European Trade Union Movement

1. European Trade Union Movement • European Trade Union Confederation • Funded in 1973 • General Secretary – John Monks • Institute with departments for Research, Education, Occupational Health and Safety • 11 Industry federations

2. European Federation of Building and Woodworkers • Has currently 61 affiliates in 24 countries throughout Europe • Represents about 2.3 mio members General Assembly Executive Committee Standing Committee Construction Standing Committee Wood Health- and Safety Co-ordination Group

3. European Social Dialogue • Intersectoral: ETUC and UNICE • Sectoral: • Construction • EFBWW and FIEC • Woodworking sectors • EFBWW and CEI-Bois • EFBWW and UEA • EFBWW and EFIC (?)

4. Occupational Safety and Health in Europe A succesful story Nowadays under pressure An important field for the European trade union mevement

5. Occupational Safety and Health in Europe Four areas of freedom: Free trade of goods Free movement of capital Free trade of services Free movement of workers Today social policy is an integrial part of the treaty

6. Occupational Safety and Health in Europe • Dangerous Substances (i.e. 80/1107/EWG) • European Framework Directive from 1989 • Single directives refering to articel 16 of the framework directive Occupational Health and Safety is the first area regulated by a european social policy

7. Occupational Safety and Health in Europe • Relatively undiscovered by the community some social politicians could create a progressive policy on OHS • Work protection was the only subject and for most of the member states it was determined technically • The Construction Site Directive was the product of some people who had a progressive idea of work protection « Years of funding » 1989 and the following years

8. Occupational Safety and Health in Europe The Framework Directive 89/391 Risk Assessment High standards of protection/ Reduction of risks at their source The employer has to take into account the technical state of the art Hierarchie of prevention meassures Duty of documentation Information and training of workers Participation of the workforce

9. Occupational Safety and Health in Europe Einzelrichtlinien Health and Safety requirements for the workplace (89/654) Safety requirements for the use of work equipment (89/655) Directive on carcinogenes at the workplace (90/394) Health and Safety on mobile and temporary construction sites Protection from the risks related to chemicals at work (98/24) Manual handling of heavy loads (90/269) Directive on physical agents (Noise – 2003/10) Directive on personal protective equipment (89/656)

10. Europe today The message: deregulation Less directives General targets insteadt of specific regulations Delegations to the social partners respectively steakholders Voluntary agreements insteadt of directives

11. Europe today Main changes in Safety & Health Main parts of the aquis communitaire are practically not applicated Changes in the work organisation and the industrial relations are obstacles Preventing multicomplex «New risks» is more complexe then accident prevention Small and medium sized entreprises are often overstreched

12. Slight decrease in traditonal hazards e.g. Strong increase in new risks including factors of mental stress e.g. Changes in the strain profile • Noise, Vibration • Dampness, Cold, Heat • Heavy loads • Dusts, Smokes • Painful positions • Timepressure and tight deadlines • Working at high speed • Fremdbestimmtes Tempo • Repetetive work • Unfavourable workingtime • Social conflicts

13. Europa heute

14. Europa heute

15. Europa heute Noise Radiation Repetitive Hand or Arm movements Smoke, fume, dust Noise

16. Problems of Functional Differentiation Scientific knowledge Work organiszation Situation and duration of work Work environment Venue of work Workplace and tools Substances Technical state of the art Noise Position in the hierarchy Atmosphere Breakes Lighting Workplace Industrial science Labour psychology

17. Barriers for implementation • Legal implementation • Practical implementation • Transforming requirements into a cultur • Bringing across propper information to workers as well as companies

18. General prospect • „Simplification“ respectively deregulation as political line • Method of open co-ordination • General tendency of „Euro-scepticism“ • An increasing importance of the sectoral Social Dialogue • Diversified forms of employment as an framework condition for OSH

19. The Commissions new Programme 2007 to 2012 • Only little need for new legislation • Is underlining shortcomings concerning the application of community law • Highlights changes in the work organization and forms of employment as well as atypical work • Is focusing on specific group of workers (migrant workers) and gender mainstreaming • Sees an growing influence of framework conditions like the ageing of Europes societies

20. Trade Union Requirementsfor 2007 to 2012 • Legislation remains a core factor for successful prevention in OSH • That concerns values, requirements as well as broader strategies for complex problems • The non binding list of occupational diseases should be transformed into a direcitve • A propper application and implementation remains the main task for all european actors • Special attention should be paid for the construction sector and other high risk sectors

21. Trade Union Requirementsfor 2007 to 2012 • The work of the labour inspectorates has to be encouraged • The incorporation of OSH in other community policies should be attributed by precise goals and perspectives • Improvement in co-ordinated scientific activities are requested (say R+D-Programme/Dublin Foundation) • Specific attention should be paid for the growing risk of mental stress • ...

22. Work protection is work creation A modern policy on occupational health and safety is more than only accident prevention Changes in the profile of risks Today work protection is the creation of a healthy work environment including all aspects of work

23. European institutional partners • The Bilbao Agency • The Dublin Foundation • The ETUC‘s Health and Safety Department • Three Advisory Committees of the DG Employment and Social Affairs • Advisory Committee for Safety and Health at the Workplace • Scientific Committee for Occupational Exposure Limits • Senior Labour Inspectorate Committee • European Parliament – Employment and Social Affairs Committee