Brussels, 16/12/2011 (Agence Europe) - The crisis must not be allowed to serve as a pretext for neglecting health and safety at work, the European Parliament (EP) said on Thursday 15 December, in adopting the report by Karima Delli (Greens/EFA, France) on the mid-term review of the EU strategy 2007-2012 on health and safety at work.
From 2013, this strategy must be “more ambitious, more coherent and, above all, more courageous”, said the rapporteur during the debate. Thus, the EP says, a stronger legislative framework is required and legislation has to be adapted to new risks, such as psycho-social risks, musculoskeletal disorders and nanomaterials. Work-related stress must not just be treated simply through training, when one worker in two in Europe faces threats to his/her mental health, MEPs say.
Many workers warn of dangers to people and also to the environment. They have to be protected. The EP calls on the Commission to bring forward a directive protecting individuals who legitimately warn of unacknowledged risks so that no pressure, such as threats of dismissal, etc, can be exerted on them
It is also crucial that a culture of prevention is developed in Europe. Member states must increase the staffing levels of, and the resources available to, their labour inspectorates in order to meet the target of one inspector for every 10,000 workers, as recommended by the International Labour Organisation.
In addition, Delli says that there can be absolutely no justification for watering down prevention rules in small and medium-sized companies or for self-employed workers, who have the same basic right to protection of their health.
More must be done to better understand emerging risks and newly identified risks, such as chemical and biological risks, which are complex but on which there is still a dearth of information. Swift action must be taken on asbestos and other well-known carcinogens. The REACH regulation has a very important role to play in the prevention of cancer and other work-related illnesses. It must be updated and fully implemented, the EP says.
According to European Agency for Health and Safety at Work figures, every year, 168,000 EU citizens die from work-related accidents or diseases. More than half of these are cancers and a quarter are cardio-vascular diseases. (LC/transl.rt)