WRITTEN QUESTION E-2320/99 by Freddy Blak (PSE) to the Commission. Injuries caused by using a mouse.
Date: 1999-12-13
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: European Agency for Safety and Health at Work, directive (EU), ergonomics, national implementing measure, occupational disease, peripheral, trauma, video display unit work

C 225 E/98

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

8.8.2000

It is up to the regulatory authorities in Member States to apply the principles of Community pharmaceu-
tical legislation and to take concrete decisions on authorisations and restrictions (e.g. medical prescription)
for specific products. The Commission is not contemplating any changes to that approach.

the above rules falls under the competence of Member States,

the
As the practical application of
Commission is not in a position to give answers to the very detailed and product-specific questions raised
by the Honourable Member. The attention of the Honourable Member is, however, drawn to the activities
of the (cid:145)working party on herbal medicinal products(cid:146) at the European agency for the evaluation of medicinal
products (EMEA) in London, which was created with the aim of fostering the gradual harmonisation of the
safety and efficacy evaluation of herbal medicinal products in the Community. Reports on the activities of
this working group can be easily accessed through the EMEA(cid:146)s website: http://www.eudra.org/emea.html.

(1) OJ 22, 9.2.1965.
(2) OJ L 243, 15.9.1999.

(2000/C 225 E/098)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2320/99

by Freddy Blak (PSE) to the Commission

(13 December 1999)

Subject: Injuries caused by using a mouse

Injuries resulting from the use of a mouse look set to become a major occupational health hazard and
have been proclaimed as the big new health and safety problem of the future. A Danish study of the
problems caused by working at a VDU, commissioned by ¯rhus district council, shows that just four hours
a day is enough to cause damage to the wrists, elbows, neck and shoulders. However, it is not only those
who use computers intensively that are at risk, for more than half of all the VDU users who took part in
the survey had problems. Those who work at VDUs are just as badly affected physically as other groups
who normally report most wrist, elbow neck and shoulder injuries.

Does the Commission know of similar research elsewhere in Europe into the extent of injuries caused by
using a mouse?

The Danish study also shows that, unfortunately, there is a long way to go before the requirements of the
European directive on working with display screen equipment are met. Only 36 % of desks could be
height-regulated, and only 30 % of employees could rest their lower arm whilst using a keyboard or a
mouse.

Does the Commission have an overview of how the directive is being implemented in other Member
States?

Will it take steps to update the directive so that it takes account of any new findings concerning injuries
caused by using a mouse at work.

Answer given by Mrs Diamantopoulou on behalf of the Commission

(17 January 2000)

Council Directive 90/270/EEC of 29 May 1990, which lays down minimum safety and health requirements
for work with display screen equipment (1), has been transposed by all the Member States.

Pursuant to Article 11(3) of the Directive, Member States must report to the Commission every four years
on the practical
indicating the points of view of
employers and workers. These reports have allowed the Commission to obtain an overall view of the
practical enforcement of this Directive.

implementation of the provisions of the Directive,

8.8.2000

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Official Journal of the European Communities

C 225 E/99

in 1997 the Commission evaluated the scientific studies and the opinions expressed by the
Besides,
interested parties, notably as regards work with the mouse. According to the results of the evaluation,
Directive 90/270/EEC adequately addresses these aspects, notably in point 1(d) of the Annex, which
prescribes that the work surface shall be large enough to allow, inter alia, a flexible arrangement of the
ancillary equipment (for example the mouse) and to allow workers to find a comfortable position.

As regards adjusting the height of the work desks, Directive 90/270/EEC does not lay down minimum
requirements; rather, it provides that the work seat shall be adjustable in height and that the seat back shall
be adjustable in both height and tilt.

Besides, with a view to evaluating the possible need for Community action on risk factors concerning
upper limb disorders, the data assembled on this subject by the European Agency for Health and Safety at
Work have been forwarded for opinion to the Advisory Committee on Safety, Hygiene and Health
Protection at Work. Once the Committee has delivered its opinion the Commission will take whatever
initiatives are required.

(1) OJ L 156, 21.6.1990.

(2000/C 225 E/099)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2321/99

by Michl Ebner (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(13 December 1999)

Subject: European civilian and solidarity service

In view of the fact that compulsory military service has been abolished or its reform is at least being
debated in many Member States and the European Parliament adopted a resolution on the establishment of
a European civilian service on 22 September 1995, in which it called on the Commission to submit a
proposal for the creation of a European civilian service, the Commission is asked to say whether it is
considering the possibility of taking initiatives and measures to establish a three- to four-month civilian
and solidarity service applicable to all (cid:129) men and women alike?

Answer given by Mrs Reding on behalf of the Commission

(28 January 2000)

A programme of European civilian and solidarity service has been established through Decision
No 1686/98/EC of the Parliament and the Council of 20 July 1998 establishing the Community action
programme (cid:145)European Voluntary Service for Young People(cid:146) (1).

The programme has the following objectives (Article 1):

((cid:133)) It is intended, while respecting equal opportunities for men and women, to encourage mobility
and solidarity among young people as part of active citizenship, to promote, and give them the
chance of acquiring, informal education experience in a variety of sectors of activity, which may be
one of the foundations of their future development, and to promote, through their participation in
transnational activities of benefit to the community, an active contribution on their part to the ideals
of democracy, tolerance and solidarity in the context of European integration and to cooperation
between the European Community and third countries.

However, it has to be stressed that European voluntary service is not a substitute for military or alternative
services which are according to the principle of subsidiary within the responsibility of the Member States.
Concerning this item recital 21 of the decision says:

for the
Whereas European voluntary service activities are not a substitute for military service,
alternative service formulae provided in particular for conscientious objectors or for the compulsory
civilian service existing in several Member States ((cid:133)).

The activities of European voluntary service will be continued from the year 2000 on within the
framework of the Community action programme YOUTH (2), which is currently under negotiation.