CELEX: 51988PC0074
Language: en
Date: 1988-03-07
Title: PROPOSAL FOR A COUNCIL DIRECTIVE CONCERNING THE MINIMUM SAFETY AND HEALTH REQUIREMENTS FOR THE WORKPLACE ( FIRST INDIVIDUAL DIRECTIVE WITHIN THE MEANING OF ARTICLE 13 OF DIRECTIVE... ) COM ( 88 ) 73 FINAL

No C 141/6                                 Official Journal of the European Communities                                     30. 5. 88
referral to the Council, the Council has not acted, the                 2. Member States shall communicate to the Commission
proposed measures shall be adopted by the Commission.                   the texts of the provisions of national law which they adopt
                                                                        in the field covered by this Directive.
                       Final provisions                                 3. Member States shall report to the Commission every
                                                                        two years on the practical implementation of the provisions
                                                                        of this Directive, indicating the points of view of employers
                           Article 15                                   and workers. The Commission shall inform the Committee
                                                                        and the Tripartite Committee.
1. Member States shall bring into force the laws,
regulations and administrative provisions necessary to                                             Article 16
comply with this Directive by 1 January 1991 at the latest
and shall forthwith inform the Commission thereof.                      This Directive is addressed to the Member States.
                                                                 ANNEX
                                   LIST OF TECHNICAL AREAS REFERRED TO IN ARTICLE 13
              — Workplaces.
              — Work equipment.
              — Personal protective equipment.
              — Work with visual display units.
              — Handling of heavy loads involving risk of back injury.
               Proposal for a Council Directive concerning the minimum safety and health requirements for
                                                              the workplace
                              First individual Directive within the meaning of Article 13 of Directive ... (l)
                                                           COM(88) 74 final
                               (Submitted by the Commission to the Council on 11 March 1988)
                                                              (88/C 141/02)
 THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES,                                In cooperation with the European Parliament,
 Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European
                                                                         Whereas Article 118A of the EEC Treaty provides that the
 Economic Community, and in particular Article 118A
                                                                         Council shall issue Directives containing minimum
 thereof,
                                                                         requirements designed to encourage improvements, espe-
                                                                         cially in the working environment, as regards the health
 Having regard to the Commission proposal drawn up after                 and safety of workers;
 consultation with the Advisory Committee for Safety,
 Hygiene and Health Protection at Work (2),
                                                                         Whereas Article 118A also recommends that Directives
                                                                         shall avoid imposing administrative, financial and legal
 Having regard to the opinion of the Economic and Social
                                                                         constraints which would hold back the creation and
 Committee,
                                                                         development of SMUs;
 (!) Doc. COM(88) 73 final.                                              Whereas the Communication from the Commission on its
 (2) Council Decision 74/325/EEC (OJ No L 185, 9. 7. 1974, p. 15).       programme concerning safety, hygiene and health at
 ---pagebreak---  30. 5. 88                              Official Journal of the European Communities                               No C 141/7
 work (!) provides for the adoption of Directives designed to      purpose, the Committee is the most appropriate body to
 guarantee the safety and health of workers;                       assist the Commission in the monitoring at Community
                                                                   level of compliance with the national provisions;
 Whereas the Council Resolution of 21 December 1987                Whereas this Directive is designed to protect the safety and
 concerning safety, hygiene and health at the workplace            health of workers by laying down essential minimum
 noted the Commission's intention to present to it in the          requirements, without impeding the retention or institution
 near future minimum requirements concerning the safety            by each Member State of specific measures for safer
 and health of workers at work;                                    working conditions;
                                                                   Whereas it is important to ensure adequate consultation
Whereas it is incumbent on Member States to ensure the             with both sides of industry, and in particular with workers'
 safety and health of persons, in particular workers, within       organizations, on the technical work relating to this
their national territory;                                          Directive;
                                                                   Whereas, as is widely practised in the Member States, it is
Whereas the completion of the internal market (2) entails          advisable to let manufacturers be responsible for comply-
the drawing up of Directives based on Article 100A, in             ing with the minimum requirements for the design,
accordance with the new approach to harmonization and              construction and organization of the workplace or
standardization (3), making compliance with essential              elements thereof;
safety requirements for the design, manufacture or
construction of products a condition for their sale and free       Whereas it is important to encourage cooperation between
movement throughout the Community and in view of the               management and labour with regard to decision making
fact that some of these products have an effect on                 and measures concerned with the protection of safety and
workplaces;                                                        health at the workplace, at all levels;
                                                                   Whereas there is a need for a committee to assist the
Whereas the Member States have very different systems of           Commission in implementing supplementary measures
legislation on safety and health at work; whereas national         provided for by the Directive,
provisions on the subject, which often include technical
specifications and/or self-regulatory standards, may result        HAS ADOPTED THIS DIRECTIVE:
in different levels of safety and health protection and
distort competition;                                                                          Subject
Whereas compliance with the minimum requirements for                                         Article 1
health and safety at work is essential to ensure the safety
and health of workers and to promote fair competition;
                                                                   1. This Directive, which is an individual Directive within
                                                                  the meaning of Article 13 of Directive ..., lays down
                                                                   minimum requirements for safety and health at work, as
Whereas the minimum requirements for the workplace are            defined in Article 2.
basically expressed in terms of intended results; whereas, in
implementation of the new approach to technical harmoni-          2.   This Directive does not apply to:
zation and standardization, it is desirable to have technical
reports which provide technical details of the aforesaid          — means of transport,
minimum requirements and give grounds for presumption
of compliance with those minimum requirements and for             — temporary or mobile work sites.
the aforesaid technical reports to be supplemented in some
cases by references to measurement methods covered by             3. This Directive does not impede the retention or
harmonized standards;                                             institution by each Member State of more stringent
                                                                  protection measures for working conditions compatible
                                                                  with the Treaty.
Whereas, pending the adoption of technical reports within
the meaning of this Directive, it is advisable to facilitate                               Definitions
compliance with the minimum requirements by agreeing to
continue using national provisions in the interim combined
with a Community monitoring procedure to ensure that the                                    Article 2
national provisions correspond to the minimum require-
ments laid down by this Directive; whereas, for this
                                                                  For the purposes of this Directive, the following terms have
                                                                  the meanings hereby assigned to them:
(!) Doc. COM(87) 520 and Council Resolution 88/C 28/01            — workplace: any fixed place intended to house per-
    ( O J N o C 28, 3.2. 1988).                                       manent workstations on the premises or at the site of the
(2) White paper— Doc. COM(85) 310 final.                              undertaking and/or establishment, including any room
(3) Council Resolution 85/C 136/01 (OJ No C 136, 4. 6. 1985).         or place accessible to a worker,
 ---pagebreak--- No C 141/8                              Official Journal of the European Communities                                    30. 5. 88
— undertaking and/or establishment: a public- or private-          field of technical standards and regulations. The Commis-
    sector establishment engaged in industrial, agricultural,      sion shall immediately forward these texts to the other
    commercial, administrative, service, educational or            Member States. In accordance with the procedure provided
    cultural activities,                                           for in Article 9(2), it shall notify the Member States of the
                                                                   measures which can enjoy presumption of compliance with
— worker: a person doing work of any sort, including               the minimum safety and health requirements. The
    students undergoing training and apprentices.                  Commission shall publish the references for such national
                                                                   measures in the Official Journal of the European Com-
                         Workplaces                                munities.
                           Article 3
                                                                                               Article 6
1. The Member States shall take all useful measures to
ensure that the workplaces referred to in Article 1, when
used as intended and properly maintained, cannot                   The Member States shall take any measures necessary to
adversely affect the safety and health of workers or of other      ensure that employers apply the minimum safety and health
persons present.                                                   requirements set out in Annex II in existing and used
                                                                   workplaces at the latest five years after the entry into force
2. The Member States shall carry out any necessary                 of this Directive, without prejudice to the national
checks in accordance with paragraph 1.                             provisions on safety and health at work in force when the
                                                                    Directive is adopted and the relevant ergonomic principles.
                           Article 4
Workplaces designed, constructed, fitted out, com-                                             Article 7
missioned or used after the entry into force of this Directive
must satisfy the minimum safety and health requirements
set out in Annex I.
                                                                    When workplaces undergo modifications, extensions and/
                                                                    or conversions after the entry into force of the Directive, the
                           Article 5                                Member States shall ensure that the employer takes any
                                                                    measures necessary, where this is reasonably practicable, to
                                                                    ensure that these modifications, extensions and/or conver-
1. The Member States shall presume that any workplaces              sions are in compliance with the corresponding minimum
designed, constructed, fitted out or commissioned in                safety and health requirements set out in Annex I.
accordance with the national provisions which take into
account at least the technical reports for the minimum
safety and health requirements, the references for which
have been published in the Official Journal of the European                                     Article 8
Communities, comply with the minimum safety and health
requirements referred to in Article 4.
2. The Member States shall forward to the Commission                1. The Member States shall take any measures necessary
the texts of their draft and existing national measures             to ensure that employers use only workplaces comply with
which they regard as complying with the technical reports           this Directive. The employer shall ensure: which
referred to in paragraph 1, without prejudice to Council
Directive 83/189/EEC of 28 March 1983 laying down a                 — that traffic routes to emergency exits and the exits
procedure for the provision of information in the field of              themselves are kept clear for immediate use,
 technical standards and regulations. The Commission shall
 immediately forward these texts to the other Member
                                                                    — that the necessary technical maintenance of the
 States. In accordance with the procedure provided for in
                                                                        workplace is carried out and that any faults found are
 Article 9(2), it shall notify the Member States of the
                                                                        rectified as quickly as possible. If the faults entail a
 national measures which can enjoy presumption of
                                                                        serious and immediate risk and cannot be rectified
 compliance with the minimum safety and health require-
                                                                        immediately, work must be stopped,
 ments. The Commission shall publish the reference for
 such national measures in the Official Journal of the
 European Communities.                                              — that the workplace is cleaned to an adequate level of
                                                                        hygiene,
 3. In the absence of the technical reports provided for in
 paragraph 1, and as a temporary measure, the Member
                                                                    — that the safety equipment intended to prevent or
 States shall communicate to the Commission the text of
                                                                        eliminate hazards is regularly maintained and checked.
 their draft and existing national measures which they
 regard as fulfilling the minimum safety and health
 requirements listed in Annex I, without prejudice to                2. Workers or their representatives shall be consulted on
 Council Directive 83/189/EEC of 28 March 1983 laying                health and safety aspects on the basis of Annex I and/or
 down a procedure for the provision of information in the            Annex II, as appropriate.
 ---pagebreak--- 30, 5. 88                               Official Journal of the European Communities                               No C 141/9
If measures taken by the employer to ensure the safety of                            Changes to the Annexes
existing workplaces, in use or planned, are, in the opinion
of the workers or their representatives, inadequate, they
may request a visit by the authorities responsible for health                                Article 10
and safety at the workplace.
                                                                    1. The Commission shall make changes to the Annexes to
                                                                   this Directive as a result of:
                          Article 9
                                                                   — the adoption of Directives on technical harmonization
1. When a Member State or the Commission considers
                                                                       and standardization of the design, manufacture or
that the draft technical reports referred to in Article 5 do
                                                                       construction parts of workplaces,
not satisfy the minimum requirements which apply to
them, referred to in Article 4, the Commission shall refer         — technical progress, changes in international regulations
the matter to the Committee referred to in Article 10, giving          or specifications and know-how in the field of
its reasons, and shall, if necessary, consult the Advisory             workplaces.
Committee for Safety, Hygiene and Health Protection at
Work set up by Council Decision 74/325/EEC hereinafter             2. In making the changes referred to in paragraph 1, the
referred to as 'the tripartite Committee'.                         Commission shall be assisted by a committee and shall
                                                                   follow the procedure set out in Article 14 of Directive....
In the light of the Committee's opinion, the Commission
shall publish the reference for the technical report or                                  Final provisions
request an amendment to the draft.
2. Once it has received the Communications referred to in                                    Article 11
Article 5(2) and (3), the Commission shall consult the
Committee and if necessary, the tripartite Committee. In
                                                                   1. The Member States shall bring into force the laws,
the light of the Committee's opinion, the Commission shall
                                                                   regulations and administrative provisions necessary to
inform the Member States within three months whether or
                                                                   comply with this Directive by 1 January 1991 at the latest.
not the national measure in question can enjoy presump-
                                                                   They shall immediately notify the Commission.
tion of compliance with the minimum requirements and be
published in the Official Journal of the European                  2. The Member States shall forward to the Commission
Communities.                                                       the text of the national provisions which they are adopting
If the Commission or a Member State considers that a               in the field governed by this Directive.
national provision no longer fulfils the conditions
                                                                   3. At two-yearly intervals, the Member States shall report
necessary for it to enjoy presumption of compliance with
                                                                   to the Commission on the practical implementation at the
the minimum safety and health requirements set out in
                                                                   workplace of the provisions of this Directive, indicating the
Article 4, the Commission shall consult the Committee
                                                                   opinions of the two sides of industry. The Commission
and, if necessary, the tripartite Committee. In the light of
                                                                   shall inform the Committee and tripartite Committee.
the Committee's opinion, it shall inform the Member States
whether or not the provision in question shall continue to
enjoy presumption of compliance, and, if not, whether it                                     Article 12
shall be withdrawn from the publication referred to in
Article 5(1).                                                      This Directive is addressed to the Member States.
 ---pagebreak--- No C 141/10                         Official Journal of the European Communities                                          30. 5. 88
                                                            ANNEX 1
                 MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS FOR THE WORKPLACES REFERRED T O IN ARTICLE 4
          1.          PRELIMINARY REMARK
                      The minimal health and safety requirements shall only apply where the workplace is subject to
                      the risk in question.
          2.          MINIMUM HEALTH AND SAFETY REQUIREMENTS FOR WORKPLACES
          2.0.        Structure and stability
                      Buildings housing workplaces shall have the structure and stability appropriate to the type of
                      use.
          2.1.        Electrical installations
                      Electrical installations shall be designed and constructed in such a way that they do not present a
                      fire or explosion hazard; persons must be adequately protected against the risk of accidents
                      caused by direct or indirect contact.
                      The design, construction, choice of material and protection devices shall be appropriate to the
                      voltage, external conditions and the competence of persons with access to parts of the
                      installation.
          2.2.        Emergency exits
                      The emergency exits shall lead as directly as possible to the open air or a safe area.
          2.2.1.      In the event of danger, it must be possible for workers to evacuate all workstations quickly and in
                      complete safety.
          2.2.2.      The number, distribution and dimensions of the emergency exits shall depend on the use,
                      equipment and surface area of the workplaces and the maximum number of persons that may be
                      present.
          2.2.3.      Emergency exit doors shall be easy to open and shall open outwards; sliding doors and revolving
                      doors shall not be permitted unless there are sufficient of them.
          2.2.4.      Emergency exits shall be marked by signs in accordance with the national regulations
                      implementing Directive 77/756/EEC; the signs shall be permanent and shall be placed at
                      appropriate points.
          2.3.        Fire detection and fire fighting
          2.3.1.      Depending on the dimensions, height, use and equipment of the buildings and on the maximum
                      potential number of people present, the workplaces shall be equipped with fire detectors,
                      suitably distributed, an alarm system and appropriate automatic and/or manual fire-fighting
                      equipment.
          2.3.2.      Non-automatic fire-fighting equipment shall be marked by signs in accordance with the national
                      regulations implementing Directive 77/756/EEC. Such signs shall be permanent and placed at
                      appropriate points.
          2.4.        Ventilation of enclosed workplaces (rooms)
                      The air in enclosed rooms shall be naturally or artificially renewed so that workers have a
                      sufficient supply of air of an adequate quality, having regard to the work they are carrying out.
          2.5.        Room temperatures
          2.5.1.      During working hours, the air temperature in rooms comprising the workplaces shall be
                      comfortable, having regard to the nature of the work carried out and the physical effort required
                      of the workers.
          2.5.2.      The temperature in rest areas, rooms for duty staff, sanitary facilities, canteens and first aid
                      rooms shall be appropriate to the purpose of these areas.
 ---pagebreak--- 30. 5. 88                        Official Journal of the European Communities                                       No C 141/11
          2.5.3.  Climate control installations shall not blow or radiate on to workstations in such a way that
                  workers are exposed to draughts or dangerous temperatures.
          2.5.4.  Windows, skylights and glass partitions shall be such as to prevent excessive insolation.
          2.6.    Natural and artificial room lighting
          2.6.1.  Rooms shall as far as possible receive sufficient daylight and be equipped with adequate
                  sufficient artificial lighting.
          2.6.2.  Rooms in which workers may be exposed to risks in the event of failure of artificial lighting must
                  be provided with adequate emergency lighting.
          2.7.   Floors, walls and ceilings of rooms
          2.7.1. The floors of workplaces shall be level, with no unevenness, holes or dangerous slopes, they shall
                  be fixed, stable and non-slip and it shall be possible to clean them to appropriate hygienic
                 requirements in accordance with the purpose for which the rooms are used.
          2.7.2. The surfaces of walls and ceilings in rooms shall be such that they can be cleaned or refurbished
                 to appropriate hygienic requirements.
          2.7.3. Transparent or translucent walls, in particular all-glass partitions, in rooms or in the vicinity of
                 workstations and traffic routes shall be made of safety material or be shielded from workstations
                 or traffic routes to prevent workers from coming into contact with walls or from being injured
                 should the walls shatter.
          2.8.   Windows and skylights
          2.8.1. Workers shall be able to open, close, adjust and secure windows, skylights and ventilation
                 installations in complete safety. When open, they should not be so positioned as to constitute a
                 hazard to workers. Unopenable windows shall not be permitted, unless the work requires it and
                 there is adequate ventilation and artificial lighting.
          2.8.2. Windows and skylights must be designed, or equipped to allow them to be cleaned without risk
                 to the workers carrying out this work or to workers present in and around the building.
          2.9.   Doors, gates and automatic doors
          2.9.1. The position, number and dimensions of doors and gates shall be determined by the nature and
                 use of the rooms or areas.
          2.9.2. Swing doors shall be transparent or have see-through panels.
          2.9.3. If transparent or translucent surfaces in doors and gates are not made of unbreakable material
                 and if there is a danger that workers may be injured if a door should shatter, the surfaces shall be
                 protected against breakage.
          2.9.4. Sliding doors shall be fitted with a mechanism to secure them from being lifted off their
                 mountings and falling out.
          2.9.5. Doors and gates opening upwards shall be fitted with a mechanism to secure them against falling
                 back.
          2.9.6. Doors along escape routes shall be appropriately marked. It shall be possible to open them from
                 the inside without the use of any special aid throughout the period that the workplaces are
                 occupied. They shall open outwards.
          2.9.7. Doors for pedestrians shall be provided in the immediate vicinity of any gates intended
                 essentially for vehicle traffic.
          2.9.8. Mechanical doors and gates shall function in such a way that there is no risk of accident to
                 workers. They shall be fitted with easily identifiable and accessible emergency shut-down devices
                 and it shall be possible to open them by hand.
 ---pagebreak--- No C 141/12                      Official Journal of the European Communities                                          30. 5. 88
          2.10.    Traffic routes — dangerous areas
          2.10.1.  Traffic routes, including stairs, fixed ladders and loading ramps, shall be located and
                   dimensioned to ensure easy, safe and appropriate access for pedestrians or vehicles in such a way
                   as not to endanger workers employed in the vicinity of these traffic routes.
          2.10.2.  Routes used for pedestrian traffic and/or goods traffic shall be dimensioned in accordance with
                   the number of potential users and the type of undertaking. If means of transport are used on
                   traffic routes, a sufficient safety clearance shall be provided for pedestrians.
          2.10.3.  Sufficient clearance shall be allowed between vehicle traffic routes and doors, gates, passages for
                   pedestrians, corridors and stairs.
          2.10.4.  Where the use and equipment of rooms so requires for the protection of workers, traffic routes in
                   workrooms and storerooms shall be identified.
          2.10.5.  If the workplaces contain areas in which, due to the nature of the work, there is a risk of the
                   worker or objects falling, these places shall be equipped, as far as possible, with devices
                   preventing workers entering such areas.
          2.11.    Specific measures for escalators and travolators
                   Escalators and travolators shall function in such a way that there is no risk of accidents to
                   workers. They shall be fitted with easily identifiable and accessible emergency shut-down
                   devices.
           2.12.   Loading ramps
           2.12.1.  Loading ramps shall be wide enough for the dimensions of the loads to be transported.
           2.12.2.  Loading ramps shall have at least one alighting point. Where technically feasible, ramps over a
                    certain length shall have an alighting point at each end.
           2.13.    Room dimensions and air space in rooms, and freedom of movement at the workstation
           2.13.1.  Workrooms shall have a sufficient surface area, height and minimum air space.
           2.13.2.  The dimensions of the free unoccupied area at the workstation shall be calculated to allow
                    workers sufficient freedom of movement to perform their work. If this is not possible due to
                    reasons specific to the undertaking, the worker shall be provided with sufficient freedom of
                    movement near his workstation.
           2.14.    Rest rooms
           2.14.1.  In undertakings with more than a certain number of employees or where the health of workers or
                    type of activity carried out demand it, workers shall be provided with an easily accessible rest
                    room. This shall not apply if the workers are employed in offices or similar workrooms
                    providing equivalent relaxation during breaks.
           2.14.2   Rest rooms shall be large enough and equipped with an adequate number of tables and chairs for
                    the number of workers.
           2.14.3.  Appropriate measures for the protection of non-smokers shall be taken in staff rest rooms.
           2.14.4.  If working hours are regularly and frequently interrupted and there is no rest room, rooms shall
                    be provided in which workers can stay during such interruptions. Appropriate measures shall be
                    taken for the protection of non-smokers.
 ---pagebreak--- 30. 5. 88                         Official Journal of the European Communities                                          No C 141/13
          2.15.     Sanitary equipment
          2.15.1.   Changing rooms and lockers
          2.15.1.1. Separate changing rooms shall be provided for men and women if they have to wear special work
                    clothes and where, for reasons of health and propriety, they cannot be expected to change in
                    another room.
          2.15.1.2. In undertakings where workers are exposed to high temperatures in the course of their work, the
                    changing rooms shall be in the vicinity of their workstations.
          2.15.1.3. Changing rooms shall be sufficiently large and have facilities to enable each worker to lock away
                    his clothes during working hours.
                    If the circumstances demand it (dangerous substances, humidity, dirt), lockers for work clothes
                    shall be separate from those for ordinary clothes.
          2.15.1.4. If changing rooms are not required under paragraph 2.15.1.1, each worker shall be provided with
                    a place to store his clothes.
          2.15.2.   Washrooms and washbasins
          2.15.2.1. Washrooms shall be provided for workers if required by the nature of the work or for health
                    reasons. Separate washrooms shall be provided for men and women.
          2.15.2.2. The washrooms shall be sufficiently large and equipped with facilities (including warm water if
                    necessary) to permit each worker to wash in conditions of an appropriate standard of hygiene.
          2.15.2.3. Where washrooms are not required under paragraph 2.15.2.1, washbasins with running water
                    (warm if necessary) shall be provided in the vicinity of the workstations.
          2.15.3.   Toilets and washbasins
                    Separate facilities shall be provided in the vicinity of workstations with an adequate number of
                    toilets and washbasins.
          2.16.     First-aid installations
          2.16.1.   Where there is a high risk of accidents or where there is a large workforce, a first-aid room shall
                    be provided.
          2.16.2.   Such rooms shall be appropriately equipped, easily accessible and be marked in accordance with
                    the national regulations implementing Directive 77/755/EEC. These signs shall be permanent
                    and placed at appropriate points.
          2.17.     Handicapped persons
                    Workplaces shall be organized to take into account handicapped workers, if necessary.
          2.18.     Outdoor workplaces (special provisions)
          2.18.1.   Workstations, traffic routes and other areas or installations outdoors which are used by the
                    workers in the course of their activity shall be so designed that there is no danger to pedestrians
                    and vehicles.
                    Articles 12,15 and 16 shall also apply to main traffic routes on the site of the undertaking (traffic
                    routes leading to fixed workstations, to traffic routes used for the regular maintenance and
                    supervision of the undertaking's installation and to loading ramps).
                    The provisions of 2.10 are also applicable to outdoor workplaces.
          2.18.2.   Workplaces outdoors shall be adequately lit by artificial lighting if daylight is not adequate.
          2.18.3.   When workers are employed at workstations outdoors, such workstations shall as far as possible
                    be equipped so that workers are protected against inclement weather conditions.
 ---pagebreak--- N o C 141/14                              Official Journal of the European Communities                                         30. 5. 88
                                                                ANNEX 11
                      MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS FOR WORKPLACES REFERRED T O IN ARTICLE 6
           The requirements set out in this Annex only apply where the workplace is subject to the risk in question.
            1. Buildings containing workplaces shall be structurally sound and possess a stability appropriate to the nature
               of their use.
           2. Escape routes and emergency exits shall follow the shortest possible route to the outside or a safe area. In the
               event of danger, it shall be possible to evacuate all workplaces quickly and safely; there shall be an adequate
               number of escape routes and emergency exits.
           3. Emergency exit doors shall be easy to open and shall open outwards; sliding or rotating doors shall not be
               permitted.
               Escape routes and emergency exits shall be marked in accordance with the national regulations
               implementing Directive 77/756/EEC. They shall be permanently marked at appropriate points.
               Workplaces shall be equipped with suitable first-aid and fire-fighting equipment. The location of this
               equipment shall be adequately marked at appropriate points.
           4. If the workplaces contain hazardous areas, due to the nature of the work, or involve the risk of workers
               falling or of falling objects, these workplaces shall be equipped, as far as possible, with devices preventing
               workers from entering such areas.
           5. Rooms in which workers would be exposed to particular risks if the artificial lighting were to fail, and all
               emergency exits and traffic routes, shall have emergency lighting which provides sufficient illumination.
           6. Swing doors shall be transparent or have see-through panels.
           7. Workplaces shall be organized in such a way that pedestrians and vehicles can circulate without danger.
            8. Workplaces shall be organized in such a way that workers have separate rooms in the vicinity of their
               workstations equipped with an adequate number of toilets and washbasins (cubicles).
            9. Appropriate measures for the protection of non-smokers shall be taken in staff rest rooms.
               Proposal for a Council Directive on the approximation of the laws of the Member States
                                              relating to personal protective equipment
                                                           COM(88)      157 final
                               (Submitted    by the Commission        to the Council on 14 April 1988)
                                                             (88/C 141/03)
THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES,                                  Having regard to the opinion of the Economic and Social
                                                                          Committee,
Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European
Economic Community, and in particular Article 100A                        In cooperation with the European Parliament,
thereof,
                                                                          Whereas it is necessary to adopt measures with the aim of
Having regard to the proposal from the Commission,                        progressively establishing the internal market over a period