Health and safety at work

Health and safety at work evidently belongs to working conditions, its specificity has long since led decision-makers to deal with it in a separate chapter.

Health and safety is the social policy area where the European legislator has been the most active and precise. It constitutes one of the European Union's most concentrated and most important social policy sectors.

Identifying new risks, strengthening the prevention culture, improving global well-being at work are the basis for the new European health and safety strategy.

SMEs are very much concerned about the multi-faceted dimension of health and safety at work, in order to guarantee the protection of workers.

Position Papers

• January 2008: UEAPME response to the second stage consultation of the Social Partners on protecting EU healthcare workers from blood-borne infections resulting from needlestick injuries

• May 2007: UEAPME response to the second stage consultation of the Social Partners on the protection of workers from risks related to exposure to carcinogens, mutagens and substances which are toxic for human reproduction

• April 2007: UEAPME response to the Commission’s second stage consultation of the Social Partners on work-related musculoskeletal disorders (MSD)

• April 2007: UEAPME position paper on the Commission’s green paper “Towards a Europe free from tobacco smoke: policy options at EU level

• June 2006: UEAPME position paper on the priorities for the upcoming Community Health and Safety Strategy 2007-2012

• June 2006: UEAPME Position Paper on the informal consultation document of the European Commission “Towards a Europe Free From Tobacco Smoke: Policy Options at EU level”

• December 2005: UEAPME position on the simplification of the 'health and safety' directives

• September 2005: UEAPME Factsheet on the main SME concerns with the optical radiation proposals

• May 2005: UEAPME position paper on the simplification of the provisions of the health and safety at work directives

• December 2004: UEAPME response to the first stage consultation of the Social Partners on Musculoskeletal Disorders at work aussi disponible en Français

• May 2004: UEAPME response to the first stage consultation of the Social Partners on the protection of workers from risks related to exposure to carcinogens, mutagens and substances which are toxic for human reproduction

• May 2002: UEAPME’s opinion on the Communication from the Commission “Adapting to change in work and society: a new Community strategy on health and safety at work 2002-2006” aussi disponible en Français

• August 2001: Health and Safety: Consultation of the Social Partners on Asbestos

• August 2001: Position of UEAPME on the Noise Directive

• August 2001: Position of UEAPME on the Vibrations Directive

• August 2001: Consultation of the Social Partners on the health and safety of Independent Workers

Press releases

• 21/02/07: EC Health and Safety Strategy a step forward, with room for improvement
  
  
• 15/09/05: Commission President praised for scrapping silly sunlight rules
  
  
• 07/09/05: MEPs see the light and amend EU sunlight rules
  
  
• 01/09/05: EU proposals on exposure to sunlight must be blocked by MEPs
  
  
• 12/07/05: Solar radiation proposal brought back to reality by Parliament
  
  
• 13/06/05: Parliament must alter unrealistic proposal on sun radiation

Projects & Links

• www.preventisme.org