natgillin/translations-raw huggingface dataset:
A further basic shortcoming consists in the fact that the Commission does not deal with the issue of how to increase participation of employees’ representatives in the national occupational health and safety system, and in particular in the public sector.
A further basic shortcoming consists in the fact that the Commission does not deal with the issue of how to increase participation of employees’ representatives in the national occupational health and safety system, and in particular in the public sector.
It seems that the Commission does not sufficiently take account of the existing empirical evidence –in this respect.
It seems that the Commission does not sufficiently take account of the existing empirical evidence –in this respect.
Statistics show that where there is an organised participation of employees’ representatives in health and safety at work, the situation improves rapidly.It is, however, necessary to provide these representatives with the necessary powers to declare their status (in countries where the existence of such workers representation organisations depends explicitly on the acknowledgement of employers the situation appears to be quite unsatisfactory).
Statistics show that where there is an organised participation of employees’ representatives in health and safety at work, the situation improves rapidly.It is, however, necessary to provide these representatives with the necessary powers to declare their status (in countries where the existence of such workers representation organisations depends explicitly on the acknowledgement of employers the situation appears to be quite unsatisfactory).
The Commission does not seem to recognise the importance of the organised bodies and organised participation for the participation of individual employees in the definition of the prevention policy in the enterprise.
The Commission does not seem to recognise the importance of the organised bodies and organised participation for the participation of individual employees in the definition of the prevention policy in the enterprise.
But this is not the case.
But this is not the case.
A reduced participation of representative bodies of the workers would lead to a decreasing level of health and safety at work (in some Member States similar trends can already be observed).
A reduced participation of representative bodies of the workers would lead to a decreasing level of health and safety at work (in some Member States similar trends can already be observed).
Although social dialogue is one of the Commission’s themes and occupational health and safety is a part of it, the Commission's overall approach to the issue of participation of workers' representative bodies cannot be considered sufficient.
Although social dialogue is one of the Commission’s themes and occupational health and safety is a part of it, the Commission's overall approach to the issue of participation of workers' representative bodies cannot be considered sufficient.
The statistical data included in the Commission Communication is alarming for both the Commission and the European Parliament: 5 200 workers lose their life as a result of a work‑related accident every year.
The statistical data included in the Commission Communication is alarming for both the Commission and the European Parliament: 5 200 workers lose their life as a result of a work‑related accident every year.
Throughout the EU there are about 4.8 million work‑related accidents per year.
Throughout the EU there are about 4.8 million work‑related accidents per year.
About two thirds of accidents lead to an absence of more than three days at work and almost 14 % of workers suffer more than one accident in a year.
About two thirds of accidents lead to an absence of more than three days at work and almost 14 % of workers suffer more than one accident in a year.
This means that around 158 million days’ work are lost annually, and nearly 300 000 workers will get various degrees of permanent disabilities resulting from a workplace‑related accident or disease every year.
This means that around 158 million days’ work are lost annually, and nearly 300 000 workers will get various degrees of permanent disabilities resulting from a workplace‑related accident or disease every year.
It is estimated that the total cost to the economy amounts to between 2.6 % and 3.8 % of GNP.
It is estimated that the total cost to the economy amounts to between 2.6 % and 3.8 % of GNP.
These data are evidence of the high economic cost of not having appropriate social policy in place, which constitutes a major obstacle to attaining the strategic objective of full employment.
These data are evidence of the high economic cost of not having appropriate social policy in place, which constitutes a major obstacle to attaining the strategic objective of full employment.
The rapporteur fears that if this established trend continues in the future, the next Commission Communication, which will also cover the new Member States, may return even worse results.
The rapporteur fears that if this established trend continues in the future, the next Commission Communication, which will also cover the new Member States, may return even worse results.
The rapporteur furthermore takes the view that despite Commission's effort to take advantage of all accessible instruments, including infringement proceedings against some Member States in cases of incorrect transposition of the Framework Directive, it is arguable whether it has sufficient competencies, which enable it to enforce correct transposition efficiently and thereby to react flexibly and in a satisfactory way to detected failures and to minimise delays.
The rapporteur furthermore takes the view that despite Commission's effort to take advantage of all accessible instruments, including infringement proceedings against some Member States in cases of incorrect transposition of the Framework Directive, it is arguable whether it has sufficient competencies, which enable it to enforce correct transposition efficiently and thereby to react flexibly and in a satisfactory way to detected failures and to minimise delays.
Generally in the rapporteur's view, the Framework Directive could be more ambitious and specific: in the area of occupational health and safety there is a lack of strategy concerning a highly effective prevention policy.
Generally in the rapporteur's view, the Framework Directive could be more ambitious and specific: in the area of occupational health and safety there is a lack of strategy concerning a highly effective prevention policy.
A strategy based solely at the level of individual businesses is not sufficient because it does not make for equally high standards in all businesses.
A strategy based solely at the level of individual businesses is not sufficient because it does not make for equally high standards in all businesses.
A strong national strategy is therefore required, naturally with the involvement of trade unions, in order to compensate for and improve the poor conditions in some businesses.
A strong national strategy is therefore required, naturally with the involvement of trade unions, in order to compensate for and improve the poor conditions in some businesses.
The Framework Directive is not specific enough on preventive services.
The Framework Directive is not specific enough on preventive services.
The current situation can be characterised as a ‘self‑regulatory system’.
The current situation can be characterised as a ‘self‑regulatory system’.
It is up to Member States how the requirements of the Framework Directive are applied in practice.
It is up to Member States how the requirements of the Framework Directive are applied in practice.
Legal arrangements concerning preventive services are totally inadequate if they merely require that such services should be carried out by a 'competent body' but do not specify its character.
Legal arrangements concerning preventive services are totally inadequate if they merely require that such services should be carried out by a 'competent body' but do not specify its character.
The area of preventive services requires what is known as a multidisciplinary model, which would include technical safety experts, doctors, psychologists, toxicologists, experts in ergonomics etc., either internally or externally, depending on the size and capabilities of individual businesses.
The area of preventive services requires what is known as a multidisciplinary model, which would include technical safety experts, doctors, psychologists, toxicologists, experts in ergonomics etc., either internally or externally, depending on the size and capabilities of individual businesses.
It is essential for preventive services to cover all employees, which in practice is far from being achieved.
It is essential for preventive services to cover all employees, which in practice is far from being achieved.
According to a Finnish study, fewer than 50 % of the population of the 15 pre‑enlargement Member States of the EU are covered.
According to a Finnish study, fewer than 50 % of the population of the 15 pre‑enlargement Member States of the EU are covered.
The area of psychological conditions is also dealt with in the Framework Directive, but none too clearly.
The area of psychological conditions is also dealt with in the Framework Directive, but none too clearly.
The problem of psychological conditions should be dealt with more clearly and more comprehensibly than has been the case to date.
The problem of psychological conditions should be dealt with more clearly and more comprehensibly than has been the case to date.
An inspiration for this could be the European agreement on work‑related stress.
An inspiration for this could be the European agreement on work‑related stress.
The Communication indicates that the situation in SMEs is worse than that in large businesses.
The Communication indicates that the situation in SMEs is worse than that in large businesses.
Over the last decade the average size of enterprises in the EU has been getting smaller, with 90 % of them employing less than 20 workers.
Over the last decade the average size of enterprises in the EU has been getting smaller, with 90 % of them employing less than 20 workers.
Not only is the number of SMEs growing but there is also a huge turnover in these companies and what can be qualified as an associated instability in labour conditions.
Not only is the number of SMEs growing but there is also a huge turnover in these companies and what can be qualified as an associated instability in labour conditions.
Informal organisational groups, little experience with management, prevention and even accidents, working in traditionally high‑risk sectors, lack of resources and poor access to qualified help are further hindrances to improvement.
Informal organisational groups, little experience with management, prevention and even accidents, working in traditionally high‑risk sectors, lack of resources and poor access to qualified help are further hindrances to improvement.
In the rapporteur's view, the Commission's analysis limits itself only to identifying problems and providing somewhat general proposals on how to improve the situation.
In the rapporteur's view, the Commission's analysis limits itself only to identifying problems and providing somewhat general proposals on how to improve the situation.
A change in the approach to responsibility for prevention of work‑related accidents involving subcontractors would contribute very much towards improving the current state of affairs.
A change in the approach to responsibility for prevention of work‑related accidents involving subcontractors would contribute very much towards improving the current state of affairs.
Responsibility should lie not only with the subcontractor, but also with the main contractor of the order, which would mean that subcontractors would not be chosen only on the basis of price but also according to how they ensure health and safety at work.
Responsibility should lie not only with the subcontractor, but also with the main contractor of the order, which would mean that subcontractors would not be chosen only on the basis of price but also according to how they ensure health and safety at work.
One possible course of action could be to step up compulsory certification or, in a first phase, to introduce at least a voluntary certification system such as exists in Germany, for example.
One possible course of action could be to step up compulsory certification or, in a first phase, to introduce at least a voluntary certification system such as exists in Germany, for example.
Regarding the public sector, the erroneous view prevails that risks are insignificant in comparison with the private sector.
Regarding the public sector, the erroneous view prevails that risks are insignificant in comparison with the private sector.
The Commission correctly points out the existing problems in this area, in particular: the lack of a safety culture, awareness and motivation of workers for the improvement of health and safety conditions in this sector.
The Commission correctly points out the existing problems in this area, in particular: the lack of a safety culture, awareness and motivation of workers for the improvement of health and safety conditions in this sector.
In the rapporteur's view, the Commission has limited itself only to identifying the problems and, in contrast with the area of SMEs, does not suggest a general or more concrete course of action to remedy this situation.
In the rapporteur's view, the Commission has limited itself only to identifying the problems and, in contrast with the area of SMEs, does not suggest a general or more concrete course of action to remedy this situation.
Special attention must be devoted to high‑risk groups, which mainly include temporary workers, contingent workers, immigrants and women.
Special attention must be devoted to high‑risk groups, which mainly include temporary workers, contingent workers, immigrants and women.
It cannot be ignored that the language barrier plays a very significant role for immigrants, often making it difficult for them to obtain all the information they need in the area of health and safety at work.
It cannot be ignored that the language barrier plays a very significant role for immigrants, often making it difficult for them to obtain all the information they need in the area of health and safety at work.
Another way of contributing to an improvement of the situation would be to increase the number of labour inspectors, which would have the positive effect of a higher frequency of inspections.
Another way of contributing to an improvement of the situation would be to increase the number of labour inspectors, which would have the positive effect of a higher frequency of inspections.
Emphasis should be placed mainly on ensuring that labour inspectors are adequately trained and educated in a given area, in practice as well as in theory, in order to be able to uncover potential risk factors in preventive inspections.
Emphasis should be placed mainly on ensuring that labour inspectors are adequately trained and educated in a given area, in practice as well as in theory, in order to be able to uncover potential risk factors in preventive inspections.
Inspectors clearly need to be granted greater powers so as to ensure that the penalties contained in the legislation are applied consistently in practice.
Inspectors clearly need to be granted greater powers so as to ensure that the penalties contained in the legislation are applied consistently in practice.
However, in no event should labour inspectors replace the activity of employees’ representatives in this area, because the employees’ representatives monitor the state of health and safety at work permanently, whereas, sadly, labour inspectors visit only at random or not until after a work‑related accident has already occurred.
However, in no event should labour inspectors replace the activity of employees’ representatives in this area, because the employees’ representatives monitor the state of health and safety at work permanently, whereas, sadly, labour inspectors visit only at random or not until after a work‑related accident has already occurred.
The powers of inspections should be further complemented with ‘comparative tests’.
The powers of inspections should be further complemented with ‘comparative tests’.
This issue should also be dealt with at European level in future.
This issue should also be dealt with at European level in future.
Although the rapporteur is concentrating mainly on the Framework Directive in this report, because correct implementation of this Directive leads to correct implementation of the individual directives as well, there is a need to revise the Directive on the minimum safety and health requirements for work with display screen equipment and the Directive on the minimum health and safety requirements for the manual handling of loads, because research shows that the current legislation and practice in this area often lead to muscular and spinal disorders.
Although the rapporteur is concentrating mainly on the Framework Directive in this report, because correct implementation of this Directive leads to correct implementation of the individual directives as well, there is a need to revise the Directive on the minimum safety and health requirements for work with display screen equipment and the Directive on the minimum health and safety requirements for the manual handling of loads, because research shows that the current legislation and practice in this area often lead to muscular and spinal disorders.
Directive 91/383/EEC does not provide adequate solutions for the categories of workers it covers.
Directive 91/383/EEC does not provide adequate solutions for the categories of workers it covers.
The Commission staff working paper on the implementation of this Directive rightly stresses a completely inadequate collaboration from the Member States.
The Commission staff working paper on the implementation of this Directive rightly stresses a completely inadequate collaboration from the Member States.
The rapporteur encourages the Commission to actively take action to ensure full implementation of Directive 91/383/EEC in all the Member States.
The rapporteur encourages the Commission to actively take action to ensure full implementation of Directive 91/383/EEC in all the Member States.
In the rapporteur's view, this directive also needs to lay down specific mechanisms which help to ensure that temporary workers can exert the same occupational health rights in practice as other workers.
In the rapporteur's view, this directive also needs to lay down specific mechanisms which help to ensure that temporary workers can exert the same occupational health rights in practice as other workers.
In the rapporteur's view, the Commission should also more actively monitor the proper implementation of these directives in all the Member States, if necessary by initiating infringement procedures.
In the rapporteur's view, the Commission should also more actively monitor the proper implementation of these directives in all the Member States, if necessary by initiating infringement procedures.
A Community guide on the implementation of directives would also be a very useful measure.
A Community guide on the implementation of directives would also be a very useful measure.
As the directives generally lay down European minimum standards, the rapporteur would like to encourage the Member States to use their competency to require higher standards than these in national legislation.
As the directives generally lay down European minimum standards, the rapporteur would like to encourage the Member States to use their competency to require higher standards than these in national legislation.
The Commission should, as part of its strategy, seek to increase the number of signatories to Convention 161/1988.
The Commission should, as part of its strategy, seek to increase the number of signatories to Convention 161/1988.
This would certainly have a positive effect on health and safety at work.
This would certainly have a positive effect on health and safety at work.
Studies and analyses show that the new Member States are some way behind the pre‑accession 15.
Studies and analyses show that the new Member States are some way behind the pre‑accession 15.
The standard of occupational health and safety legislation in these countries is unsatisfactory and the level of implementation of EU legislation worse still.
The standard of occupational health and safety legislation in these countries is unsatisfactory and the level of implementation of EU legislation worse still.
One reason for this consists mainly in their historical conditions and national traditions.
One reason for this consists mainly in their historical conditions and national traditions.
While some countries have reported full harmonisation with EU legislation, there is in many cases still a huge gap between theory and practice.
While some countries have reported full harmonisation with EU legislation, there is in many cases still a huge gap between theory and practice.
Nevertheless, the national reports indicate that the impact of the new legislation is contributing to an improvement in working conditions and fostering productivity, competitiveness and employment.
Nevertheless, the national reports indicate that the impact of the new legislation is contributing to an improvement in working conditions and fostering productivity, competitiveness and employment.
Yet some Member States have come to the conclusion that the standard of health and safety at work would lead to a situation in which they would not be competitive with the countries of eastern Europe if full harmonisation with the acquis, as well as effective application, were not also achieved there.
Yet some Member States have come to the conclusion that the standard of health and safety at work would lead to a situation in which they would not be competitive with the countries of eastern Europe if full harmonisation with the acquis, as well as effective application, were not also achieved there.
The main shortcomings include: too weak or vague occupational health and safety legislation, a total lack of reliable data, a lack of financial resources to develop occupational health and safety in countries where there is high unemployment, low incomes and ageing technologies, and an inability or reluctance to understand the complexity and importance of occupational health and safety.
The main shortcomings include: too weak or vague occupational health and safety legislation, a total lack of reliable data, a lack of financial resources to develop occupational health and safety in countries where there is high unemployment, low incomes and ageing technologies, and an inability or reluctance to understand the complexity and importance of occupational health and safety.
There is thus a clear need to create new, improved and wide‑ranging strategies in order to ensure that at least the basic level of occupational health and safety required is also achieved in those countries.
There is thus a clear need to create new, improved and wide‑ranging strategies in order to ensure that at least the basic level of occupational health and safety required is also achieved in those countries.
Despite its belated publication, it is a positive step that the Commission report not only provides a description of how Member States transposed the directives into national law, but also an assessment of how these were applied in the workplace.
Despite its belated publication, it is a positive step that the Commission report not only provides a description of how Member States transposed the directives into national law, but also an assessment of how these were applied in the workplace.
It concludes that EU legislation has had a positive effect on national standards and has contributed to an increasing emphasis on a preventive approach.
It concludes that EU legislation has had a positive effect on national standards and has contributed to an increasing emphasis on a preventive approach.
But there are also still many problems concerning implementation.
But there are also still many problems concerning implementation.