WRITTEN QUESTION E-3965/00 by Vincenzo Lavarra (PSE), Pasqualina Napoletano (PSE), Guido Sacconi (PSE), Fiorella Ghilardotti (PSE) and Giovanni Pittella (PSE) to the Commission. Health and safety of workers in industrial plants which produce dangerous chemical substances.
Date: 2000-12-20
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: Italy, chemical industry, dangerous substance, environmental risk prevention, labour law, occupational disease, occupational health, occupational safety

13.11.2001

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 318 E/15

In particular, the Commission has foreseen in its proposal for recasting the Financial Regulation adopted
on 26 July 2000 (2) that (cid:145)The Commission may not entrust measures of budget implementation (cid:133) to
external private-law bodies or organisations, other than those which have a public-service mission
guaranteed by the State.(cid:146)

Directive 2000/35/EC of the Parliament and of the Council of 29 June 2000 on combating late payment
in commercial transactions (3) does not fix a payment deadline of 30 days for all commercial transactions
in the private sector. On the contrary, public authorities and the private sector continue to enjoy the right
to negotiate payment periods in their commercial relations. A payment deadline of 30 days only applies if
the contract is silent on this subject. The Commission does not treat itself in a way different to the private
sector.

The Commission is aware that its performance in meeting payment deadlines needs improvement. It has
addressed this question on a number of occasions, most recently in July 2000 when it adopted guidelines
aimed at increasing the proportion of payments made within the 60 day period. The Commission pays
interest when the deadline is not respected.

(1) SEC(2000) 2000/3.
(2) COM(2000) 461 final.
(3) OJ L 200, 8.8.2000.

(2001/C 318 E/016)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3965/00

by Vincenzo Lavarra (PSE), Pasqualina Napoletano (PSE),
Guido Sacconi (PSE), Fiorella Ghilardotti (PSE) and Giovanni Pittella (PSE)
to the Commission

(20 December 2000)

Subject: Health and safety of workers in industrial plants which produce dangerous chemical substances

The EU places a high priority on policies concerning environmental protection, protecting the health of
citizens and safeguarding workers in the workplace.

In Italy we are continuing to see suspected and established cases of injury and serious illnesses because of
a lack of precautionary measures in the production of certain substances in chemical and petro-chemical
firms (in Venice, Taranto and Val Basento).

In Brindisi a judicial enquiry is in progress, with 68 notices of
to establish
responsibility, within the petro-chemical undertaking, for possible large-scale manslaughter, deliberately-
caused environmental disaster and failure to take adequate measures to safeguard the health of employees
working on the production of polyvinyl chloride.

investigation issued,

Can the Commission therefore say:

1. whether there are any maps of at-risk areas in connection with the industrial production, past or
present, of substances which pose a danger to the health of workers and residents in surrounding
regions?

2. what initiatives the EU has undertaken or intends to undertake to prevent, monitor, check and reclaim

the sites in question?

3. how it intends to follow up the issue of health and safety at work as part of its social agenda and,

specifically, to improve it considerably, as called for by Parliament in the Van Lancker report?

C 318 E/16

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

13.11.2001

Answer given by Mrs Diamantopoulou on behalf of the Commission

(21 May 2001)

The Commission agrees with the Honourable Members on the role of preventive policies for the protection
of the health and safety of workers and citizens.

Important Community legislation exists on this matter. As far as the protection of workers inside industrial
premises is concerned the measures provided for by Community legislation on health and safety at work,
such as Council Directive 89/391/EEC of 12 June 1989 on the introduction of measures to encourage
improvements in the safety and health of workers at work (1); Council Directive 89/654/EEC of
30 November 1989 concerning the minimum safety and health requirements for the workplace (2);
Council Directive 89/655/EEC of 30 November 1989 concerning the minimum safety and health
requirements for the use of work equipment by workers at work (2); Council Directive 89/656/EEC of
30 November 1989 on the minimum health and safety requirements for the use by workers of personal
the workplace (2); Council Directive 90/394/EEC of 28 June 1990 on the
protective equipment at
protection of workers from the risks related to exposure to carcinogens at work (3); and Council Directive
98/24/EC of 7 April 1998 on the protection of the health and safety of workers from the risks related to
chemical agents at work (4) are relevant. Such Directives lay down minimum requirements which are to be
applied in the workplace in order to ensure that all the necessary steps have been taken to prevent or
adequately control the workers(cid:146) exposure.

As stated in Article 6 (1) of Directive 89/391/EEC (cid:145)Within the context of his responsibilities, the employer
shall take the measures necessary for the safety and health protection of workers, including prevention of
occupational risks and provision of information and training, as well as provision of the necessary
organisation and means. The employer shall be alert to the need to adjust these measures to take account
of changing circumstances and aim to improve existing situations.(cid:146)

In any case, it should be highlighted that the enforcement of national legislation transposing Community
health and safety rules is the responsibility of Member States.

Within the framework of the Seveso II Directive (Council Directive 96/82/EC on the control of major-
accident hazards involving dangerous substances (5)), a European map is being developed that should show
all industrial sites coming under the Directive, e.g. all sites where dangerous chemicals are present in
certain quantities.

For these sites, the Seveso II Directive requires specific safety measures to be taken by the operators
(notification, establishment of a major accident prevention policy and safety reports, establishment and
regular testing of internal and external emergency plans, land-use planning, inspections (cid:133)).

Following its Communication on a Community programme concerning safety, hygiene and health at work
(1996-2000) (6), the Commission intends to adopt a new Communication on a Community strategy on this
issue by the year 2002, as indicated in the Communication from the Commission to the Council, the
Parliament, the Economic and Social Committee and the Committee of the Regions on the Social Policy
Agenda (7). The issue raised by the Honourable Members will be taken into account in order to improve
the health and safety of workers exposed to dangerous chemical substances.

(1) OJ L 183, 29.6.1989.
(2) OJ L 393, 30.12.1989.
(3) OJ L 196, 26.7.1990.
(4) OJ L 131, 5.5.1998.
(5) OJ L 10, 14.1.1997.
(6) COM(95) 282 final.
(7) COM(2000) 379 final.