Health and safety at work — general rules

SUMMARY OF:

Council Directive 89/391/EEC — measures to improve the safety and health of workers at work

SUMMARY

WHAT DOES THIS DIRECTIVE DO?

It introduces measures to improve the health and safety of people at work. It sets out obligations for both employers* and employees* to reduce accidents and occupational disease in the workplace.

KEY POINTS

The directive applies to all sectors of public and private activity (industrial, agricultural, commercial, administrative, service, educational, cultural, leisure and others).

It stipulates that employers:

• have a duty to ensure the health and safety of their workforce — this includes evaluating and avoiding risks, developing an overall safety policy and providing appropriate training to staff;
• appoint someone responsible for the prevention of risks at work;
• take the necessary first aid, fire-fighting and evacuation precautionary measures;
• assess the risks particular workers might face and ensure the necessary protective measures are in place;
• provide employees and/or their representatives with all relevant information on possible health and safety risks and the measures taken to prevent them;
• consult employees and/or their representatives and involve them in all discussions on health and safety at work;
• ensure each employee receives adequate health and safety training relevant to their job.

Other key points

• Each employee is responsible for taking care, as far as possible, of their own, and their colleagues’, health and safety.
• Special protection must be given to employees who may be particularly sensitive to possible risks and dangers in the workplace.
• The directive does not apply to certain specific public services, such as the police, the armed forces or elements of civil protection.

KEY TERMS

* Employee: anyone working for an employer, including trainees and apprentices, but not domestic servants.

* Employer: anyone with an employment relationship with someone and responsibility for the business.

BACKGROUND

• Health and safety at work
• EU Occupational Safety and Health (OSH) Strategic Framework 2014-2020
• European Agency for Safety and Health at Work
• European Foundation for the Improvement of Living and Working Conditions (Eurofound)
• Following the COVID-19 outbreak and introducing measures to cope with the impact of the crisis, the European Commission adopted: Communication from the Commission — Guidelines on protection of health, repatriation and travel arrangements for seafarers, passengers and other persons on board ships

ACT

Council Directive 89/391/EEC of 12 June 1989 on the introduction of measures to encourage improvements in the safety and health of workers at work

last update 08.05.2020