A wide variety of Community measures in the field of safety and health at work have been adopted on the basis of Article 153 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union. European directives are legally binding and have to be transposed into national laws by Member States.
European Directives set out minimum requirements and fundamental principles, such as the principle of prevention and risk assessment, as well as the responsibilities of employers and employees. A series of European guidelines aims to facilitate the implementation of European directives as well as European standards which are adopted by European standardisation organisations.
The EU Strategic Framework on Health and Safety at Work 2021-2027, announced in the European Pillar of Social Rights action plan, sets out the key priorities and actions necessary for improving workers’ health and safety. The framework takes a tripartite approach, focusing on three key objectives: anticipating and managing change, improving prevention and increasing preparedness.
Further information on safety and health at work can also be found at the website of the European Commission, DG Employment and Social Affairs.
The following sections provide information on European legislation, its implementation and other practical documents on safety and health at work arranged by topic.
OSHwiki featured articlesAditya Jain University of Nottingham, United Kingdom , Stavroula Leka University of Nottingham, United Kingdom
Impact assessment is a key process for setting out detailed information about the potential effects of policy measures including economic and social costs and benefits. Impact assessments allow policy makers to make informed choices on whether or not to implement a policy intervention and select an appropriate policy instrument. This article describes the process, key methodologies and tools used in impact assessment. It also presents a review of key impact assessments carried out in relation to occupational safety and health policies at the EU level and highlights the costs and benefits of the process.
The European Union sets legislation in the form of Directives, based on the legal foundation established in Article 153 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union. EU legislature has established a system of basic principles of safety management, which must be transposed into national law by the Member States. Thus the principles are applicable in all establishments in the European Union.
General basic requirements for safety and health at workplaces are laid down in Directive 1989/654/EEC concerning the minimum safety and health requirements for the workplace (in the following referred to as WPD). The aim of this Directive is to introduce…