CELEX: 51990PC0450
Language: en
Date: 1990-11-07
Title: PROPOSAL FOR A COUNCIL DECISION ON AN ACTION PROGRAMME FOR THE EUROPEAN YEAR OF SAFETY, HYGIENE AND HEALTH PROTECTION AT WORK ( 1992 )

COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES
                                              C0MC90) 450 final
                                              Brussels, 7 November 1990
                              Proposal for a
                            COUNCIL DECISION
  on an action programme for the European Year of Safety, Hygiene and
                    Health Protection at Work (1992)
                      (presented by the Commission)
 ---pagebreak---                             EXPLANATORY MEMORANDUM
1.  Legal basis
    The draft decision is based on Article 235 of the EEC Treaty.
2.  Aim of the draft decision
    The Council Resolution of 21.12.87 (1) suggested the organization in 1992
    of a European Year of Safety» Hygiene and Health Protection at Work with
    a view to conducting a number of activities designed to promote and
    enhance the value of the substantial body of Community measures in this
    field subsequent to the implementation of Article 118a of the EEC Treaty.
    These actions are to be designed specifically to heighten the awareness
    of the public at large, the various economic agents, the workers' and
    employers' representative bodies, government organizations and the
    appropriate education, training and information organizations.
    The activities will be undertaken ,by the Commission and in conjunction
    with the Member States on a Community basis.
     It is also important to bear in mind that, despite the lack of
    sufficiently reliable statistical series at European level, the data
    available at Member State level give a good idea of the high cost in
    human and social terms of the consequences of accidents at work. For
    1984, the amount of compensation paid for accidents at work and
    occupational illnesses is put at some 16 000 million ECU for the whole of
    the EC, i.e. 7% of total expenditure on sickness insurance.(2)
3.  Characteristics of the draft decision
    The draft comprises the draft decision proper and an annex setting out
    details of activities planned during the European Year.
    These activities are set out in three chapters pursuant to the form of
    financing.
(1) 0J C28/1, 3.2.88
(2) 0J C28/3, 3.2.88
                                                                              L
 ---pagebreak--- 4. Consultation of Interested parties
   Pursuant to the provisions set out in paragraph 5 of the above Council
   Resolution, the Commission has consulted and involved the representatives
   of governments and workers' and employers' organizations in drawing up
   this draft decision.
   Thus, the Advisory Committee on Safety, Hygiene and Health Protection at
   Work (set up under Council Decision 74/325/EEC of 27.6.1974) has been
   consulted and has expressed a favourable opinion.
 ---pagebreak---                                  - 1 -
                               COUNCIL DECISION
on an action programme for the European Year of Safety, Hygiene and
Health Protection at Work (1992)
THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES,
Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Economic
Community, and in particular Article 235 thereof.
Having regard to the proposal from the Commission,<1>
Having regard to the opinion of the European Pari lament/ 2 )
Having regard to the opinion of the Economic and Social Committee/3)
Having regard to the opinion of the Advisory Committee for Safety,
Hygiene and Health Protection at Work,
Whereas the Council on 21 December 1987 suggested that a European year
should be organized In 1992 in the field of safety, hygiene and health
protection at work* 4 );
Whereas the Council also welcomed the Commission's communication on its
programme^) concerning safety, hygiene and health at work;
Whereas 1992 sees the completion of this action programme and thus
presents an opportunity to take stock of the programme and demonstrate
 its coherence;
(1)  OJ
(2)  OJ
(3)  OJ
(4)  OJ No C28/1, 3.2.88
 (5) OJ No C28/3, 3.2.88
 ---pagebreak---                                     - 2
Whereas the Council acknowledged the predominant role of the heightening of
public awareness for the success of the measures recommended in the
Commission's communication on its programme on safety, hygiene and health at
work;
Whereas the Council emphasized that the information, increased awareness and,
if necessary, the training of employers and workers will play a fundamental
role in the success of the measures recommended in the Commission's
communication on its programme on safety, hygiene and health at work;
Whereas, for the activity In question, the Treaty provides for no other
powers than those set out in Article 235;
HAS DECIDED AS FOLLOWS:
                                  Article 1
1. 1992 Shall be declared EUROPEAN YEAR OF SAFETY, HYGIENE AND HEALTH
PROTECTION AT WORK, running from March 1992 to March 1993.
    To this end coordinated activities shall be organized by the Community,
the Member States, the social partners and by public and private bodies.
2. The staff required for the implementation of the programme and the amount
of expenditure estimated are set out in detail in the financial statement
attached to this Decision. The appropriations necessary for the
implementation of this Decision shall be entered every year in the General
Budget of the European Communities.
                                  Article 2
1. The Commission shall consult periodically the appropriate authorities in
the Member States at the various stages of implementation of the activities
provided for in this Decision.
2. The Commission shall inform the Council, the European Parliament and the
Economic and Social Committee of
 the progress of work, and shall send them a report and assessment of the
activities carried out in the course of the year.
 ---pagebreak---                                                                      1.
                                  ANNEX
              AIMS AND JUSTIFICATION OF ACTIONS ENVISAGED
                    FOR THE EUROPEAN YEAR OF SAFETY,
                   HYGIENE AND HEALTH AT WORK (1992)
Despite the lack of sufficiently reliable statistical series at
European level, the data available at Member State level give a good
idea of the high cost in human and social terms of the consequences of
accidents at work and occupational illnesses. For 1984, the amount of
compensation paid for such accidents and Illnesses is put at some
16 000 million ECU for the whole of the EC, i.e. 7% of total
expenditure on sickness Insurance*1).
The European Year of Safety, Hygiene and Health at Work will set out to
conduct a number of activities designed to promote and enhance the
value of the substantial body of Community measures in this field.
These aims can be justified by the need to
    bring out, in the context of the internal market, the Importance of
    the social and economic aspects of problems relating to safety,
    hygiene and health at work,
    make workers, employers and young people more aware of the safety,
    hygiene and health risks at the workplace and of what can be done
    about them.
To this end, coordinated activities will be undertaken by the
Community, the Member States, the social partners and public and
private organizations.
(1) OJ C28/3, 3.2.1988.
 ---pagebreak---                                                                        2.
A.  Actions to be financed entirely from the Community budget
1.  European colloquium to launch European Year
2.  Conferences in all Member States
3.  Film festival
4.  Logo design, poster campaigns
5.  Television programmes and videos
6.  European colloquium to close European Year.
7.  production of booklets and stickers on the Community's health and
    safety policy.
B.  Actions co-financed by the Community budget
    These actions may be financed from the Community budget up to a
    percentage of the total cost which will depend on the particular
    case but will not exceed 70% of the total cost of the project.
1.  Actions by public and/or private organizations to improve and
    promote the dissemination of information on occupational risks and
    their prevention.
2.  Actions by public and/or private organizations to give greater
    importance to the training of workers and employers in the field of
    safety, hygiene and hcclth protection at work.
3.  Actions by public and/or private organizations to intégrât©
     instruction in safety, hygiene and health protect ion at work snte
    teaching snd training progrmusses aim®cl ct employers and rcor'xrs.
4.  Actions by public and/or private organizations t© improve the
    understanding ©f problems ©f health, hygiene ar*cf safety at v;orh in
    SI4Ë3 and to promote specific solutions.
5.  Actions by public and/or private organizations to improve the
    exchange of information on good enforcement practice In Member
    States regarding Community legislation on safety, hygiene and
    health at work.
Applications for grants should be submitted to the Commission by Member
States,
 ---pagebreak---                                                                     3.
Projects selected for Community assistance will be designated
"Community projects for the European Year of Safety» Hygiene and Health
Protection at Work".
C. Actions without financial Implications for the Community budget
Actions undertaken by public or private organizations in the field of
safety, hygiene and health protection at work:
    to promote use of the common logo and slogan of the European Year
    of Safety, Hygiene and Health Protection at Work in regular
    publicity campaigns,
    to encourage the spread of Information on European Year of Safety,
    Hygiene and Health Protection at Work through the mass media,
    other actions to be determined.
                                                                        Î
 ---pagebreak---                        FINANCIAL MEMORANDUM
           DRAFT COUNCIL DECISION ON THE EUROPEAN YEAR
                  OF SAFETY, HYGIENE AND HEALTH
                        PROTECTION AT WORK
1.  Budget line
    3054
2.  Legal base
        Council Resolution      (88/C/28/01) of 21.12.1987(1),
        suggesting the organization in 1992 of a European Year
        of Safety, Hygiene and Health Protection at Work.
        Council Decision of .... on a programme of action for
        the European Year of Safety, Hygiene and Health
        protection at Work.
3.  Classification into compulsory/non-compulsory expenditure
    Non-compulsory.
4.  Description and justification
    4.1.     Description of the proposed activities - see annex
             to the Council Decision.
    4.2.     Justification
             In its Resolution (88/C/28/01) of 21.12.1987, the
             Council acknowledges the predominant role of
             heightening public awareness for the success of the
             measures    recommended     in  the    Commission's
             communication on its programme on safety, hygiene
             and health protection at work, and suggests the
             organization of a European Year in this field.
5. Nature of expenditure and form of calculation
         Overall cost 1991-1992-1993 : 12 million ecus.
(1) OJ C28/1 Of 3.2.88
 ---pagebreak---          The appropriations will be used to finance the costs
         arising directly from the implementation of the
         measures set out in the annex to the Council Decision.
         Certain items of the administrative expenditure will
         also be financed from these appropriations.
         Form of calculation
         (see annex).
6.  Financial    consequences   of   the   proposed   measure    on
    intervention appropriations
    6.1.     Schedule of due dates for commitment and payment
             appropriations
             COMMITMENT                            PAYMENT
                                 91           92           93
91           3.150.000        2.800.000      350.000
92           6.200.000                     6.200.000
93           2.650.000                                2.650.000
TOTAL       12.000.000        2.800.000    6.550.000  2.650.000
    6.2.     Share of Community finance (%) in total cost of the
             proposed measure
             100 %
7.  Financial impact on staff and administrative appropriations
    7.1.     Staff requirements
             Creation of a Task Force comprising            outside
             specialists from 1991, as follows :
             A : 4
             B : 13
             C : 4
    7.2.     Staff appropriations recruired
             These     appropriations     are     estimated      at
             1.450.000 ecus from 1991.
                               xxxxx
                              xxxxxxx
                               xxxxx
                                                                    J°
 ---pagebreak---                                                                                    ANNEX
                                      BUDGET FOR THE EUROPEAN YEAR
                            OF SAFETY, HYGIENE AND HEALTH PROTECTION AT WORK
                                               1991            1992           1993          TOTAL
    Fixed costs: administr., management       350.000        500.000         250.000      1.100.000
    Consultants                               250.000        100.000                        350.000
    Support for actions undertaken
    by the Member States                    1.100.000      2.500.000         400.000      4.000.000
    Support for actions undertaken
    by international organizations            350.000        100.000            -           450.000
  j Actions organized by the Commission
  j See Annex, item A, 1, 3, 4              1.100.000      3.000.000      2.000.000       6.100.000
  1 TOTAL                                   3.150.000      6.200.000      2.650.000   1  12.000.000
                                                                       I               1            1
V
 ---pagebreak---                     IMPACT ON COMPETITIVENESS AND EMPLOYMENT
Subject :    Draft Council Decision on a programme of action for the European
             Year of Safety, Hygiene and Health Protection at Work
1.  What is the main point of the measure?
    Within the context of the internal market and with regard to the social
    and economic aspects thereof, to bring out the major benefits resulting
    from the implementation of prevention measures and of a high level of
    protection in terms of safety, hygiene and health protection at work.
    To heighten the awareness of workers, employers and young people to
    occupational risks and the means of doing something about them, in terms
    of safety, hygiene and health protection at work.
2.  Characteristics of the firms concerned. More particularly:
    a)   Large number of SMEs?
    b)   Concentrated in certain regions?
         i. eligible for Member States' regional aid?
         ii. eligible for ERDF aid?
    a)   Given the nature of the rules and regulations on safety and health,
         most SMEs are concerned.
    b)   No.
3.  What are the direct obligations on firms?
    This proposal places no direct obligations on firms.
4.  What obligations are liable to be placed indirectly on firms by local
    authorities?
    None.
5.  Are there any special measures for SMEs? If so, what?
     It is planned to devise specific activities designed to improve general
    awareness of safety, hygiene and health protection issues in SMEs and to
    promote specific solutions.
6.  What is the Iikely effect:
    a)   on the competitive position of firms?
    b)   on jobs?
    The proposed activities can only have a positive effect on the
    competitive position of firms.
                                                                              J^
 ---pagebreak--- 7. Have the social partners been consulted?
   What are their views?
   The social partners have been consulted within the context of the
   Advisory Committee on Safety, Hygiene and Health Protection at Work set
   up under Council Decision 74/325/EEC of 27/6/1974.
   This proposal has met with considerable interest from the trade union
   organizations and from the employers' and government representatives.
   They expressed a unanimous favourable opinion on the draft proposal at
   the full meeting of the Committee on 21 and 22 February 1990 and are
   involved in deciding what activities should be undertaken and in setting
   up the necessary connections to ensure the success of the operation.
                                                                            X
 ---pagebreak---  ---pagebreak---                                                                                 ISSN 0254-1475
                                                                 COM (90) 450 final
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