Advisory Committee on Safety and Health at Work

Advisory Committee on Safety and Health at Work

Adopted on 02/12/2010 The following represents the currently foreseeable contribution of the Advisory Committee on Safety and Health at Work to the activities resulting from the implementation of the new Community strategy in the area of health and safety at work for the period 2007-2012. The new Work Programme: - builds on the preventive approach of the previous programme, - focuses on new priorities relating to the evaluation of the existing directives, - recognizes the importance of tripartism developing further actions, - considers that the will be working in partnership with other European bodies such as the OSHA Bilbao, EUROFOUND, SLIC and the Commission and in cooperation with the Council presidencies. Given the open and dynamic nature of this programme, this document will be regularly revised on an annual basis in order to take account of the progress of the activities planned and of the new projects with which the Committee could be involved in the future, following advances in the implementation of the strategy and the Committee s proactive initiatives. It will also be important to periodically evaluate progress on achieving the new Community Strategy. In this regard, the Advisory Committee will be fully involved in the process of mid-term review of the Community Strategy 2007-2012, which the Commission intends to carry out in. *Text in Bold reflects completed actions 2

Implementation of the Community Strategy on Health and Safety at Work 2007-2012 I. Exchange of information on national strategies Actions Schedule of Committee's activities Creation of WP/other consultation procedure End result Collection and exchange of information on national strategies Contribution to the follow-up and evaluation of the Strategy 2007-2012 Contribution to the preparatory work for the establishment of a new EU Strategy 2013-2020 Possible inclusion of data from health surveillance Possible inclusion of information about rehabilitation and reintegration of workers 2010-2012 -2012 To be defined To be defined Ongoing activity (WP set up in 2007) Possible creation of a WP when issue is developed Possible creation of a WP when issue is developed Encouraging improvements in the exchange of information to enhance performance and inform developments for subsequent strategies

II. Strengthening the implementation of Community legislation Actions Examination of reports on the implementation of the Health and Safety Directives drawn up by the Commission Assist the Commission in the analysis of problems related to occupational transport safety risk Schedule of Committee's activities 2008 2009 Commission's report on the implementation of Directives 92/57/EEC, 92/58/EEC, 92/91 EEC, 92/104/EEC, 92/29/EEC and 93/103/EC Commission's report on the practical implementation of the Carcinogenic Agents and Biological Agents Directives Opinion to be adopted by 2012 Creation of WP/other consultation procedure End result Identification of the necessary measures for improving the application of Community law on health and safety at work To develop practical guidelines and advice Assist the Commission in observing and evaluating European and international standardization activity related to OSH. Ongoing activity Identification of the necessary measures for improving the standardisation activities Possible opinion on the need for a recommendation on subcontracting Opinion to be adopted by June 2010 creation of a WP "Subcontracting" To improve coordination and cooperation at the work side 4

Possible opinion on the need for recommendation on good quality prevention services Opinion on the structure of, and the questionnaire related to, the single report on the practical implementation of the health and safety directives to be drawn up by the Member States in accordance to Article 17a (1) of the Framework Directive 89/391/EEC Based on impact assessment of the existing guides, develop a blue-print to ensure uniformity and quality improvement in the establishment and dissemination of guides to good practice at Community level Production of practical guides Opinion to be adopted by 2012 Opinion adopted in June 2009 Opinion adopted in June 2010 Committee's opinion(s) on practical guides for 92/57 (mobile construction sites), 2004/40 (EMF), 2006/25 (optical radiation), fisheries, agriculture and forestry June creation of a WP "Prevention services" Ongoing activity (WPs in place) To facilitate access to good quality prevention services Rationalisation of implementation reports by Member States Improving the quality of compliance assistance instruments at Community level Developing of compliance assistance instruments at Community level 5

III. Simplifying the legislative framework and adapting to change Actions Encourage the establishment of a common methodology for evaluating the impact of the directives on health and safety at work. Evaluation of the measures taken in response to the recommendations concerning self-employed workers Evaluation of the recommendation on occupational diseases Schedule Creation of WP/other consultation procedure Ongoing activity (WP set up in 2008) Ongoing activity (WP set up in 2010) Ongoing activity (WP set up in 2009) End result Defining a common methodology with view to identify opportunities to simplify and improve the framework while maintaining or improving the level of protection of workers To facilitate inclusivity of OSH protection Better monitoring on health protection Examine possible legislative initiatives: - musculo-skeletal disorders - revision of the carcinogens directive - indicative values for chemical agents Opinion adopted in December 2009; : support in final drafting of proposal -2012 Opinion adopted in 2008 by Written procedure Ongoing activity (WP set up in 2008) To be defined Ongoing activity (WP "Chemicals at the Workplace") Adapting the legal framework to improve its effectiveness 6

- revision of EMF directive Opinion adopted in December 2010 : support in final drafting of proposal Ongoing activity (WP set up in 2005) 7

IV. Promoting good practices and changes in behaviour Actions Schedule Creation of WP/other consultation procedure End result Follow-up of initiatives on OSH training and education 2009: Preparation of the 6 th EU-US Joint Conference on OSH (Topic on Education and Training) Mandate of the WP "Education and Training" extended in November 2006 Participation in the 6 th EU- US Joint Conference on OSH Practical guide on hospital sector Opinion adopted in December 2010 Guidelines to be adopted Promotion of mental health at work Opinion to be adopted by 2012 June creation of a WP "Mental Health" Improve the scope of prevention policy 8

V. Promotion of OSH at international level Follow-up of actions resulting from the 6 th EU/US Conference on health and safety at work and support to the preparation of the 7 th joint conference 2012: 7 th EU-US Joint Conference on OSH (Cyprus) Ongoing cooperation (EU- US Steering Committee and subgroups) Reinforcement of the EU-US cooperation on OSH 2 nd EU-China joint event under the 2009 MoU on OSH June SWP to support the preparation of the new event Reinforcement of the EU-China cooperation on OSH 1 st event EU-India on OSH (?) September (?) To be defined Launching EU-India cooperation on OSH 9

VI. Standing coordination Committees Information from the Scientific Committee on Occupational Exposure Limits to Chemical Agents (SCOEL) and the European Chemical Agency Cooperation with the Committee of Senior Labour Inspectors (SLIC) Follow up of programmes and funds when they contribute to the EU Strategy, e.g. PROGRESS and research framework Other bodies Cooperation with the Bilbao Agency (EU-OSHA), in particular: - discussion and approval by the ACSH of the Agency's annual work program - input by the EU-OSHA on specific issues in the framework of the committee's WPs activities Cooperation with EUROFOUND, in particular: - discussion by the ACSH of the Foundation's annual and rolling work program - input by the Foundation on specific issues in the framework of the committee's WPs activities Cooperation with EUROSTAT in all relevant areas 10

VII. Ongoing Activities Standing Working Party Programme 2010 1. Ensure close cooperation with the European Social Partners in the Sectoral Social Dialogue Committee, Extractive Industries (SSDC EI). 2. Promoting the exchange of information with the EU Member States on aspects related to the health and safety of workers in the mining and other extractive industries sectors, e.g. through the organisation of workshops or meetings with participation of experts from the individual Members States. Specific areas of concern include Methane Extraction, Nitrogen Oxides (NOX) and Mobile Machinery Design. 3. Preparation of a draft opinion on the Commission report concerning the implementation of Directives 92/91/EEC and 92/104/EEC. Evaluate improvements to be made in areas of: Worker qualifications, Subcontractors and self employed persons, Accidents and their causes. 4. Advising the Commission on cooperation with other countries, in particular with China in respect to health and safety in the mining and the extractive industries sectors. 5. To provide comments on Commission draft legislative acts and to give advice on aspects and regulatory measures discussed in the Advisory Committee which have a significant impact on the health and safety of workers in the mining and other extractive industries. Requests for such advice will be forwarded via the Bureau. 11

Chemicals at the Workplace Programme 2010 Discussion on the final recommendations prepared by SCOEL on Occupational Exposure Limits (OELs) for individual chemical substances as an approach to reducing and controlling exposure, both for substances where limits can be set on the basis of health effects only and for substances where other factors also have to be considered (e.g. genotoxic carcinogens) with the aim to prepare an opinion on them, as appropriate. Development of activities within the framework of the Chemical Agents Directive (98/24/EC), the Carcinogens and Mutagens Directive (2004/37/EC), related requirements and other emerging issues, including the development of a transparent and systematic approach for SCOEL prioritising substances for OELs. Review the need for improved SCOEL justification of recommendations. Occupational safety and health issues arising from the "inter-relationship" between Community OSH requirements and other Community legislation and initiatives on chemicals, including (i) Regulation 1907/2006 on the Registration, Evaluation and Authorisation of Chemicals (REACH), and (ii) Regulation 1272/2008 on classification Labelling and Packaging of substances and mixtures (CLP). To consider the risks from exposure to nano-materials at the workplace and the need for concise guidance on prevention and protection measures. If appropriate, to prepare guidance together with a draft opinion for the Advisory Committee. 12

WP "Standardisation" WP "Community Strategy Implementation & Advisory Committee Action Program" WP "Education and Training" WP "Electromagnetic Fields" WP "Evaluation of OSH Directives" WP "Self-employed" WP "Guide "Fisheries" WP "Sub-contracting" WP "WRMSDs" WP "Occupational diseases" 13