26th Annual activity report of the Advisory Committee on Safety, Hygiene and Health Protection at Work - 2001
Date: 2003-06-12
Institutions: European Commission
Subjects: activity report, advisory committee (EU), occupational health, occupational safety, working conditions, workplace

EN (11569/1/02)

COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES

Brussels, 12.06.2003
COM(2003) 346 final

26TH ANNUAL ACTIVITY REPORT OF THE

ADVISORY COMMITTEE ON SAFETY, HYGIENE AND HEALTH PROTECTION AT

2001

 
TABLE OF CONTENTS

SUMMARY ............................................................................................................................... 4

1.

1.1.

1.2.

2.

2.1.

2.2.

CHARACTERISTICS OF THE COMMITTEE.......................................................... 5

Origin, competence and remit ...................................................................................... 5

Structure, procedure ..................................................................................................... 6

ACTIVITIES IN 2001.................................................................................................. 7

25th activity report of the Advisory Committee .......................................................... 8

Opinions adopted ......................................................................................................... 8

2.2.1. Committee opinion (Doc. No 0966/1/01) on draft standardisation mandates given

to European standardisation organisations and contained in documents 3/2001,
4/2001 et 5/2001........................................................................................................... 8

2.2.2. Committee opinion (Doc. No 0860/2/00) on multidisciplinary protective and

preventive services and health surveillance at work............................................... 9

2.2.3. Committee opinion (Doc. No 0702/1/01) on the draft proposal for a Commission

directive establishing a second list of indicative occupational exposure limit
values in implementation of Council Directive 98/24/EC..................................... 10

2.2.4. Committee opinion (Doc. No 0983/1/01) on musculo-skeletal disorders............... 10

2.2.5. Committee opinion (Doc. No 2505/1/01) on a new Community strategy for health
and safety at work 2002-2006.................................................................................. 11

2.2.6. Committee opinion (Doc. No 1947/2/01) on the White Paper for a future strategy

on chemicals.............................................................................................................. 12

2.2.7. Committee opinion (Doc. No 1564/2/01) on violence at work ................................ 12

2.2.8.

Interim opinion of the Committee (Doc. No 2107/1/01) on the Report on the
European Agency for Safety and Health at Work ................................................ 13

2.2.9. Committee opinion on the draft work programme for the Bilbao Agency for 200214

2.3.

Operational procedures .............................................................................................. 14

2.3.1. Work programme 2002 .............................................................................................. 14

3.

ACTIVITIES OF THE AD HOC GROUPS/END-OF-YEAR STRUCTURE ......... 15

3.1.

Ad hoc groups active in 2001 and continuing their activities in 2002....................... 15

3.1.1.

Planning ..................................................................................................................... 15

3.1.2.

Standardisation........................................................................................................... 15

3.1.3. Report on the European Agency for Safety and Health at Work............................... 15

3.1.4.

Teleworking ............................................................................................................... 15

3.1.5. Occupational diseases ................................................................................................ 15

2

3.1.6. ATEX ......................................................................................................................... 15

3.2.

Creation of ad hoc groups in 2001 ............................................................................. 16

3.2.1. Community strategy 2002–2006 (Doc. No 0994/01)................................................. 16

3.2.2. Health and safety in the hospital sector (Doc. No 2103/1/01) ................................... 16

3.2.3.

Fisheries sector (Doc. No 2504/01) ........................................................................... 16

3.2.4. Chemicals in the workplace (Doc. No 2502/1/01)..................................................... 16

3.3.

Dissolution of ad hoc groups ..................................................................................... 17

3.3.1. Multidisciplinary protective and preventive services/Medical surveillance of workers17

3.3.2. Musculo-skeletal disorders......................................................................................... 17

3.3.3. Occupational exposure levels..................................................................................... 17

3.3.4. Guidelines for chemical agents .................................................................................. 17

3.3.5.

Prevention of violence at work .................................................................................. 17

4.

4.1.

4.2.

4.3.

4.4.

4.5.

4.6.

4.7.

4.8.

COOPERATION WITH OTHER BODIES .............................................................. 18

Safety and Health Commission for the Mining and Other Extractive Industries ...... 18

Senior Labour Inspectors' Committee........................................................................ 18

Scientific Committee for Occupational Exposure Limits to Chemical Agents ......... 18

Social partners............................................................................................................ 18

Trade Union Technical Bureau .................................................................................. 19

International Labour Office (ILO) ............................................................................. 19

European Foundation for the Improvement of Living and Working Conditions....... 19

European Agency for Safety and Health at Work...................................................... 19

ANNEX A ................................................................................................................................ 20

ANNEX B ................................................................................................................................ 22

ANNEX C ................................................................................................................................ 27

ANNEX D ................................................................................................................................ 32

3

SUMMARY

26th Annual activity report of the
Advisory Committee on Safety, Hygiene and Health Protection at Work
2001 (Doc. xxxx/01 EN)

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  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  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 Commission official designated by the chair.

The Committee produces an annual report on its activities, which the Commission forwards to
the European Parliament, the Council and the Economic and Social Committee1.

In  2001,  the  Committee  met  twice  in  Luxembourg.  At  both  meetings,  the  Commission
informed  the  Committee  of  developments  with  regard  to  all  matters  concerning  safety,
hygiene and health protection at work.

The Committee adopted the annual activity report for 2000, together with nine opinions which
are reviewed in section 2.2 of this report, and looked at potential subjects for its 2002 work
programme.

1 The Consultative Committee of the European Coal and Steel Community, to which the activity report was also
forwarded  in  accordance  with  Article 3 (2)  of  Decision  74/325/EEC,  ceased  work  in  2002  on  expiry  of  the
ECSC Treaty.

4

                                                
1.

CHARACTERISTICS OF THE COMMITTEE

1.1.

Origin, competence and 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:

a)

b)

c)

d)

e)

to  conduct,  on  the  basis  of  information  available  to  it,  exchanges  of  views  and
experience regarding existing or planned regulations;

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

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
cooperation  with  the  Safety  and  Health  Commission  for  the  Mining  and  other
Extractive Industries:

– 

– 

the criteria and aims of the campaign against the risk of accidents at work and
health hazards within the undertaking;

methods enabling  companies  and their  employees  to  evaluate  and  to  improve
the level of protection;

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  aiming  at  exchanges  of
experience and at laying down codes of practice.

5

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  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 Commission official designated by the chair.

The Committee may establish ad hoc groups under the chairmanship of a Committee member.
The  results  of  their  proceedings  are  submitted  in  the  form  of  a  report  at  a  meeting  of  the
Committee.

The Committee produces an annual report on its activities, which the Commission forwards to
the European Parliament, the Council and the Economic and Social Committee2.

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  rules  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.

Liaison  between  the  members  of  the  government  interest  group  is  the  responsibility  of  a
Committee  member  who  represents  the  government  of  the  country  holding  the  Presidency.
Liaison  between  members  of  the  employers'  group  is  the  responsibility  of  the  Union  of
Industrial  and  Employers'  Confederations  of  Europe  (UNICE),  while  the  European  Trade
Union Confederation (ETUC), a workers' trade union organisation at Community level, was
chosen to assist in coordinating the position of workers' representatives.

The Commission provides secretarial services for the Committee and the ad hoc groups. The
Secretariat comes under Directorate-General EMPL (Unit D/5).

2 The Consultative Committee of the European Coal and Steel Community, to which the activity report was also
forwarded  in  accordance  with  Article  3  (2)  of  Decision  74/325/EEC,  ceased  work  in  2002  on  expiry  of  the
ECSC Treaty.

6

                                                
ACTIVITIES IN 2001

On 18 December 2000, the Council, acting on a proposal from the Member States, appointed
the full and  alternate  members  of  the  Committee  for  the  period  from  18  December  2000  to
17 December 2003, the previous term of office having run from 7 July 1997 to 6 July 2000.
The list of members for 2001 is attached as Annex B.

In  2001,  the  Committee  met  on  two  occasions  in  Luxembourg,  in  May  and  November.  At
each  meeting,  the  Commission  informed  the  Committee  of  developments  with  regard  to  all
matters concerning safety, hygiene and health protection at work.

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

The course of the Committee's activities in 2001 mirrored that of the Commission. Since the
Commission was to adopt a communication on a new strategy for health and safety at work in
2002, the Committee's four-year work programme for 1996–2000 was extended by a year.

The  proposed  activities  and  priorities  were  put  to  the  Committee  by  the  Planning  Group,
which met on four occasions.

Seventeen meetings were organised for the 11 ad hoc  groups set up  to  look into specialised
areas on which the Committee wished to give an opinion.

The Committee disbanded five groups, whose work had been completed:

– 

– 

– 

– 

– 

Multidisciplinary services

Musculo-skeletal disorders

Occupational exposure levels

Guidelines for chemical agents

Prevention of violence at work

The Committee set up four groups, for which a mandate was adopted:

– 

– 

– 

– 

Community strategy 2002–2006 (Doc. No 0994/01)

Health and safety in the hospital sector (Doc. No 2103/1/01)

Fisheries sector (Doc. No 2504/01)

Chemicals in the workplace (Doc. No 2502/1/01)

The Committee also revised the mandate of the "ATEX" group (Doc. No 3453/1/00).

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

7

The Committee adopted its annual activity report for 2000, together with nine opinions which
are reviewed in section 2.2 of this report, and looked at potential subjects for its 2002 work
programme.

2.1.

25th activity report of the Advisory Committee

(Doc. No 1943/01)

The  Committee  adopted  its  25th  report,  covering  activities  in  2000,  at  its  63th  plenary
meeting on 29 November 2001.

2.2.

Opinions adopted

2.2.1. Committee opinion (Doc. No 0966/1/01) on draft standardisation mandates given to
European  standardisation  organisations  and  contained  in  documents  3/2001,
4/2001 et 5/2001

– 

Doc. 3/2001 – Publication of the reference of the harmonised standard "Safety of toys

– Part 1: Mechanical and physical properties" in the OJEC

Although  the  subject  of  this  mandate  mainly  concerns  the  internal  market,  it  also
falls within the remit of the Advisory Committee, given that toys are used in leisure
centres, shops and when tested.

Since  children  are  particularly  sensitive  to  noise  and  making  them  wear  personal
protective equipment would appear to  be out  of the question,  the Committee stated
that steps should be taken to reduce the noise made by toys as far as possible. In any
case, the noise level should be lower than the levels which are acceptable without the
use of personal protective equipment.

– 

– 

Doc. 4/2001 – Draft Commission decision relating to the publication of references for
standards  EN  13428:2000  to  EN  13432:2000  in  the  OJEC  in  connection  with
Directive 94/62/EC on packaging and packaging waste

While noting that the draft decision did not fall within its remit, the Committee did
raise certain matters of principle. Some of the standards whose references were to be
published were incomplete in relation to Directive 94/62/EC. The Committee felt this
situation was unsatisfactory and urged that similar situations be avoided in future.

Doc. 5/2001 – Standardisation mandate given to the CEN in connection with Directive
98/37/CE relating to machinery with a view to revising the standard EN 848-3:1999
on the safety of woodworking machines

The  Committee  agreed  with  the  serious  criticisms  voiced  by  the  Swedish
government.

The Committee noted that the deadlines originally established had been extended by
one year and was concerned about the time to be worked without safe machinery.

While accepting that the current standard would in the meantime continue to give a
presumption of compliance, the Committee asked the CEN to do its utmost to speed
up its work in this area.

8

While the Committee agreed to ask the Commission to take appropriate steps to alert
users  to  the  risks  from  shortcomings  in  machinery  currently  available,  it  also
emphasised  that  suppliers  remain  responsible  for  the  supply  of  safe  machinery  and
that that responsibility cannot be mitigated by such precautionary measures.

These recommendations should be accompanied by appropriate publicity since there
will  be  a  transitional  period  during  which  machinery  posing  a  serious  risk  will
remain in use.

The Committee adopted the draft opinion unanimously on 15 May 2001.

2.2.2. Committee  opinion  (Doc.  No  0860/2/00)  on  multidisciplinary  protective  and

preventive services and health surveillance at work

Articles  7  and  14  of  the  Framework  Directive  (89/391/EEC)  provide  for  measures  to
encourage improvements in the safety and health of workers at work, specifically as regards
protective and preventive services and health surveillance. In 1996, the Committee therefore
set up an ad hoc group to investigate the problems encountered and experience acquired in the
establishment of multidisciplinary services of this type for employees in all sectors, industries
and undertakings, public or private, and to analyse health surveillance of workers in different
Member States.

A  first  draft  opinion  was  submitted  to  the  Committee  at  its  59th  plenary  meeting  on
27 October  1999.  Following  the  Committee's  request  for  this  draft  to  be  reviewed,  a  text
revised by an editorial group was discussed at the Committee's 60th plenary on 18 May 2000.
In the light of reservations expressed by all the interest groups, the text was returned to the ad
hoc group. At its last meeting on 20 February 2001, the editorial group finalised a new draft
opinion,  which  the  Committee  finally  adopted  at  its  62nd  plenary,  comments  from  the
employers group being annexed to the text of the opinion.

The Committee agreed to deal separately with the two issues of "multidisciplinary protective
and preventive services" and "health surveillance", while keeping them inter-linked in a single
final document.

As regards protective  and preventive services,  rules of  good practice were  identified,  which
can be generally applied, irrespective of the area of activity. The Member States must ensure
quality  control,  while  the  employers,  who  are  responsible  for  implementing  the  safety
measures, must have the capacity to involve workers and enlist qualified assistance competent
to perform these tasks. 

Health surveillance involves putting in  place  systematic,  regular and  appropriate procedures
to detect early signs of work-related ill health among workers exposed to health risks, and to
act on the results. It is thus part of an overall programme to prevent occupational risks. The
responsibility  for  health  risk  management,  and  therefore  health  surveillance,  rests  with  the
employer, who must comply with the national legislative framework for health and safety.

The Committee notes that there is no one model for health surveillance – different approaches
being  needed  for  different  circumstances  –  but  emphasises  that  all  new  procedures  must  be
validated  against  five  main  criteria:  need,  relevance,  scientific  validity,  effectiveness  and
ethical standards.

The Committee adopted the draft opinion unanimously on 15 May 2001.

9

2.2.3. Committee  opinion  (Doc.  No  0702/1/01)  on  the  draft  proposal  for  a  Commission
directive establishing a second list of  indicative occupational exposure  limit values
in implementation of Council Directive 98/24/EC

On  27  October  1999,  the  Committee  had  decided  to  set  up  an  Ad  Hoc  Group  on
Establishment of Occupational Exposure Levels to deliver an opinion to the Committee on the
procedures  for  the  collection  and  evaluation  of  data  needed  for  the  establishing  of
occupational  exposure  levels,  to  prepare  comments  by  the  Committee  on  the  outcome  of
assessments  carried  out  by  the  Commission  on  the  basis  of  analyses  performed  by  the
scientific  expert  group  and  to  prepare  a  draft  Committee  opinion  on  the  Commission’s
proposals for directives in this area.

This group met four times, on 14 December 1999, 5 April and 25 October 2000, and 5 April
2001, and worked on a draft proposal for a Commission directive establishing a second list of
indicative  occupational  exposure  limit  values  in  implementation  of  Council  Directive
98/24/EC (Doc. No 531/3/99).

The draft opinion submitted by the ad hoc  group and adopted by the Committee consists of
three parts: part A, containing comments on the draft directive proposed by the Commission,
part  B,  on  measurement  methods,  and  part  C,  on  the  procedure  for  IOELs  for  which  not
enough or no scientific information is available. 

The main comments in part A of the draft opinion related to changes in the list of substances
and values initially presented. Specifically, the employers  group said it could not accept the
limit values proposed for a number of substances (toluene, n-hexane, nitric acid and chlorine).
The relevant arguments and comments are set out in an annex to the opinion adopted.

In part  B, the Committee welcomed the  Commission's  new approach seeking to produce  an
inventory of suitable analytical methods for the chemicals already published in the annex to
Directive 2000/39/EC. 

In part C, the Committee drew attention to the problem of the use of chemicals for which not
enough scientific data exist to establish an IOEL.

The Committee adopted the draft opinion unanimously on 15 May 2001.

2.2.4. Committee opinion (Doc. No 0983/1/01) on musculo-skeletal disorders

On  6  May  1999,  the  Committee  set  up  an  Ad  Hoc  Group  on  Musculo-skeletal  disorders  to
prepare  a  Committee  opinion  on  possible  Community  action  to  prevent  such  disorders  at
work.

A  draft  opinion  was  produced  after  the  group's  last  meeting  on  13  February  2001  and  was
then  adopted  by  the  Committee  at  its  62nd  plenary,  comments  from  the  employers  group
being annexed to the text of the opinion.

The Committee pointed out that musculo-skeletal disorders (MSDs) account for between 40
and 50 % of all work-related ill-health and affect over 40 million workers in the EU. It urged
the  Commission,  taking  account  of  existing  provisions,  to  promote  an  approach  based  on
primary  prevention,  with  a  view  to  improving  the  level  of  prevention  and  protection,  in  all
undertakings, irrespective of size, and particularly in the most seriously affected sectors.

10

The  Committee  recommended  that  the  Commission  base  its  policy  on  the  following  main
points:  regard  for  the  principles  of  prevention  described  in  the  Framework  Directive
(89/391/EEC);  assessing  physical,  organisational  and  other  risks  at  workplaces;  developing
integrated  approaches,  to  be  adapted  on  a  case-by-case  basis  by  professional/occupational
bodies  and  undertakings;  adopting  multidisciplinary  and  participatory  approaches  to
preventive  action  at  enterprise  level;  providing  information  and  training  for  all  personnel;
taking account of MSD prevention when designing and selecting new installations and items
of equipment; improving diagnostic criteria; promoting corrective and preventive action plans
and indicators for monitoring the progress made; addressing the particular risk of MSDs when
changes are made to the work organisation.

Consideration  should  thus  be  given  to  a  further  regulatory  initiative  focussed  on  preventing
upper  limb  disorders.  In  order  to  raise  awareness  amongst  all  partners  (governments,
employers  and  workers)  of  the  need  to  prevent  MSDs  and  of  how  this  can  be  achieved,
general – and if possible sector-specific – guidelines should be developed and promoted.

The Committee adopted the draft opinion unanimously on 15 May 2001.

2.2.5. Committee  opinion  (Doc.  No  2505/1/01)  on  a  new  Community  strategy  for  health

and safety at work 2002-2006

In  its  "Social  Policy  Agenda"  communication,  the  Commission  had  mentioned  the  need  to
produce  a  communication  setting  out  a  new  Community  strategy  for  health  and  safety  at
work.  All  players  were  asked  to  play  an  active  part  in  carrying  out  the  Agenda,  producing
their  various  contributions  before  the  Commission's  adoption  of  its  communication,  which
was expected in 2002.

The  Committee  decided  on  15  May  2001  to  set  up  a  "Community  strategy  2002–2006"
working group to prepare an opinion on Community occupational health and safety strategy
for 2002–2006. The Committee entrusted this task to its Planning Group.

The group met on  twice,  on 3 July  and  2  October  2001,  and  worked  on  various  documents
provided by the Commission, in order to formulate what it considered to be suitable options.
A select editorial group finalised a draft opinion, which was submitted to the Committee at its
63rd plenary, comments from the three interest groups being annexed to the document.

The opinion is intended as an interim contribution by the Committee to the new strategy for
health and safety at work being drawn up by the European Commission and sets out the points
the Committee feels the strategy must cover if it is to be successful.

The general framework of the new strategy must rest on the guiding principle laid down in the
Social Agenda of a policy designed to ensure quality jobs. Greater synergy and complementarity
between national, European and international levels must be pursued, mobilising all the players
concerned  and  integrating  occupational  health  and  safety  aspects  into  Community  policy  as  a
whole. However, consideration must also be given to the specific nature of the problems posed
by health and safety at work, in order to maintain and reinforce experience, skills and a common
reference framework in this area.

The new strategy must be planned and carried out on the basis of a detailed knowledge of its area
of  application  and  the  difficulties  that  arise  there,  acquired  by  better  observation,  monitoring,
collection  and  dissemination  of  information,  and  on  accurate  identification  of  targets  and
priorities  depending  on  the  various  situations to  be  addressed  (firm  size,  various trades  and/or

11

categories of worker). To ensure effective implementation, a timetable must be drawn up, with a
plan for the regular assessment of project progress.

As  regards  possible  legislation,  a  practical  assessment  must  be  made  of  how  the  existing
directives are applied. However, this does not mean that the option of enacting new legislation
should  be  disregarded,  since  such  a  review  will  point  up  the  employment  sectors,  worker
categories or risks for which protection is inadequate.

Developing  a  stronger  health  and  safety  culture  must  also  be  central  to  the  new  strategy.  The
introduction of preventive measures targeting the workplace and "technical" protective measures
must  be  accompanied  by  a  genuine  strategy  aimed  at  boosting  risk  awareness  and  health
promotion,  by  means  of  health  and  safety  training  aimed  at  employees,  young  people  in
education  and  people  in  vocational  training.  In  this  context,  it  is  also  important  to  promote
exchanges of experience and the quest for shared criteria.

With  a  view  to  enlargement,  the  Committee  underlines  the  need  to  commit  substantial
resources to the candidate countries and the social partners in order to permit such exchanges
of experience and improve the way in which prevention is organised.

The Committee adopted the draft opinion unanimously on 29 November 2001.

2.2.6. Committee opinion (Doc. No 1947/2/01) on the White Paper for a future strategy on

chemicals

At  its  62nd  plenary  on  15  May  2001,  the  Committee  decided  to  produce  an  opinion  on  the
Commission  communication  "White  Paper  –  strategy  for  a  future  chemicals  policy"  [COM
(2001) 88 final], and entrusted the task of drafting it to the Ad Hoc Group on Establishment of
Occupational Exposure Levels.

The group met on 25 June, 11 September and 10 October 2001 and drew up a draft opinion,
which was submitted to the Committee at its 63rd plenary.

The Advisory Committee regrets that it was not consulted before the White Paper was issued,
since some aspects developed in the paper  will have  or  have already major  implications for
safety and health at work. It therefore asks the Commission to ensure that it is consulted on
any changes to the paper that might affect occupational health and safety.

The  Committee  believes  that  it  is  an  important  stakeholder  in  the  development  of  a  new
chemicals  policy.  It  therefore  insists  that  DG  EMPL  take  part  in  the  preparatory  working
groups and the Commission steering group in  charge of drafting the new legislation.  In this
connection, it asks the Commission to take note of a number of comments on various aspects
of the White Paper which are relevant to occupational health and safety policy, especially the
classification criteria for chemicals and product information aspects (safety data sheets).

The Committee adopted the draft opinion unanimously on 29 November 2001.

2.2.7. Committee opinion (Doc. No 1564/2/01) on violence at work

Given the rising level of problems associated with violence at work, the Committee set up an
AHG  "Prevention  of  violence  at  work"”  on  29  October  1997,  to  bring  together  studies  and
good practice in this area with a view to producing a draft opinion.

12

The group met once in 2000 and twice in 2001, on 8 May and 18 September, and produced a
draft opinion which was submitted to the Committee at its 63rd plenary.

The opinion takes account of all forms of violence at work, both physical and mental, as a risk
factor  which  the  employer  has  a  duty  to  assess  and  prevent  or  reduce  by  means  of  specific
measures  in  the  same  way  as  all  other  risk  factors,  pursuant  to  Article  6  of  the  Framework
Directive (89/391/EEC).

Noting that perception of this problem varies greatly from one Member State to the next, the
Committee  urges  the  Commission  to  draft  guidelines  based  on  an  essentially  preventive
approach,  starting  from  a  definition  of  the  phenomenon  in  all  its  various  forms  and
determination of the risk factors that employers are obliged to assess under the terms of the
Framework Directive.

This initiative should also be accompanied by an awareness raising and information campaign
to draw more attention to the problem and to the need to head off violence at work. 

It  would  also  be  desirable  for  the  mental  and  psychosocial  factors  related  to  the  working
environment to be taken into account in establishing quality-of-work indicators.

A common declaration of the three interest  groups, to the effect that the scope of the issues
and  the  practical  action  to  be  considered  should  be  more  closely  defined  by  the  Advisory
Committee Planning Group, is attached as Annex I to the opinion as adopted. The employers
group adopted the opinion subject to comments on its form and content, which are set out in
Annex II.

The Committee adopted the draft opinion unanimously on 29 November 2001.

2.2.8.

Interim  opinion  of  the  Committee  (Doc.  No  2107/1/01)  on  the  Report  on  the
European Agency for Safety and Health at Work

Council  Regulation  (EC)  No  2062/94  of  18  July  1994  establishing  a  European  Agency  for
Safety and Health at Work amended by Council Regulation (EC) No 1643/95 of 29 June 1995
contains a review clause which provides that, no later than five years after the entry into force
of the Regulation (9 September 1994), on the basis of a Commission report, accompanied as
appropriate  by  a  proposal,  the  Council,  having  consulted  the  European  Parliament,  shall
review the Regulation and any new assignment for the Agency that proves necessary.

The  Committee  thus  decided  on  6  May  1999  to  set  up  an  AHG  "Report  on  the  European
Agency  for  Safety  and  Health  at  Work"  to  prepare  an  Advisory  Committee  opinion  on  the
report  to  be  drawn  up  by  the  European  Commission,  accompanied  as  appropriate  by  a
proposal  on  the  review  of  the  Regulation  establishing  the  European  Agency  for  Safety  and
Health at Work.

The  group  met  once  in  2000  at  the  request  of  the  Commission,  which  in  the  interests  of
openness wished to consult it on the specifications for the external invitation to tender for the
assessment of the Agency's work, and twice in 2001, on 21 June and 26 September, once the
Agency  had  made  the  contractor's  report  available.  Since  the  Commission  had  not  yet
produced its report and proposal, a draft interim report was submitted to the Committee in the
meantime at its 63rd plenary.

13

The Committee recommended that three aspects of the Regulation be modified: the objectives
and  missions  of  the  Agency,  the  role  of  the  actors  and  the  way  the  Agency  operates  and
functions.

As  regards  objectives  and  missions,  the  Committee  suggested  that  in  collecting,  processing
and  disseminating  information,  the  Agency  take  account  of  users'  particular  needs.  The
Agency's internal regulation should define these target groups.

The  different  actors'  duties  and  responsibilities  in  respect  of  the  Agency's  work  should  be
specified  in  the  internal  regulation  of  the  Agency  as  defined  and  regularly  updated  by  the
Board, especially as regards the responsibilities of the Focal Points and the board's role as a
strategic decision maker.

As regards the Agency's operating arrangements, the bureau's tasks and functioning should be
clarified and strengthened and the board given greater discretion with regard to the director's
contract. The board's voting arrangements should also be discussed.

The Committee adopted the draft opinion unanimously on 29 November 2001.

2.2.9. Committee opinion on the draft work programme for the Bilbao Agency for 2002

In accordance of Article 10 of the Regulation establishing the Agency, the board adopts the
Agency's  annual  work  programme  on  the  basis  of  a  draft  drawn  up  by  the  director,  after
consultation with the Commission and the Advisory Committee. 

The Agency's board held its meeting on 6 and 7 November 2001, while  the Committee had
not yet been able to hold its October plenary because its groups had not  yet completed their
work. 

At  the  above  meeting,  the  Agency's  board  therefore  adopted  the  2002  work  programme,
subject to the opinion to be delivered by the Committee. The programme was submitted to the
Committee  at  its  63rd  plenary  on  29  November  2001.  The  comments  by  the  three  interest
groups may be summarised as follows.

The three groups emphasised the need to observe the procedure laid down by the Regulation
establishing the Agency, so that the Committee could discuss the Agency's work programme
before it was adopted. They endorsed the Agency's programme. The workers group asked the
Commission  and  Member  States  to  create  a  legal  basis  for  a  programme  for  SMEs.  It
emphasised that the Agency should give thought to all aspects of the European Week.

2.3.

Operational procedures

2.3.1. Work programme 2002

(Doc. No 2480/01)

At its session on 29 November 2001, the Committee adopted its work programme for 2002,
extending its four-year policy programme by one year.

14

ACTIVITIES OF THE AD HOC GROUPS/END-OF-YEAR STRUCTURE

3.1.

Ad hoc groups active in 2001 and continuing their activities in 2002

3.1.1.

Planning

The Planning Group met on four occasions in 2001 to prepare the new mandates and organise
and monitor the work of the groups.

3.1.2.

Standardisation

The activities of this group are of an ongoing nature. The Committee's remit to the group is 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.

In 2001, the group met twice and discussed eight draft mandates to CEN/CENELEC/ETSI. A
draft opinion on three draft mandates discussed (see 2.2.1)  was  submitted  to  the Committee
and adopted on 15 May 2001.

3.1.3.

Report on the European Agency for Safety and Health at Work

The group, created in May 1999, met twice in 2001. A draft interim opinion on the Report on
the Bilbao Agency (see 2.2.8) was submitted to the Committee and adopted on 29 November
2001.

The group will continue its work in 2002.

3.1.4.

Teleworking

The  mandate  of  this  group,  created  on  18  May  2000,  is  to  prepare  an  Advisory  Committee
opinion  on  possible  Community  action  on  health  and  safety  questions  associated  with
teleworking.

The group did not meet in 2001.

3.1.5. Occupational diseases

The  mandate  of  this  group,  created  on  18  May  2000,  is  to  prepare  an  Advisory  Committee
opinion  on  Commission  proposals  concerning  the  updating  of  the  "European  Schedule  of
Occupational Diseases" (Annex I to Commission Recommendation 90/326/EEC).

The group did not meet in 2001.

3.1.6.

ATEX

The remit of this group, established on 19 December 2000, is to assist the Commission in the
preparation  of  a  guide  to  good  practice  enabling  the  employer  to  produce  the  "explosion
protection document" required by Article 8 of the ATEX Directive 1999/92/EC. An invitation
to  tender  will  be  issued  for  this  groundwork.  To  this  end,  the  group  will  meet  with  the
Commission and the contractor at the beginning of the work and on submission of the interim
and final reports and will then report to the Advisory Committee.

The group did not meet in 2001.

15

3.2.

Creation of ad hoc groups in 2001

The Committee created four ad hoc groups and adopted their mandates.

3.2.1. Community strategy 2002–2006 (Doc. No 0994/01)

The  mandate  of  this  group,  created  on  15  May  2001,  is  to  prepare  an  Advisory  Committee
opinion  on  the  Community  occupational  health  and  safety  strategy  for  2002–2006.  The
Committee entrusted this task to the Planning Group.

In 2001, the group met twice and produced a draft opinion (see 2.2.5), which was adopted on
29 November 2001 as an interim contribution by the Committee to assist the Commission in
drawing up the communication on the new strategy.

The group will continue its work in 2002.

3.2.2. Health and safety in the hospital sector (Doc. No 2103/1/01)

The  group  was  set  up  on  29  November  2001.  Its  task  is  to  prepare  a  draft  Advisory
Committee opinion on possible measures to ensure better protection of the health and safety
of workers in the hospital sector, based on a Commission document setting out the proposed
Community measures. 

The group did not meet in 2001.

3.2.3.

Fisheries sector (Doc. No 2504/01)

On  29  November  2001,  the  Committee  adopted  the  mandate  for  this  group,  which  was  to
monitor  work  relating  to  the  health  and  safety  of  workers  in  the  fisheries  sector  during  the
preparation of a new European common fisheries policy.

In  particular,  this  group  will  have  the  task  of  preparing  a  Committee  opinion  on  aspects
relating to the health, safety  and hygiene  of workers  in  the  fisheries sector and  to  assist  the
Commission in its preparatory work for the new common policy in this area.

The group did not meet in 2001.

3.2.4. Chemicals in the workplace (Doc. No 2502/1/01)

The  Planning  Group  proposed  the  creation  of  this  new  group  on  the  basis  of  a
recommendation  from  the  Working  Party  on  the  Establishment  of  Occupational  Exposure
Levels (Doc. No 2105/01). Its mandate was adopted by the Committee at its 63rd plenary on
29 November 2001. Its remit is as follows:

(1) 
(2) 
(3) 

(4) 

to take over the mandate of the "Limit Values" ad hoc group;
to take over the mandate of the "Guidelines" ad hoc group;
to ensure that action resulting from the White Paper "Strategy for  a future chemicals
policy" (COM(2001) 88 final) is followed through;
to suggest further action on problems relating to organic solvents (Doc. No 1941/01 –
EU  Conference  on  Organic  Solvents  and  Organic  Psycho-Syndrome,  Delft,
Netherlands, 10 December 1999).

The group did not meet in 2001.

16

3.3.

Dissolution of ad hoc groups

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

3.3.1. Multidisciplinary protective and preventive services/Medical surveillance of workers

This group was established in November 1996 and met several times in 1999 and 2000. At its
last meeting on 20 February 2001, a select editorial group finalised a draft opinion which the
Committee adopted at its 62nd plenary. The group was formally disbanded on 15 May 2001.

3.3.2. Musculo-skeletal disorders

This  group  was  established  on  6  May  1999  and  held  its  last  meeting,  after  which  a  draft
opinion  was  produced,  on  13  March  2001.  Following  adoption  of  this  opinion  by  the
Committee, the group was disbanded on 15 May 2001.

3.3.3. Occupational exposure levels

This group was established on 27 October 1999. It met four times in 2001 and submitted two
draft opinions to the Committee. These were adopted on 15 May and 29 November 2002 (see
2.2.3 and 2.2.6).

On  assessing  the  remits  handed  down  to  the  groups  working  on  Community  chemicals
policies — viz. the groups "Establishment of Occupational Exposure Levels" and "Guidelines
on Chemical Agents" — the Committee decided at its 63rd plenary on 29 November 2001 to
set up a new group "Chemicals in the workplace", whose functions would include taking over
the mandates of the other two groups in the field. On adoption of the new mandate (see 3.2.4),
the  AHG  "Establishment  of  Occupational  Exposure  Levels"  was  formally  disbanded  on
29 November 2001.

3.3.4. Guidelines for chemical agents

This group was set up on 6 May 1999 to draw up for the Advisory Committee an opinion on a
guidance document covering the topics mentioned in Articles 3, 4, 5 and 6 and Annex II (1)
of 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. The group did not meet in 2001.

When  its  mandate  was  taken  over  by  the  new  group  "Chemicals  in  the  workplace",  it  was
formally disbanded on 29 November 2001.

3.3.5.

Prevention of violence at work

This group was established on 29 October 1997  and met twice in 2001. It submitted a draft
opinion to the Committee at its 63rd plenary. Following adoption of this opinion,  the  group
was disbanded on 29 November 2001.

17

COOPERATION WITH OTHER BODIES

4.1.

Safety and Health Commission for the Mining and Other Extractive Industries

The main tasks of the Safety and Health Commission 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 proposals for improving safety and health protection at the workplace and to
foster exchanges of useful information.

Since 1994, representatives of the Safety and Health Commission have attended meetings of
the Advisory Committee as observers. Similarly, representatives of the Committee are invited
to  the  plenary  meetings  of  the  Safety  and  Health  Commission,  each  interest  group  sending
two observers. This arrangement  ensures a better  information  flow  between  the  two  bodies.
Experience  acquired  so  far  shows  points  in  common,  but  the  impression  of  two  separate
bodies  persists.  The  Safety  and  Health  Commission  is  essentially  a  technical  body  which
deals with safety problems specific to the extractive industries. Technical aspects constitute a
key  element  of  its  work,  whereas  the  Advisory  Committee  is  also  in  a  position  to  discuss
fundamental issues of safety and health at work.

4.2.

Senior Labour Inspectors' Committee

Created by Commission Decision 95/315/EC of 12 July 1995, the Senior Labour Inspectors'
Committee is composed of two representatives of the labour inspectorates 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 secondary Community
legislation in the field of health and safety at work. The 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.

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 as it prepares its opinions on draft
proposals for directives adopting occupational exposure limits under Directive 98/24/EC.

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
the meetings of the Committee.

18

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  with  European
harmonisation and standardisation work in the field of safety and health at the workplace and
with the Committee's standardisation group. A representative of the TUTB is invited to attend
the Committee's meetings.

4.6.

International Labour Office (ILO)

A representative of the ILO is invited to meetings of the Committee.

4.7.

European Foundation for the Improvement of Living and Working Conditions

A representative of the European Foundation is invited to meetings of the Committee, which
he briefs e.g. on the Foundation's work programme.

4.8.

European Agency for Safety and Health at Work

Under the Decision establishing the Agency, the Committee is consulted on its annual work
programme and annual report.

19

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.

Article 4

1.

2.

3.

4.

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.

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.

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

20

Article 5

1.

Article 6

1.

2.

4.

5.

Article 7

1.

Article 8

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

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  department  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.

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

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

COMPOSITION OF THE COMMITTEE in 2001

I. GOVERNMENT REPRESENTATIVES

a) Full members

Belgium

Denmark

Germany

Greece

Spain

France

Ireland

Italy

Luxembourg

Netherlands

Austria

Portugal

Finland

Sweden

Mr HESELMANS

Mr DE CONNINCK

Mr JENSEN

Mr HORST

Ms RATSACH

Mr HELLER

Mr CHRISTODOULOU

Mr PAPADOPOULOS

Ms DE LA FUENTE
VÁZQUEZ

Mr FERNÁNDEZ SÁNCHEZ

Mr BOISNEL

Ms GUIGUEN

Mr HENRY

Mr WALSH

Dr RUME

Mr VOS

Mr WEBER

Dr LATERVEER

Dr BREINDL

Dr SZYMANSKI

Ms PINTO MARVÃO

Mr DE FREITAS DURÃO

Mr ESKOLA

Mr HURMALAINEN

Mr PETTERSON

Mr DIRKE

United Kingdom

Mr GRAHAM

Mr LORD

b) Alternate members

Belgium

Denmark

Germany

Greece

Spain

Mr RAEKELBOOM

Mr DE VIL

Ms SKJOLDAGER

Mr BAHNE

Mr GROSSE-JÄGER

Ms STECK

Ms PISIMISI

Mr MOSCHOPOULOS

Mr CASTELLA

Mr NOLLA FERNANDEZ

22

France

Ireland

Italy

Luxembourg

Netherlands

Austria

Portugal

Finland

Sweden

Mr LEONZI

Ms WOOD

Mr LECARLIER DE VESLUD

Mr DONNELLAN

Mr DEMUTH

Mr HUBERTY

Mr GOUDSMIT

Dr MIDDELPLAATS

Dr FINDING

Ms SERRA

Mr MURR

Mr PIPA

Ms SUNDQUIST

Mr LAMBERG

Mr RAMAEUS

Mr BARREFELT

United Kingdom

Mr CLIFTON

Ms VALENTINY

23

II. WORKERS' REPRESENTATIVES

a) Full members

Belgium

Denmark

Germany

Greece

Spain

France

Ireland

Italy

Mr VANDERCAMMEN Mr FONCK

Mr RASMUSSEN

Mr FREDERIKSEN

Ms SCHRÖDER

Mr ANGERMEIER

Mr ADAMAKIS

Mr ANTONOPOULOS

Ms HERNÃNDEZ
NAVARRO

Mr CARCOBA

Mr BODARD

Mr PHILIP

Mr CRONIN

Mr WHELAN

Luxembourg

Netherlands

Mr GOEREND

Mr GIARDIN

Mr WILDERS

Mr BRÜNING

Austria

Portugal

Finland

Sweden

Mr HEIDER

Ms CZESKLEBA

Mr NASCIMENTO
LOPES

Mr DA COSTA FARIAS

Ms TYÖLÄJÄRVI

Mr KOSKINENI

United Kingdom

Ms ROONEY

Mr MELLISH

b) Alternate members

Belgium

Denmark

Germany

Greece

Spain

France

Ireland

Ms VELLANDE

Mr PHILIPS

Mr JACOBSEN

Mr AHLERS

Mr KONSTANTY

Mr GROWITSCH

Mr KONSTANTINIDIS

Mr DRIVAS

Mr LÓPEZ ARIAS

Mr RODRIGO CENCILLO

Mr SALENGRO

Mr SEDES

Ms MRKWICKA

Mr DEVOY

24

Italy

Luxembourg

Netherlands

Austria

Portugal

Finland

Sweden

Mr BAUDOT

Mr SONNTAG

Ms BASTIAAN-
SCHONEWILLE

Mr VAN STEEBERGEN

Ms REITINGER

Mr STEINER

Mr COELHAS DIONISIO Mr DE DEUS GOMES PIRES

Mr SAARIKANGAS

Ms PERIMÄKI-DIETRICH

United Kingdom

Mr TUDOR

Ms GIBSON

III. EMPLOYERS' REPRESENTATIVES

a) Full members

Belgium

Denmark

Germany

Greece

Spain

France

Ireland

Italy

Mr DE MEESTER

Mr BORMANS

Mr NIELSEN

Mr JEPSEN

Mr HOLTMANN

Mr LEHR

Mr ZIMALIS

Mr KYRIAKONGONAS

Mr TEIXIDÓ CAMPÁS

Mr MANZANO SANZ

Mr PEYRICAL

Ms CAZALS

Mr ENRIGHT

Mr BRISCOE

Luxembourg

Netherlands

Mr SCHEUREN

Dr METZLER

Ms FRENKEL

Mr KONING

Austria

Portugal

Finland

Sweden

Ms SCHWENG

Mr BRAUNER

Mr DA COSTA
TAVARES

Mr PENA COSTA

Mr FORSS

Mr KUIKKO

United Kingdom

Ms ASHERSON

Dr WHITE

25

b) Alternate members

Belgium

Denmark

Germany

Greece

Spain

France

Ireland

Italy

Luxembourg

Netherlands

Austria

Portugal

Finland

Sweden

Mr PELEGRIN

Mr DILLEN

Mr SØRENSEN

Mr PEDERSEN

Mr BEEKHUIZEN

Mr GAWEL

Ms BARDANI

Mr ZACHARIAS

Mr CARRASCO
MORENO

Mr MORENO UCELAY

Mr THILLAUD

Dr LEVY

Mr BRODERICK

Mr MOLONEY

Mr WALERS

Mr BLAISE

Mr KROEZEN

Mr DUNGL

Mr AUBAUER

Mr BENTO MARQUES

Mr SALGADO BARROSO

Mr AHTELA

Mr HEISKANEN

United Kingdom

Mr PYKETT

Mr DAVISON

26

ANNEX C

AD HOC GROUPS 2001

PLANNING

Chair

Vice-Chair

Rapporteur

:

:

:

Mr Felipe MANZANO (EMPLOYERS) 

Mr Marc BOISNEL (GOVERNMENT)

Mr Maurice SEDES (WORKERS)

GOVERNMENT

EMPLOYERS

WORKERS

Marc HESELMANS / B

Christa SCHWENG / A

Margarita LEZCANO NUNEZ /E

Natascha WALTKE / UNICE

Chris BAHNE / DK

Franco GIUSTI / I

Bertil REMAEUS / S

Véronique CAZALS / F

Marc BOISNEL/ F

Felipe MANZANO / E

Thomas  MELLISH 
UK

/

Maurice SEDES / F

Angel CARCOBA / E

Marc SAPIR / TUTB

Herman FONCK / B

Official responsible: Mr A. CAMMAROTA – Tel. 34515

ESTABLISHMENT OF EXPOSURE LEVELS

Chair

Vice-Chair

Rapporteur

:

:

:

Mr Marcel WILDERS (WORKERS)

Ms Carole SULLIVAN (GOVERNMENT)

Mr Jos BORMANS (EMPLOYERS) 

GOVERNMENT

EMPLOYERS

WORKERS

Carole SULLIVAN / UK

Simon BEEKHUIZEN / D

Nicola MAGNAVITA / I

G. CAMILLETTI / I

Patrick LEVY / F

Michel MARTIN / F

Reinhold RÜHL / D

Torben JEPSEN / DK

Marcel WILDERS / NL

Dirk STEEN / B

Dario GRAMPELLA / I

TO BE APPOINTED

Matti HUUSKONEN / FIN

Jos BORMANS / B

TO BE APPOINTED

Officials responsible: Mr A. ANGELIDIS – Tel. 33747 and Dr G. ARESINI – Tel: 32260

27

STANDARDISATION

Chair

Vice-Chair

Rapporteur

:

:

:

Mr Paul WEBER (GOVERNMENT)

Mr Tom MELLISH (WORKERS)

Mr Franco GIUSTI (EMPLOYERS)

GOVERNMENT

EMPLOYERS

WORKERS

Jukka KALLIO / FIN

Franck GAMBELLI / F

Tom MELLISH / UK

Paul WEBER / L

Franco GIUSTI / I

Enrico GIBELLIERI / I

Norbert BARZ / D

Thomas HOLTMANN / D

Marc SAPIR / B

J.I.H OH/ NL

Jos BORMANS / B

Sven BERGSTRÖM / S

Carole SULLIVAN / UK

Ignacio COLINDRES VALLS / E

Ramon PAZ / E

Other experts:

Mr B. J. MERTENS / CENELEC

Mr André PLISSART, CEN

Official responsible: Mr A. LOMMEL – Tel. 33871

VIOLENCE AT WORK

Chair

Vice-Chair

Rapporteur

:

:

:

Ms Raili PERIMÄKI (WORKERS)

Ms Natascha WALTKE (EMPLOYERS)

Ms Giovanna ROCCA-ERCOLI (GOVERNMENT)

GOVERNMENT

EMPLOYERS

WORKERS

Kurt BANERYD / S

Natascha WALTKE / UNICE

Michael LENERT / A

Elizabeth M. GIBBY / UK

Alain BARBEZ / B

Raili PERIMÄKI / FIN

Giovanna ROCCA-ERCOLI / I

Peter THORPE / UK

Luis LOPES / P

Monique LARCHE-MOCHEL / F

Elias TSAMOUSSOPOULOS / GR

Solveig JACOBSEN / DK

Chris BAHNE / DK

Diane IANUCCI / European Banking
Federation 

Marc VANDERCAMMEN / B

Official responsible: Dr F.J. ALVAREZ HIDALGO – Tel. 34547

28

REPORT  ON  THE  EUROPEAN  AGENCY  FOR  SAFETY  AND  HEALTH
AT WORK

Chair

Vice-Chair

Rapporteur

:

:

:

Mr Marc BOISNEL (GOVERNMENT)

Mr Tony BRISCOE (EMPLOYERS)

Jan Toft RASMUSSEN (WORKERS)

GOVERNMENT

EMPLOYERS

WORKERS

Andreas HORST / D

Torben JEPSEN / DK

Jan Toft RASMUSSEN / DK

Margarita LEZCANO NUNEZ /E

Christa SCHWENG / A

Fergus WHELAN / IRL

Marc BOISNEL/ F

Tony BRISCOE / IRL

Marcel WILDERS / NL

Paul WEBER / L

Felipe MANZANO / E

Luis Filipe LOPES / P

Richard CLIFTON / UK

Natscha WALTKE / UNICE

Marc SAPIR / TUTB

Official responsible: Mr A. LOMMEL – Tel. 33871

GUIDELINES ON CHEMICAL AGENTS

Chair

Vice-Chair

Rapporteur

:

:

:

Mr Sven BERGSTRÖM (WORKERS)

Mr Bent Horn ANDERSEN (GOVERNMENT)

Mr Patrick LEVY (EMPLOYERS)

GOVERNMENT

EMPLOYERS

WORKERS

Helmut KLEIN / D

Simon BEEKHUIZEN / D

Jean-Claude BODARD / F

Bent Horn ANDERSEN / DK

René DILLEN / B

Frank BARRY / IRL

Giuseppina CAMILETTI / I

Patrick LEVY / F

Sven BERGSTRÖM / S

Alice RODRIGUES / P

Dario GRAMPELLA / I

Alastair HAY / UK

Linda TAYLOR / UK

Roger ALESBURY / UK

Karola GRODZKI / TUTB

Official responsible: Mr A. ANGELIDIS – Tel. 33747

29

TELEWORKING

Chair

: Mr Alexander HEIDER (WORKERS)

Vice-Chair

: Mr Alvaro DURAO (GOVERNMENT)

Rapporteur

: Mr J.J.H. KONING (EMPLOYERS)

GOVERNMENT

EMPLOYERS

WORKERS

Alvaro DURAO / P

J.J.H KONING / NL

Alexander HEIDER / A

Birgit STIMMER / A

Véronique CAZALS / F

Annette MIKKELSEN / DK

Giovanna ROCCA / I

Thomas P. NIELSEN / DK

Britt-Marie THULESTEDT / S

Malcolm DARVILL / UK

Isabel MAYA RUBIO / E

Marc VAN DERCAMMEN / B

Thomas DE GRAAT / D

Natascha WALTKE / UNICE

Theonni KOUKOULAKI / TUTB

Official responsible:

OCCUPATIONAL DISEASES

Chair

Vice-Chair

Rapporteur

:

:

:

Mr Eric JANNERFELDT (EMPLOYERS)

Ms Maud VALAT-TADDEI (GOVERNMENT)

Mr Owen TUDOR / UK (WORKERS)

GOVERNMENT

EMPLOYERS

WORKERS

Antti KARJALAINEN / FIN

Thomas KÖHLER / D

Owen TUDOR / UK

Leif ARINGER / S

Marie-Christine FAUCHOIS / F

Luisa BENEDETTINI / I

Franz H. MÜSCH / D

J.J.H KONING / NL

Jean-Claude BODARD / F

Maud VALAT-TADDEI / F

Eric JANNERFELDT / S

P. BOIX / E

Manfred PÖLTL / A

Jos BORMANS / B

Karola GRODZKI / TUTB

Official responsible: Dr ALVAREZ HIDALGO – Tel. 34547

30

ATEX

Chair

Vice-Chair

Rapporteur

:

:

:

Mr Mario ALVINO (GOVERNMENT)

M Torben JEPSEN (EMPLOYERS)

Mr Maurice SEDES (WORKERS)

GOVERNMENT

EMPLOYERS

WORKERS

Mario ALVINO / I

Torben JEPSEN / DK

Maurice SEDES / F

Robert PICCOLI / F

Helmut SCHACKE / D

Dave PATTON / UK

Johan MOCKELS / B

Jos BORMANS / B

TO BE APPOINTED

John BRAZENDSALE / UK

Frank GAMBELLI / F

TO BE APPOINTED

TO BE APPOINTED /

Richard GOWLAND / UK

TO BE APPOINTED

Official responsible: Mr A. FUENTE MARTIN – Tel. 32739

MULTIDISCIPLINARY SERVICES AND MEDICAL SURVEILLANCE

EDITORIAL GROUP

GOVERNMENT

EMPLOYERS

Sylvia WOOD / IRL
Officials  responsible:  Dr  ALVAREZ  HIDALGO  –  Tel.  34547  and  Dr  G.  ARESINI  –  Tel.
32260

Olivier RICHARD /

WORKERS
Riitta TYÖLÄJÄRVI / FIN

MUSCULO-SKELETAL DISORDERS

Chair

Vice-Chair

Rapporteur

:

:

:

Mr Patrick LEVY (EMPLOYERS)

Ms Fiona MURIE (WORKERS)

Mr Malcolm DARVILL (GOVERNMENT)

GOVERNMENT

EMPLOYERS

WORKERS

Matti HUUSKONEN / FIN

Patrick LEVY / F

Martin DONNER / A

Mauro FRANCIOSI / I

André PELEGRIN / B

Fiona MURIE / E

Filomena TEIXEIRA / P

Derek WHITE / UK

Raili PERIMÄKI / FIN

Mats BJURVALD / S

Olivier RICHARD / B

Nigel BRYSON / UK

Malcolm DARVILL / UK

Eric JANNERFELDT / S

Andrea TOZZI / TUTB

Officials  responsible:  Dr  ALVAREZ  HIDALGO  –  Tel.  34547  and  Dr  G.  ARESINI  –  Tel.
32260

31

Dates

Designation of meeting

ANNEX D
TIMETABLE 2001

Participants

Private

Govern.

13/02/01
20/02/01
01/03/01
06/03/01
07/03/01
08/03/01
13/03/01

AHG MUSCULO-SKELETAL DISORDERS
AHG MULTIDISCIPLINARY SERVICES
GOVERNMENT IG
PLANNING GROUP 
EMPLOYERS IG
WORKERS IG
MUSCULO-SKELETAL DISORDERS
EDITORIAL GROUP
VIOLENCE AT WORK EDITORIAL GROUP
AHG STANDARDISATION
AHG OCCUPATIONAL EXPOSURE LEVELS
AHG VIOLENCE AT WORK
PLANNING GROUP 
PLENARY MEETING
AHG BILBAO AGENCY
AHG OCCUPATIONAL EXPOSURE LEVELS
PLANNING GROUP/STRATEGY 2002–2006
AHG STANDARDISATION
AHG OCCUPATIONAL EXPOSURE LEVELS
AHG VIOLENCE AT WORK
AHG BILBAO AGENCY
OELs EDITORIAL GROUP
PLANNING GROUP/STRATEGY 2002–2006
AHG OCCUPATIONAL EXPOSURE LEVELS
EMPLOYERS IG
WORKERS IG
GOVERNMENT IG

30/03/01
03/04/01
05/04/01
08/05/01
10/05/01
14/05/01
21/06/01
25/06/01
03/07/01
06/09/01
11/09/01
18/09/01
26/09/01
26/09/01
02/10/01
10/10/01
11/10/01
16/10/01
18/10/01
28-29/11/01 PLENARY MEETING

10
10
0
10
31
30
2

3
10
10
10
10
65
10
10
10
10
10
10
10
1
10
10
31
30
0
65

5
5
30
5
0
0
1

1
5
5
5
5
32
5
5
5
5
5
5
5
1
5
5
0
0
30
32

32