 

DrGALLI 

Luxembourg 

Mr ABBATI 

MrMERSCH 

Netherlands 

Mr MULLER 

Mr SPRENGER 

Austria 

Portugal 

Finland 

Sweden 

MrSCHRAMHAUSER 

Mrs REITINGER 

Mr SANTOS  NEVES 

Mr ALMEIDA  TEXEIRA 

Miss HE1KURA 

Mr SAARIKANGAS 

Mr LAVEN1US 

Mrs THULESTEDT 

United  Kingdom 

Mr TUDOR 

Mr PICKERING 

2> -

III.  EMPLOYERS'  REPRESENTATIVES 

a) Full members 

Belgium 

Denmark 

Germany 

Greece 

Spain 

France 

Ireland 

Italy 

Luxembourg 

Netherlands 

Austria 

Portugal 

Finland 

Sweden 

Mr LEONARD 

Mr DE LANGE 

MrJEPSEN 

Mr NIELSEN 

Mr SCHEEL 

Mr KUHLMANN 

Mr TSAMOUSSOPOIJLOS 

MrZIMALIS 

Mr MANZANO SANZ 

MrSANCHISAHUYO 

MrTASSIN 

Mr PEYRICAL 

Mr TUMULTY 

Mr BRISCOE 

MrGIUSTI 

Dr FREGOSO 

Mr SAUBER 

Dr METZLER 

Mr VAN OSTAIJEN 

Mrs DE MEESTER 

Mrs SCHWENG 

Mr BRAUNER 

Mr COSTA TAVARES 

Mr LIMA AMORIM 

Mr GRAHN 

Mr KUIKKO 

Mr LIND 

Mr FROSTLING 

United Kingdom 

Dr ASHERSON 

Dr WHITE 

- 2 <> 

b) Alternate  members 

Belgium 

Denmark 

Germany 

Greece 

Spain 

France 

Ireland 

Italy 

Mr PELEGRIN 

Mr DILLEN 

Mr S0RENSEN 

Mrs K0LVING 

Mr BEEKHUIZEN 

Dr KREIZBERG 

Mr KALDIS 

Mr VGONTAS 

MrBELTRAN 

Mr MUNOZ  MUGICA 

APARICIO 

Dr AUBRUN 

MrsCORMAN 

Mr LAWLOR 

MrCASSIDY 

MrROVIGLIONl 

Mr SPANO 

Luxembourg 

DrBOLLENDORF 

Mr LANG 

Netherlands 

Mr VERHOEF 

Mrs HOPMANS 

Austria 

Portugal 

Finland 

Sweden 

Mr DUNGL 

MrSTRIMITZER 

Mr BARROSO 

Mr TEVES  COSTA 

Mr AHTELA 

Miss  LUOMALA 

Mr HAGMAN 

Mr HOLMGREN 

United Kingdom 

Mr HUGHES 

Mr CLARE 

27 

B2  -  COMPOSITION  OF  THE  COMMITTEE  in  1997 

Period  1997-2000 

I. GOVERNMENT  REPRESENTATIVES 

a) Full members 

Belgium 

Denmark 

Germany 

Greece 

Spain 

France 

Ireland 

Italy 

Luxembourg 

Netherlands 

Austria 

Portugal 

Finland 

Sweden 

Mr HESELMANS 

Mr DE VIL 

Mr ANDERSEN 

Mr ECKEROTH 

Mr HORST 

Mr WILMERSTADT 

Mr KAFETZOPOULOU  Mr PAPADOPOULOS 

Mr GOMEZ- 

Mr MARTINEZ DE LA 

HORTIGUELA  AMILLO  GANDARA 

Mr BOISNEL 

Mrs GUIGUEN 

Mr HENRY 

Mr WALSH 

ProfLEPORE 

DrCACOPARDI 

DrRUME 

Mr VOS 

Mr WEBER 

Dr LATERVEER 

Dr BREINDL 

Dr SZYMANSKI 

Mr RODRIGUES  DA 

Dr COSTA MARINHO 

SILVA CABRAL 

Mr RANTANEN 

Mr HURMALAINEN 

Mr BYLUND 

MrCLOAREC 

United Kingdom 

Mr CLIFTON 

Dr CRUICKSHANK 

2S 

b) Alternate  members 

Belgium 

Denmark 

Germany 

Greece 

Spain 

France 

Ireland 

Italy 

Mr STEEN 

MrFONTINOY 

Mr JENSEN 

Mr BAHNE 

Mr G1ESEN 

Dr RUCKERT 

Mrs PISSIM1SSI 

Mr CHRISTODOULOU 

MrCASTELLA 

Mr NOLLA 

FERNANDEZ 

Mrs PAILLARD 

Mr ROBERT 

Mr FUREY 

Mr  DONNELLAN 

DrFAVENTl 

Dr ROCCA-ERCOLI 

| 

I 
i 

i 

| 

I 
i 
! 

Luxembourg 

Mr DEMUTH 

Mr HUBERTY 

Netherlands 

Mr MEPPELDER 

Dr  MIDDELPLAATS 

Austria 

Dr FINDING 

• 
MrsJENNER 

• 

Portugal 

Finland 

Sweden 

Mrs PINTO MARVAO 

Mr>REITAS  DURAO 

Mr KALLIO 

Mrs  LEHTINEN 

Mr BARREFELT 

Mrs SVARD 

United Kingdom 

Mrs WHITE 

Mr HENDERSON 

29-

II. WORKERS'  REPRESENTATIVES 

a) Full members 

Belgium 

Denmark 

Germany 

Greece 

Spain 

France 

Ireland 

Italy 

Luxembourg 

Netherlands 

Austria 

Portugal 

Finland 

Sweden 

Mrs CYPRES 

Mr FONCK 

Mr RASMUSSEN 

Mr POULSEN 

Mr KONSTANTY 

Mr ANGERMAIER 

Mr POLIT1S 

Mr FERRER 

Mr PHILIP 

Mr DRIVAS 

Mr CARCOBA 

Mr MARTIN 

Mr CRONIN 

Mr WHELAN 

Mrs BENEDETTINl 

DrGALLI 

Mr MILLER 

MrGlARDIN 

MrWILDERS 

Mr DE GEUS 

Mr HEIDER 

Mrs CZESKLEBA 

Mr NASCIMENTO 

Mr DA COSTA  FARIAS 

LOPES 

Mrs TYOLAjARVl 

Mr  M E T S A M A KI 

Mr TENGBERG 

Mrs BREIDENSJO 

United Kingdom 

Mrs GIBSON 

Mr MELLISH 

b) Alternate  members 

Belgium 

Denmark 

Germany 

Greece 

Spain 

France 

Ireland 

Italy 

Mrs VELLANDE 

Mr VAN  DER  HAEGEN 

Mr JACOBSEN 

Mr AHLERS 

Mr ZWINGMANN 

Mr GROWITSCH 

Dr CHATZIS 

Mr PAPANAYOTOU 

Mrs DIAZ 

Mr TORRES 

FERNANDEZ 

Mr SALENGRO 

Mr SEDES 

Mrs MRKWICKA 

Mr DEVOY 

Mr D'ERCOLE 

Mr STANZANI 

Luxembourg 

Mr GOEREND 

Mr KINN 

Netherlands 

Mr MULLER 

Mr VAN  STEEBERGEN 

Austria 

Portugal 

Finland 

Sweden 

MrsREITINGER 

Mr STEINER 

Mr COELHAS  DIONISIO  Mr MONTEIRO  do 

MONTE 

Mr SAARIKANGAS 

Mrs HEIKURA 

Mrs H1LDINGSSON 

Mrs THULESTEDT 

United  Kingdom 

Mr TUDOR 

Mrs GOWAN  ROONEY 
OBE 

31  -

III.  EMPLOYERS'  REPRESENTATIVES 

a) Full members 

Belgium 

Denmark 

Germany 

Greece 

Spain 

France 

Ireland 
Italy 

Luxembourg 

Netherlands 

Austria 

Portugal 

Finland 

Sweden 

Mr LEONARD 

Mr DE LANGE 

Mr NIELSEN 

MrJEPSEN 

Mr GUNKEL 

Mr SCHEEL 

MrZIMALIS 

Mr 

TSAMOUSSOPOULOS 

Mr TEIXIDO CAMPAS  Mr MANZANO SANZ 

Mr PEYRICAL 

Mrs CORMAN 

Mr O'HALLORAN 
Dr 

Mr BRISCOE 
Mr GIUSTI 

CH1ACCHIARARELLI 

Mr SAUBER 

Dr METZLER 

Mrs FRENKEL 

Mr KONING 

Mrs SCHWENG 

Mr BRAUNER 

Mr COSTA TAVARES 

Mr PENA COSTA 

Mr FORSS 

Mr KUIKKO 

Mr FROSTLING 

Mr LIND 

United Kingdom 

Dr ASHERSON 

Dr WHITE 

32 

b) Alternate  members 

Belgium 

Denmark 

Mr PELEGRIN 

Mr DILLEN 

MrsJUHLER- 

Mr HOLMBOE  BANG 

KRISTOFFERSEN 

Germany 

Mr BEEKHUIZEN 

Mr KUHLMANN 

Greece 

Spain 

France 

Ireland 

Italy 

MrZACIIARIAS 

Mr KIRIAKOGGONAS 

Mr MUNOZ  MUGICA 

Mr MORENO  UCELAY 

Mr TASS1N 

Dr AUBRUN 

MrCASSIDY 

MrENRIGHT 

DrGRAMPELLA 

Dr FREGOSO 

Luxembourg 

Mr WALERS 

Dr STELMES 

Netherlands 

Mr KROEZEN 

Austria 

Portugal 

Finland 

Sweden 

Mr Franz DUNGL 

Mr Dietmar  STIMITZER 

Mr FONTES  MACHADO  Mr BARROSO 

Mr AHTELA 

Mrs  LUOMALA 

Mrs TELL 

Mrs BJORG  OSTLUND 

United Kingdom 

MrsJEYNES 

Mr CLARE 

- 1 3-

LIST OF WORKING GROUPS - 1997 

07.07.97 

ANNEXC 

PLANNING 

Chairman 

Mr  VOS (G) 

Vice-chairman ; 

Mr  FONCK  (W) 

Rapporteur 

Mr  JEPSEN(E) 

GOVERNMENT 

EMPLOYERS 

1 

WORKERS 

" 

ROCCA / IT 
WALSH/IRL 
WEBER/LUX 
VOS / NE 
DEAKINS/UK 

CORMAN / FR 
BORMANS/B 
GIUSTI/IT 
JEPSEN / DK 
TASSIN / FR 

MELLISH / UK 
SEDES / FR 
CARCOBA/ES 

FONCK / B 

Official  responsible  : E. ROTHER - Tel. 32268 

PREGNANT WOMEN 

Chairman 

Dr  AUBRUN(E) 

Vice-chairman 

Mrs PISSIMISSI  (G) 

Rapporteur 

Mr MARTIN  (W) 

GOVERNMENT 

I 

EMPLOYERS 

1 

WORKERS 

FAVENTI / IT 
PISSIMISSI/GR 
SAUNDERS/UK 
MOGENS/DK 
PETTERSON / SV 

WHITE / UK 
AUBRUN/FR 
BORMANS / BE 
FREY / D 
| 

Official  responsible  : Dr ARESINI - Tel. 32260 

MORENO / ES 
PAUL / UK 
GRODZKI / BE 
MARTIN / FR 
| PHILIPS / BE 

34 

OCCUPATIONAL EXPOSURE LEVELS 

Chairman 

Dr AUBRUN (E) 

Vice-chairman 

Mr Wilders (W) 

Rapporteur 

Mr Steen (G) 

GOVERNMENT 

EMPLOYERS 

I 

~  WORKERS 

JACKSON / UK 
BOMBARDIERS/IT 
KLEIN/DE 
STEEN / BE 
HURMALA1NEN / FI 

" BEEKHUIZEN  / DE 

AUBRUN / FR 
JEPSEN/DK 
GRAMPELLA /  IT 

[ BORMANS / BE 

Official  responsible : Mr Angelidis - Tel. 33747 

MAGNAVITA/IT 
KONSTANTY / DE 
GRODZKI  / BE 
MARTIN / FR 
| WILDERS / NL 

SCAFFOLDING 

Chairman 

Mr PELEGRIN (E) 

Vice-chairman : 

to be appointed (G) 

Rapporteur 

Mr KONSTANTY (W) 

GOVERNMENT 

I 

EMPLOYERS 

I 

WORKERS 

CANDREVA / IT 
MURRAY / UK 
PATTAY / SV 
MOCKELS / BE 
RODILLA / ES 

PELEGRIN / BE 
STEINMAURER / AUT 
FOUILLEROUX / FR 
MACHADO / PO 
| BORMANS / BE 

NILSSON / SV 
VERDE / BE 
KONSTANTY / DE 
BRYSON / UK 
| HELSTEN / BE 

Official  responsible : Mr LOMMEL - Tel. 33871 

CARCINOGENS / MUTA GENS 

Chairman 

Mr FONCK (W) 

Vice-chairman : 

E. MELIN (G) 

Rapporteur 

MrJEPSEN(E) 

GOVERNMENT 

I 

EMPLOYERS 

I 

WORKERS 

RICHARDSON/UK 
MONTAGUT/ES 
MELIN/SV 
KLEIN/DE 
LHERM / FR 

AUBRUN / FR 
JEPSEN / DK 
ALESBURY/UK 
BORMANS/B 
| VAN  STEERTEGEM / B 

KONSTANTY/DE 
FONCK/BE 
LAVENIUS/S 
GRODZKI  / BE 
[ 

Official  responsible  : Dr ARESINI - Tel. 32260 

SELF-EMPLOYED  WORKERS 

Chairman 

Mr  HENRY(G) 

Vice-chairman : 

Mr  PELEGRIN  (E) 

Rapporteur 

Mr  VOGEL  (W) 

GOVERNMENT 

I 

EMPLOYERS 

I 

WORKERS 

' 

BELL/  UK 
HENRY  /IRL 
HUUSKONEN/FI 
PICCOLI  / FR 

PELEGRIN/BE 
WHITE  /  UK 
RIVAILLE  /  FR 
RICHARD  / B 
I GUNKEL  / D 

TUDOR  /UK 
MUR1E/ES 
VOGEL /  BE 
FROST  / DK 

I 

Official  responsible  : Mrs  DELAVAL  - Tel.  32781 

TRAINING 

Chairman 

Mrs GALLI  (W) 

Vice-chairman: 

to  be appointed  (G) 

Rapporteur 

Mr  DE  LANGE  (E) 

GOVERNMENT 

I 

EMPLOYERS 

I 

WORKERS 

RENHARDT  /  AUT 
CAWLEY/UK 
WOOD/IRL 
ARENAL/ES 

DE  LANGE  /  BE 
GIUST1/IT 
GUNKEL  /  DE 
PYKETT/UK 
1 RICHARD  / BE 

GALLI  /  IT 
PHILIP/F 
FREDERIKSEN  / DK 
HALLORAN  /  IRL 
|  VOGEL  /  BE 

Official  responsible  : Mrs  Van  Loon  - Tel.  32034 

SOCIAL  & ECONOMIC  APPRAISAL 

Chairman 

Mr TUDOR  (W) 

Vice-chairman  : 

ROWE  (G) 

Rapporteur 

Mr  SCHEEL  (E) 

GOVERNMENT 

I 

EMPLOYERS 

I 

WORKERS 

BEATSON  /  UK 
NILSSON/SV 
ROWE7  1RL 
BAKKUM  / NL 
FRICHET  /  FR 

SCHEEL  /  DE 
ASHERSON/UK 
GAMBELLI/IR 
BORMANS  /  B 
KRIS 1OIFERSEN  /  DK 

TUDOR/UK 
D'ERCOLE/IT 
CYPRES  /  BE 
SCHRAMAUSER  /  AUT 
SAPIR  /  BE 

Official  responsible  : Mr  HAIGH  - Tel.  32734 

MUL TIDISCIPLINAR Y SER VICES / HE A L TH SUR VEILLANCE 

Chairman 

Mr TYOLÀJÀRVl  (W) 

Vice-chairman  : 

Mrs CORMAN (E) 

Rapporteur 

Mrs WOOD (G) 

GOVERNMENT 

I 

EMPLOYERS 

I 

WORKERS 

SAUNDERS / UK 
LOPEZ / ES 
BIENECK/DE 
ENGLUND / SV 
WOOD / IRL 

RICHARD / BE 
GIUSTI / IT 
CORMAN / FR 
JANNERFELDT / S 
1  DELANGE7B 

BENEDETTINl  / IT 
POULSEN / DK 
TYOLAjARVI / FI 
GIARDIN / LUX 
| VOGEL / BE 

Official  responsible  : Dr ALVAREZ - Tel. 34547 

STANDARDISA TION 

Chairman 

Mr GIUSTI (E) 

Vice-chairman 

MrTENGBERG(W) 

Rapporteur 

Mr WEBER (G) 

GOVERNMENT 

EMPLOYERS 

WORKERS 

GAMBELLI / FR 
GIUSTI /IT 
SCHEEL/DE 
BORMANS / BE 
L1ND/SV 

ANGERMAIER / DE 
GIBELLIER1 / IT 
SAPIR/BE 
TENGBERG / SV 
PAZ / ES 

ALVINO / IT 
WEBER/LUX 
FUREY/IRL 
MEPPELDER / NL 
TOMKINS/UK 

Other experts  : 

Mr MERTENS, CENELEC 

Mr PLISSART, CEN 

Mr MENDOLA, European Commission - DG III Brussels 

Mr VAN GHELUWE, idem 

Mr BREKELMANS, idem 

Mr ROBERTS, idem 

Official  responsible  : Mr LOMMEL - Tel. 33871 

-  37 -

ANNEXD 

SUBJECT  OF 
MEETING 

PLENARY 

PLANNING 

STANDARDISATON 

LIMIT  VALUES 

PREGNANT  WOMEN 

BIOLOGICAL  AGENTS 

SCAFFOLDING 

SELF-EMPLOYED 

TRAINING 

SOC.  ECON.  APPRAISAL 

MULT!.  SERV. 

CARCINOGENS 

WORKERS  ! G 

EMPLOYERS'  I.G. 

GOVERNMENT  I.G. 

1997 TIMETABLE 

Days 

JA 

FE 

MA 

AP 

MAY 

JUNE 

JULY 

SEP 

OCT 

NOV 

DEC 

2 
3 

1 

1 

2 

1 

2 

1 
1 
1 
1 
3 
2 
2 
2 

22/23 

11 

6 

14 

14 

11 

5GR 

15GR 

28/29 

9 
4 

10 

11&12 

14 

18 (GR) 

8 

13 
15 

20 
27 

4 

16 

7 

25 
27 
26 

3 
9 
5 

38 

ANNEX  E 

Speech given by Commissioner Flynn 

Meeting of the Advisory Committee 

on Safety, Hygiene and Health Protection at Work 

22Aprill997 

Thank you very much, Dr Hunter. Good  morning,  Ladies and Gentlemen and Members of 
the Advisory Committee. 

I would  like to join with  Dr 
meeting. 

Hunter  in welcoming you  all to this, the 54th  Committee 

Let me say straight away how glad  I am to be here with you today and it provides me with 
the  unique  opportunity  to  address  at  the  same  time  government,  trade  unions  and 
employers'  representatives  and to express to you  my personal  recognition  and that  of the 
College  of  Commissioners  for  your  contribution,  your  outstanding  contribution  to  the 
development  of Community health and safety  policy. 

I  would  like  also  to  express  my  regret  to  you  for  not  being  able  to  preside  over  the 
Committee  on  previous  occasions  and  to  address  you  directly  as  would  have  been  my 
wish. I have asked  Mr Larsson,  the  Director  General,  to chair your  plenary  meetings and 
to keep me regularly informed  on the developments occurring  in your forum  - and this he 
does. 

You  represent  the  social  partners  and  national  administrations,  and  in  that  capacity  you 
represent  the  most  knowledgeable  in  the  field  of  health  and  safety  right  throughout 
Europe  and,  as  such,  I have  great  expectations  from  you  to  help  us  enter  a  new  era  to 
make working life safer and more productive. 

Now,  as laid down  in the  1974 Council  Decision,  "The Committee  shall  have the  task  of 
assisting the Commission  in the preparation  and implementation  of activities in the field of 
safety,  hygiene and health protection  at work". 

It is a big charge that  we have and  I consider  that  the time is now  right  to  put  health  and 
safety  policy  among  the  top  priorities  of  the  Community  agenda  and  to  raise  public 
awareness  on  what  has already  been  achieved  and  on  what  we  are  continuously  striving 
for - namely better working conditions all across the Community. 

So let me start, if I may, by telling you why I am convinced  that health and safety  must be 
made a high-profile  issue, and after  that  I would  like to open the floor  for  your  comments 
- you as the professionals  and experts in the  field 

39 

There  are  several  good  reasons  to  give  a  new  impetus  to  the  fight  against  accidents  and 
for  an active health and  safety  policy. 

Health  and  safety  at  work  has  always  been  one  of  the  fundamental  "missions  of  the 
European  Union  -  set  out  in  the  Treaties  and,  more  particularly,  in  Articles  117,  118  and 
118a of the EU  Treaty. 

And, you  know  very  well,  since you  have been  the  co-authors,  in recent  years this  mission 
has led to the adoption  and  implementation  of a series  of directives.  These  directives  draw 
up  minimum  requirements  in  a  gradual  manner,  taking  account  of  the  conditions  and 
technical  regulations already  existing  in the  Member  States 

Close  attention  was  paid  to  avoiding  adminstrative,  financial  and  legal  constraints  being 
imposed  by  the  new  legislation.  We  did  not  want  to  hinder  the  development  and  creation 
of small  and  medium-sized  enterprises. 

However,  we  are  now  operating  in  a  period  where  deregulation  is  to  the  fore.  Some 
people  refuse  to  acknowledge  the  effectiveness  of  these  directives  in  improving  health 
protection  and  workers'  safety.  Instead,  they  focus  on  the  direct  monetary  cost  to  their 
company. 

Health  and  safety  is a basic  right  -  one  which  takes  more  and  more  a  centre  stage  for  us 
because  we  are  talking  here  about  human  lives  and  public  opinion  is  less  and  less  willing 
to  accept  risks that  are avoidable,  could  be prevented  and  are  not  kept  to a minimum  and I 
believe the public is right  - we should  not  accept  such  risks 

Indeed,  6,000  workers  who  die  every  year  as  a  result  of  accidents  at  work  and  the  ten 
million  who  are  the  victims  of  work  accidents  and  occupational  diseases  tell  the  story. 
And,  that  means  that  in a  working  day  like  this  one  today,  like  today,  as  we  are  gathered 
here  in  Luxembourg,  twenty  to  thirty  people  will  die  and  40,000  are  injured  today  or 
become  ill because  of  work  and  these  figures  indicate  clearly  a  level  of  human  suffering  -
one  which  can  be  avoided  by  increased  prevention,  safety  measures  and  improved 
information  for  workers  regarding  the  risks  encountered  and  health  and  safety  of  workers 
deserves,  first  and  foremost,  to  be  a  number  one  priority,  based  on  both  human  and  on 
social  values.  But  I  believe  it  can  be  equally  argued  that  a  successful  health  and  safety 
policy is a productive  factor  too. 

Occupational  accidents  and  diseases  directly  translate  into  problems  for  businesses  and 
they  also  create  a  very  heavy  burden  for  social  security  systems  such  as  health  care, 
sickness benefit,  insurance,  disability  pension  and  early  retirement. 

I  have  read  with  great  interest  a  study  made  by  HSE,  the  UK  Health  and  Safety 
Executive,  indicating  that  the  overall  cost  to  the  British  economy  of  all  work  accidents 
and  work-related  ill health  could  be estimated  to be bcivcen  one  and  two  per  cent  of  GDP 
and,  undeniably,  this is a huge cost  and  a huge  loss of economic  resources. 

This  demonstrates  that  improved  health  and  safety  is  good  business,  it's  a  productive 
factor  and  it  makes  economic  sense  for  society  in  general  and  business  and  government  in 
particular. 

40/ 

If the cost  of prevention  is attributed  entirely  to business, then the cost  of non-prevention, 
or rather accidents or illnesses resulting  from  non-prevention,  will impact  on  (he economy 
of each country affecting  social security systems and, ultimately of course, the Community 
as a whole. 

It is therefore  at both levels of the individual Member  States and the Union that we find it 
advisable to evaluate those risks and  it will be more advantageous  if debate is held  at  the 
level of "society" rather than limited to interested parties. 

At company level, are the benefits  of health  and safety  at work  ever  measured  in terms of 
prevention of absenteeism - therefore  making it a clear promotion of competitiveness? 

I  am  proud  that  most  of  our  major  companies  in  Europe  enforce  stringent  regulations 
regarding health and safety for their employees. They are fully  aware that absenteeism  as a 
result of accidents reduces production levels - and it also reduces morale. 

So,  I  would  like  to  know,  for  example,  the  cost-benefit  ratio  of  health  and  safety 
prevention services. 

Because  you  know,  and  I  know,  that  illness  and  accidents  at  work  create  very  heavy 
burdens on workers, on enterprises and on the social protection systems. 

So  I  ask  you,  would  it  be  fair  to  say  that  taking  account  of  health  and  safety  factors 
renders European companies less competitive? 

Well,  despite  its  senior  role  in both  trade  and  international  affairs,  Europe, just  like  the 
United  States,  is  a  relatively  autonomous  economic  entity.  Production  within  Europe 
covers 92% of our needs - the remaining 8% being imports which are balanced, of course, 
against  our exports, and trade within the  Union  has doubled  in the last thirty years and it 
will increase with the lowering of trade barriers and  as companies start  to wake up to  the 
size of the European  market  which  is beckoning them  forward.  So we must  not  therefore 
be in fear of progressing European  society. 

In the developed  world  outside  of  Europe,  health  and  safety  requirements  at  work  are a 
reality  -  even  if  they  sometimes  differ  in  one  way  or  another.  We  can  only  hope  that, 
progressively  with  economic  development,  the  other  trading  blocs  will  follow  suit.  And, 
even  if this does  not  happen,  it  is no  reason  for  us  not  to  continue  with  our  progress in 
health and safety  issues - we clearly do not want  any return to the situation that  existed in 
the last century - we are preparing for the next one. 

At this time, the real challenge to take up is that of employment,  we all recognise that and 
this challenge  should  not,  however,  be a pretext  to  reduce  safety  and  health  levels at  the 
workplace  -  on  the  contrary.  And,  there  must  be  total  agreement  that  we  cannot  allow 
ourselves  to  compete  by putting  workers'  health  at  risk.  That  is  why  we  need  European 
legislation and I am convinced that more focus on working conditions can bring the Union 
closer to the heart of its citizens. 

So,  let  me add  that  alongside  the emergence  of new  forms  of  working,  new  organisation 
of work,  working from  home,  remote  work,  subcontracting,  our  mission  is to  ensure  that 
those workers involved also benefit  from  the same guarantees of health and  safety. 

41' 

Health  and  safety  at  work  issues  need  further  precision  regarding  categories  of  workers 
temporarily  in  a  weak  position.  Take  for  example  the  case  of  pregnant  workers,  those 
having just  given  birth  or  in  nursing  care,  in order  to  prevent  accidents  and  illnesses  which 
could  affect  them  or  their  children  Indeed,  the  cost  of  lack  of  prevention  could  continue 
to  take  its  toll  over  a  number  of  years  for  the  company.  In  the  same  way,  close  attention 
will  have  to  be paid  to  working  conditions  for  adolescents  -  we do  not  want  to  reduce  the 
potential  of  the  workforce  of  tomorrow.  And  there,  the  results  of  the  comments  from 
Member  States are,  of course,  significant  - young  workers  are  more  frequently  the  victims 
of  accidents  at  work  -  either  because  they  take  the  jobs  with  higher  risks  or  their 
behaviour  or  inexperience  increases  the risk  for  them. 

it  is  understandable 

Now, 
that  cyclical  economic  factors  reveal  difficulties  which 
immediately  take  their  toll  as  an  additional  risk  and  the  solution  is not  to  give  up  with  the 
process  - but  rather to progress  it. 

My next  question  is, how  are we going  to  do  all of this,  if it's  so  important? 

The  starting  point:  the  1995  Community  Programme  concerning  safety,  hygiene  and 
health  at  work  is,  I believe,  our  point  of departure.  And,  on  that  basis,  and  taking  account 
of the  developments  of  the  last  two  years,  we  need  to  make  the  best  use  of  the  resources 
available  to the Commission,  the  Member  States  and  the  social  partners. 

A  successful  policy  for  health  and  safety  requires  an  effective  and,  of  course,  an  efficient 
machinery. 
So  let  me,  therefore,  add  a  few  words  about  our  resources  and  our 
organisation  for  health  and  safety  at  work  and,  as  you  know,  all  the  different  bodies 
dealing with  health and  safety  are now  subject  to  changes to  improve their  efficiency. 

An  important  element  in  the  strategy  must  always  be  information  and  the  aim  is  to 
promote  health  and  safety  in general,  to  enable  enterprise  to  implement  a high  standard  of 
health  and  safety. 

I  am  pleased  that  the  Bilbao  Agency  has  been  set  up  and  that  it  has  started  to  develop  a 
health  and  safety  information  network  with  the  Member  States  -  and  this  will  produce 
preliminary  results during the course of this year. 

the  new 

In  my  view, 
technologies  offer  new 
information  and  communications 
opportunities  to  provide  material  on  the  best  practice  in  health  and  safety  to  all  sectors  of 
industry  - including  small and  medium-sized  businesses,  and  I feel  strongly  that  developing 
these opportunities  will be an  important  part  of our  new  information  strategy. 

the  Commission  keenly  anticipates  receiving  comprehensive 

information  and 
Now, 
informative  material  from  the  Agency  -  the  Agency  benefiting,  as  you  know,  from  many 
amongst  you  sitting on  its Administrative  Board. 

The  Dublin  Foundation,  too,  has  a  role  to  play  and  has  adopted  a  long-term  work 
programme. 

So you,  the tripartite  Advisory  Committee,  have engaged  in a process  of  reform. 

Ladies  and  gentlemen,  I am  here  today  in  order  to  encourage  you,  to  encourage  you,  to 
also  exercise  social  dialogue  on  occupational  health  and  safety  issues  under  the  umbrella 

42/-

of this Committee,  and  this  will  foster  a coheienl  appioach  acioss  all  seclois  and  ceitainK 
result  in synergy  and  in  progress 

Let  me move on  to the means with  which  we can  do this. 

We  have  sound  legislation  which  must  be  made  comprehensive  and  it  must  be  properly 
enforced,  and  we  will  do  our  best  to  help  companies  to  apply  it,  especially  the  smaller 
companies  and,  in  this  connection,  we  have  proposed,  at  the  European  Parliament's 
invitation,  the  SAFE  Programme.  Legislation  is  practically  now  in  place  and  most  of  the 
current  activities  are on the  right  track. 

Also,  I  hope  that  the  Council  will  adopt  the  "carcinogens"  Directive  in  June  of  this  year, 
and that  a common  position  will be found  during  the Netherlands  Presidency. 

The  amended  proposal  for  the  Directive  on  explosive  atmospheres  has  just  been 
forwarded  to  the  Council,  hopefully  making  it  possible  for  a  common  position  during  the 
Luxembourg  Presidency. 

A  second  draft  version  of the  draft  proposal  on  scaffolding  has  been  submitted  to  you  for 
your  opinion  and,  when  we  have  results  from  the  impact  studies,  we  intend  to  hasten  the 
proposal  along to  fruition. 

The  adaptation  to  technical  progress  of  the  "biological  agents"  Directive  is  due  to  be 
submitted  to the Commission  during  the  second  half of this year. 

With  regard  to  the  directives  on  limit  values,  the  Commission  hopes  to  adopt  the  third 
Directive  comprising  some  20  to  25  new  elements  between  now  and  the  next  few  months 
and,  on  this particular  subject,  after  consultation  with  the  Member  States,  the  Commission 
hopes  to  be  able  to  name  the  members  of  the  Scientific  Committee  for  Occupational 
Exposure  Limits  to  Chemical  Agents,  and  hopes  to  be  able  to  publish  them  during  the 
second  semester. 

On  the  other  hand,  for  the  two  exceptions  to  the  "workplace"  Directive  which  have  not 
yet  been  handled,  we  have  encountered  some  problems  relating  to  economic  sectors 
having a large number  of self-employed  workers. 

As  you  know,  work  on  the  proposal  for  agriculture  has  been  suspended  since  the 
Copenhagen  meeting  in  1993. 

Furthermore,  it is unacceptable  that  the transport  proposal  has been  blocked  for  so  long in 
Council.  Indeed,  the Commission  has been  looking  for  a solution  to  this very  problem  -  as 
well as to the problem  of the  physical  agents  proposal  held  up  now  since  1992. 

Lastly,  the  Commission  has  prepared  an  evaluation  in  order  to  determine  whether  there  is 
a  need  to  adapt  the "work  on  screen"  Directive  to  technological  development 

So,  let  me  now  move  on  to  a  second  element:  transposition  -  transposition  of  legislation 
into the various  national  laws. 

Almost  all  of  the  54  directives  that  have  been  adopted  in  the  social  sector,  two-thirds  of 
them,  involve  health  and  safety  at  work  issues.  They  are  now  in  force  and  I  have  put  on 

43/ 

record,  and  I want  to  say  it  again  here  today,  my disappointment  at  the  fact  that  Member 
States  are  not  giving  adequate  priority  to  the  implementation  of  health  and  safety 
legislation  - they  are  not  doing  it and  the  Commission  is actively  engaged  now  in  ensuring 
that  the  appropriate  measures  are taken  where  these  measures  are deemed  necessary. 

And,  although  the  situation  relating  to  pre-1989  directives  is better,  it  is good,  I  must  say 
that  for  post-1989 directives implementation  is far  from  satisfactory.  In the  light  of the  last 
assessment  made  by  us  in  January  this  year  it  seems  there  may  just  be  a  certain  lack  of 
goodwill  on  the  part  of  some  Member  States  to  fulfil  their  commitments  and  this,  ladies 
and gentlemen,  is inadmissible.  The Commission  has already  referred  some Member  States 
to  the  Court  of  Justice  and  we  will  not  hesitate  to  pursue  these  matters  further  if  it's 
deemed  necessary.  Without  full  transposition,  implementation  and  equivalent  enforcement, 
there  simply  can  be  no  level  playing field between  the  Member  States  -  I reiterate  that  it  is 
fundamental  that  the  Member  States  in  question  make  all  of  the  necessary  efforts  to 
redress  the  situation.  Ladies  and  gentlemen,  it  is  a  disgrace  that  they  have  not  already 
done so. 

Checking  of conformity  in  respect  of  the  communicated  measures  is  now  in  hand  and  it  is 
an  important  task  which  we  are  in  the  process  of  carrying  out  and  in  addition,  in  each 
Member  State,  each  regulation  must  be applied  correctly  and  must  be applied  fully. 

In  order  to  promote  equivalent  enforcement  in  the  Member  States  which  will  neither 
penalise  certain  workers  nor  distort  competition  between  enterprises,  the  Commission  set 
up the  Senior  Labour  Inspectors  Committee  in  1995. 

As  you  know,  this  Committee  deals  mainly  with  questions  related 
labour 
inspectorate  and  the  enforcement  of  legislation,  and  this  ensures  the  useful  exchange  of 
experience  and  enables  harmonisation  of  strategies  between  the  Member  States  on  the 
the 
problems  and  developments  which 
enforcement  of Community  health  and  safety  legislation. 

inspectorates  have 

to  face 

to  the 

labour 

the 

in 

1 would  like  to  mention  here  the  recent  sessions  focusing  on  certain  industrial  branches. 
These  covered  the construction  industry,  the automobile  industry  and  the  next  session  will 
be  on  the  textile  industry,  and  I am  especially  glad  that  one  of  the  applicant  countries  for 
EU  membership,  namely  Poland,  is due to  participate  in this  particular  session. 

Seminars  have already  been  held  on  subjects  such  as  high-risk  enterprises  and  information 
exchanges  between  the  Member  States  in  relation  to  market  control  of  machines  covered 
by  the  "machinery"  Directive.  In  June  this  year  there  will  be  a  seminar  on  the  labour 
inspectorates'  approach  to  small  and  medium-sized  enterprises,  and  later  this  year  on 
safety  and  health  for  workers  in the  waste  sector. 

The  Commission  is engaged  in a number  of initiatives  to  develop  the  methodological  basis 
for  cost-benefit  analysis  and  to  build  up  evidenced  examples  of  how  well-managed  health 
and  safety  can  contribute  to  good  business.  A  three-year  contract  has  been  launched  to 
assess  the  scientific  and  the  technical  evaluation  of  the  impact  of  health  and  safety  policies 
in small  and  medium-sized  enterprises. 

You  have  been  asked  to  advise  on  a  methodology  for  assessing  the  socio-economic 
impact  of  proposed  health  and  safety  legislation.  Furthermore,  the  Dutch  Presidency  will 
focus  on  the  cost  and  the  benefit  of  occupational  health  and  safety  with  a  conference  in 

44/ 

May of this year.  So we need  facts  and  we need  sound  arguments,  and  1  am quite  sure  that 
we  are  going  to  be  able  to  deliver  them.  But,  of  course,  it  is  necessary  to  provide 
assistance  to  enterprises  and  particularly  to  small  enterprises  for  the  practical  application 
of all of this legislation. 

' O' 

As  I  mentioned  before,  the  Commission  has  proposed  the  SAFE  Programme  upon  an 
invitation  from  the  European  Parliament.  The  general  purpose  here  is  to  make  the 
legislation  accessible,  visible  and  efficient  to  small  and  medium-sized  enterprises,  for 
example through  the exchange of good  experience. 

SAFE  PR  events  shall  raise  awareness  amongst  employers  and  workers  on  safety  and 
health  issues  in  the  workplace  and  the  main  target  of  such  events  would  be  those 
employers  who  otherwise  would  not  have  even  considered  or  would  have  neglected  to 
properly  address  these  issues  for  which  they  are  responsible.  Now  these  events,  they  are 
going  to  offer  the  opportunity  for  them  to  get  in  touch  with  health  and  safety  at  work 
issues  and  shall  demonstrate  to  them  that  there  are  practical  and  efficient  ways  of 
addressing  all of these  issues. 

Every  single  PR  event  will  take  place  at  the  premises  of  the  enterprise  and  give  practical 
demonstrations  of innovative  solutions  to  a certain  theme  in  response  to  any  requirements 
of  any  of the  directives  on  safety  and  health  at  work.  Now,  the  chosen  theme  shall  apply 
and  appeal  greatly  to  the  target  group.  The  practical  solutions  implemented  by  the  host 
firm shall be shown to  the  public and  especially  to  the  media.  The  presence  of key  persons 
at  events  is likely  to  influence  the  extent  of  media  coverage  favourably,  and  to  do  it  most 
favourably,  and  thus  have  an  important  impact  on  the  perception  of  this  event  by  the 
public in general  and by the target  group  in  particular. 

The  experience  of  the  host  enterprise  on  the  theme  of  the  event  shall  be  thoroughly 
documented  in  a  way  that  allows  its  integration  in  a  database  on  good  practices  which  is 
being collated  and  managed  by the  European  Agency  down  in  Bilbao.  The  documentation 
shall  not  merely  describe  the  achieved  results,  but  also  explain  the  ways  leading  to  the 
result  as  well  as  the  reasons  why  the  final  solution  was  preferred  to  other  possible  ones 
and  their  respective  economic  assessment.  Any  audio-visual  material  produced  at  the  core 
action  will be included,  except  where copyright  issues become  prohibitive. 

A pilot  project  aimed  at  assessing  the  feasibility  of the  concept  is being  prepared jointly  by 
the Euro  Info  Centres of Luxembourg,  Nuremberg and  Den  Bosch.  The  experience  gained 
from  these  first  three  projects  will  be  used  as  a  model  to  cover  gradually  the  whole 
territory  of  the  Union.  So,  in  order  to  make  this  a  success,  your  help  will  be  appreciated 
and  I am asking you  today  for  your  help to  make this effort  a success.  1  am  inviting  you  as 
well,  I am  inviting  you,  to  propose  to  my  services  any  enterprise  known  to  you  that  you 
consider  appropriate  for  hosting  a SAFE  PR event.  There  is nobody  in this  room  that  does 
not  know  where  a good  practice  and  a  good  experience  is  on  display  in  the  workplace  -
we  would  like  to  hear  about  it  so  that  we  can  pick  the  best,  get  the  good  experience  and 
duplicate  and  replicate  it right  across  the  Union. 

Let  me  move just  for  a  moment  to  the  question  of  health  and  safety  in  the  enlargement 
process  and  particularly  in  our  international  relations.  Ladies  and  gentlemen,  you  will 
appreciate  that  high  on  our  list  of  priorities  is,  of  course,  the  whole  question  of 
enlargement.  We  are  going  to  constantly  hear  this  matter  discussed  in  more  depth  from 

45/ 

this  point  on  and  I  acknowledge  that  this  clearly  means  additional  work  lor  everybody 
involved  in  the  whole  process.  And,  of  course,  applicant  countries  will  be  obliged  to 
ensure  that  by the date of accession  they  have their  legislation  in line with  European  Union 
legislation.  And  what  does  that  mean-in  effect,  ladies  and  gentlemen9  It  means  for  the  area 
for  which  I am  responsible  and  where  you  too  have  a  responsibility,  some  50  legal  acts, 
two-thirds  of  which  come  under  health  and  safety  -  and  that  is  quite  a  workload  for  the 
accession  countries. 

In this perspective,  a high  standard  of  implementation  of  European  Union  legislation  in all 
the  Member  States  is  a  prerequisite  for  the  establishment  of  that  level  playing  field  that  I 
spoke  about,  where  enterprises  in  the  enlarged  European  Union  compete  on  quality, 
productivity,  innovation  and  not  by putting  workers'  health  at  risk. 

So  dialogue  is  necessary  and  dialogue  already  established  between  the  Commission  with 
the  applicant  countries  has  improved,  it  has  improved  their  understanding  too  of  the 
acquis  communautaire. 
In  this  context,  I  am  very  pleased  to  note  that  cooperation 
between  the  senior  labour  inspectors  of  the  PECO  countries  and  the  Senior  Labour 
Inspectors  Committee  is  well  established  now,  and  1 am  sure  that  this  will  contribute  to 
facilitating  the  process  of adaptation  in these  countries. 

Now,  our  future  colleagues  in  the  area  of  health  and  safety  have  expressed  a  wish  to 
receive  as  much  support  as  possible  and  the  Commission  as  such  is making  every  effort  to 
fulfil  this  wish,  but  there  are  areas  which  are  clearly,  of  course,  outside  the  Commission's 
competence.  Areas  which,  for  example,  relate  to  participation  of  the  social  partners  in  the 
preparation  of  legislation,  and  I would  encourage  you  to  let  them  share  your  experience, 
and  to  let  them  share  your  expertise.  I  am  convinced  that  with  your  help  they  can 
overcome  a lot  of the  problems  that  they  are certainly  going  to  encounter. 

After  having  presented  some  considerations  now,  for  making  health  and  safety  a  high-
profile  issue,  and  my  ideas  on  the  content  of  the  strategy,  I would  like  to  draw  to  a  close 
in the  following  words. 

1 am  here,  ladies  and  gentlemen,  to  seek  your  advice,  to  seek  your  support  for  this  plan  of 
action.  1  have,  as  I said  at  the  beginning,  very great  expectations  of you  to  help  us to  place 
health  and  safety  at  the  top  of  the  political  agenda.  It  cannot  be  a  successful  strategy 
unless this  house  here gives  that  wholehearted  support. 

Now,  our  next  meeting  is scheduled  for  the  end  of  October  this year  Until  then  I will  give 
wide  publicity  to  our  plans,  mainly  by  making  a  presentation  of  these  plans  at  the 
conference  on  safety  and  health  arranged  by the  Dutch  Presidency  at  the  end  of  May  and  a 
high-level  seminar  during  the  Luxembourg  Presidency,  to  which  you  are  all  invited  to 

46 

contribute  Mvà  yo*i aie all  invited  to  paiticijwitc  -  I enctHwai^e  you  please  to  do  so  Mi 
contribute  iMMÎ  yoti  aie all  invited  to  pari ici |>u4c -  I enctHwai^e  you  please  io  do  so  Mi 
contribute  «MM! yoti  aie atl  invited  to  paiticijwitc  -  I enctHwai^e  you  please  io  do  so  Mi 
LarssoH, our  Director  General,  has  promised  to  come  back  to  IHC before  the end  of  this 
Larsson, our  Director  General,  has  promised  to  come  back  to  me before  the and of  this 
Larsson, our  Director 'General, has  promised  to  come back  to  me before  the and of  this 
year with a  comprehensive strategy  for  achieving  a higher political  profile  for  health  and 
year- with a  comprehensive strategy  for  achieving  a higher  political  profile  for  health  and 
year- with a  comprehensive strategy  for  achieving a higher  political  profile  for  health  and 
safety  at  work  wd  I am greatly looking forward  to  thai strategy and  the outline that  will 
safety  at  work  wd  I am greatly looking forward  to  that  strategy and  the outline that  will 
safety  at  work  wd  I am greatly looking forward  to  that  strategy and  the outline that  will 
be contamed therein 
be contained therein 
be etmtmmâ therein 

Finally,  I want  to thank you  all,  not  only  for  your good  attention  which  I appreciate this 
Finally,  I want  to thank you  all, not  only  for  your good  attention  which  1  appreciate this 
Finally,  I want  to thank you  ail, not  only  for  your good  attention  which  1  appreciate this 
morning, but for what 1 am sure will be fruitfijl  cooperation and for the very special  efforts 
morning, but for what 1 am sure will be fruitfijl  cooperation and for the very special  efforts 
morning, but for what ! arn sure will be fruitful  cooperation and for the very special  efforts 
1  anticipate  from  you  to  deliver  your  opinion  on  this  document  at  your  next  plenary 
1  anticipate  from  you  to  deliver  your  opinion  on  this  document  at  your  next  plenary 
1  anticipate  from  you  to  deliver  your  opinion  on  this  document  at  your  next  plenary 
session. 1 thank you for your kind attention,  thank you very much 
session. 1 thank you for your kind attention,  thank you very much 
session. 1 thank you for your kind attention,  thank you very much 

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ISSN 0254-1475 

COM(98) 522 final 

DOCUMENTS 

EN 

05  04  16 

Catalogue  number  :  CB-CO-98-706-EN-C 

Office  for Official  Publications  of  the European  Communities 

L-2985  Luxembourg 

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