The EU Rules & Initiatives

There are already 23 EU legislative provisions to preserve the health of workers and which employers are obliged to comply with.

​Occupational safety and health in a changing world of work

​Protecting the health of workers is crucial, both for their well-being and for the functioning of society and for the continuity of economic and social activities. 23 EU legislative provisions are already in force now;

However, following the COVID-19 pandemic, the EU has renewed its commitment to update the rules on safety and health at work. It adopted the EU strategic framework on health and safety at work 2021-2027, which defines the key actions needed to improve the health and safety of workers in the coming years.

This new strategy focuses on three objectives:

1. managing change brought about by green, digital and demographic transitions as well as changes in the traditional work environment
2. improve accident and disease prevention
3. increase preparedness for any potential future crises.

Despite some progress, there are still thousands of fatal accidents and millions of non-fatal accidents. In addition, more than 200,000 workers die each year from work-related diseases.

The framework presented by the Commission will serve to reduce accidents and its actions will also help reduce healthcare costs and support businesses, including SMEs, to become more productive, competitive and sustainable.

Click to read

​Three key objectives: change, prevention and preparedness

The strategic framework focuses on three key objectives for the coming years:
​

1. Anticipating and managing change in the new world of work: To ensure safe and healthy workplaces during the digital, green and demographic transitions, the Commission will review the Workplaces Directive and the Display Screen Equipment Directive and update protective limits on asbestos and lead. It will prepare an EU-level initiative related to mental health at work that assesses emerging issues related to workers' mental health and puts forward guidance for action.
2. Improving prevention of work-related diseases and accidents:This strategic framework will promote a ‘vision zero' approach to eliminate work-related deaths in the EU. The Commission will also update EU rules on hazardous chemicals to combat cancer, reproductive, and respiratory diseases.
3. Increasing preparedness for possible future health threats:Drawing lessons from the current pandemic, the Commission will develop emergency procedures and guidance for the rapid deployment, implementation and monitoring of measures in potential future health crises, in close cooperation with public-health actors.

The actions in the strategic framework will be implemented through:
​

1. strong social dialogue,
2. a strengthened evidence based policy-making,
3. improved enforcement and monitoring of existing EU legislation
   
4. awareness-raising
   
5. mobilising funding to invest into occupational safety and health, including from EU funds like the Recovery and Resilience Facility and Cohesion policy funds

​.
The Commission also calls on Member States to update their national occupational safety and health strategies to ensure that the new measures reach the workplace. Beyond EU borders, the Commission will also continue playing a leading role in promoting high occupational safety and health standards globally.

Areas of activity

A wide variety of EU measures in the field of safety and health at work have been adopted on the basis of Article 153 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union.

The following sections provide for different OSH areas, an overview of EU legislation, its evaluation, main policies, documents as well as guidelines and activities put in place to support the implementation of measures to improve health and safety in the EU.

Sections	EU measures
Dangerous substances: Chemicals; carcinogens and mutagens	Chemicals ​EU OSH Legislation Directive 98/24/EC – risks related to chemical agents at work Directive 91/322/EEC – indicative limit values Directive 2000/39/EC – a first list of indicative occupational exposure limit values Directive 2006/15/EC – a second list of indicative occupational exposure limit values Directive 2009/161/EU – a third list of indicative occupational exposure limit values Directive 2017/164/EU – a fourth list of indicative occupational exposure limit value Directive 2019/1831 - a fifth list of indicative occupational exposure limit value Guidance Minimising chemical risk to workers’ health and safety through substitution (EU, 2012) Guidance for employers on controlling risks from chemicals - Interface between Chemicals Agents Directive and REACH at the workplace (ACSH, 2010) Practical guidelines of a non-binding nature on the protection of the health and safety of workers from the risks related to chemical agents at work (EU, 2007) Dangerous substances e-tool (EU-OSHA) – This e-tool provides employers with support and advice to effectively manage dangerous substances in the workplace. Studies and activities 2018–19 Campaign: Healthy Workplaces Manage Dangerous Substances (EU-OSHA) – The 2018-19 campaign aims to raise awareness of the risks posed by dangerous substances in the workplace and to promote a culture of risk prevention. HazChem@Work project: Final report (EC, 2017) – This project aimed at creating a database and developing a model to estimate the occupational exposure for a list of hazardous chemicals in EU countries and in the EFTA/EEA countries. Health, socio-economic and environmental aspects of possible amendments to the EU Directive on the protection of workers from the risks related to exposure to carcinogens and mutagens at work – Summary report (2013) Study to analyse and evaluate the impact of the practical implementation in the workplace of national measures implementing Directive 98/24/EC on Chemical Agents – Final report (2010) SHEcan project: Socioeconomic, health and environmental impact of possible amendments to the EU Carcinogens and Mutagens Directive, (2009-2011) Other Commission services DG ENV – REACH Regulation (webpage) DG GROW – Chemicals (webpage) Carcinogens and Mutagens EU OSH Legislation Directive 2004/37/EC – exposure to carcinogens or mutagens at work Directive 2017/2398 – first amendment to the carcinogens and mutagens directive Directive 2019/130 – second amendment to the carcinogens and mutagens directive Directive 2019/983 – third amendment to the carcinogens and mutagens directive ​ Asbestos EU OSH Legislation Directive 2009/148/EC – exposure to asbestos at work Guidance Practical guidelines for the information and training of workers involved with asbestos removal or maintenance work (EC, 2012) – Aims to raise awareness and encourage preventive actions from the risk posed by asbestos fibres. Nanomaterials Policy documents Communication on regulatory aspects of nanomaterials, COM(2008) 366 final Staff Working Document on regulatory aspects of nanomaterials, SEC(2008) 2036 Guidance Working safely with manufactured nanomaterials: Guidance for Workers (EC, 2014) – Provides employees working with nanomaterials with an introduction to the issues surrounding – and approaches to working safely with nanomaterials. Guidance on the protection of the health and safety of workers from the potential risks related to nanomaterials at work (EC, 2013) – Guidance to assist employers, health and safety practitioners and workers in fulfilling their regulatory obligations.
Biological agent	EU OSH Legislation Directive 2000/54/EC – exposure to biological agents at work Directive 2010/32/EU – prevention from sharp injuries in the hospital and healthcare sector Directive 2019/1833 – exposure to biological agents at work (technical adjustments) Guidance Occupational health and safety risks in the healthcare sector – Guide to prevention and good practice (EC, 2014) Other publications E-fact 53: Risk assessment for biological agents (EU-OSHA, 2010) Other Commission services DG SANTE, Communicable diseases (webpage) DG SANTE, Cross-border threats (webpage) DG SANTE, Biological safety (webpage)
Physical hazard	EU OSH Legislation Directive 2002/44/EC – risks arising from vibration Directive 2003/10/EC – risks arising from noise Directive 2006/25/EC – risks arising from artificial optical radiation Directive 2013/35/EU – risks arising from electromagnetic fields Directive 1999/92/EC – risks from explosive atmospheres Policy documents Council Recommendation 1999/519/EC on the limitation of exposure of the general public to electromagnetic fields (0 Hz to 300 GHz) Guidelines Non-binding guide to good practice for implementing Directive 2013/35/EU Electromagnetic Fields: Volume 1, Practical guide; Volume 2, Case Studies; Guide for SMEs (EC, 2015-2016) Non-binding guide to good practice for implementing Directive 2006/25/EC on artificial optical radiation (EC, 2011) Non-binding guide to good practice for the application of Directive 2003/10/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council on the minimum safety and health requirements regarding the exposure of workers to the risks arising from physical agents (Noise) (EC, 2011) Non-binding guide to good practice with a view to implementation of directive 2002/44/EC on the minimum health and safety requirements regarding the exposure of workers to the risks arising from physical agents (vibrations)  (EC, 2009)
Ergonomic	EU OSH Legislation Directive 90/269/EEC – manual handling of loads (back injury) Directive 90/270/EEC – display screen equipment Directive 2002/44/EC – risks arising from vibration Directive 89/654/EEC – workplace requirements   Directive 2009/104/EC – work equipment Guidelines Non-binding guide to good practice with a view to implementation of directive 2002/44/EC on the minimum health and safety requirements regarding the exposure of workers to the risks arising from physical agents (vibrations)  (EC, 2009) Healthy workers, thriving companies - a practical guide to wellbeing at work (EU-OSHA, 2018) Studies and activities OSH in figures: Work-related musculoskeletal disorders in the EU — Facts and Figures (EU-OSHA, 2010)
Psychosocial risk	EU OSH Legislation Directive 89/391/ECC – framework directive Directive 90/270/EEC – display screen equipment Guidance Healthy workers, thriving companies - a practical guide to wellbeing at work (EU-OSHA, 2018) Promoting mental health in the workplace: Guidance to implementing a comprehensive approach (EC, 2014) Interpretative Document of the Implementation of Council Directive 89/391/EEC in relation to Mental Health in the Workplace (EC, 2014) E-guide to managing stress and psychosocial risks (EU-OSHA) Policy documents Evaluation of policy and practice to promote mental health in the workplace in Europe (EC, 2014) – Final Report. Other Commission services DG SANTE – Mental health (webpage)
Categories of worker	EU OSH Legislation Directive 91/383/EEC – fixed-duration or temporary employment relationship Directive 92/85/EEC – pregnant and breastfeeding workers Directive 94/33/EEC – young people at work Guidance Guidelines on the assessment of the chemical, physical and biological agents and industrial processes considered hazardous for the safety or health of pregnant workers and workers who have recently given birth or are breastfeeding (COM(2000) 466) Towards age-friendly work in Europe: a life-course perspective on work and ageing from EU Agencies (EU-OSHA, 2017) eGuide: Healthy Workplaces for all Ages (EU-OSHA, 2017) – A multilingual e-guide on managing safety and health at work for an ageing workforce. Studies and activities Project: Safer and healthier work at any age – occupational safety and health (OSH) in the context of an ageing workforce (EU-OSHA, 2016) Other publications E-fact 78: Involving young workers in OSH (EU-OSHA, 2013) Factsheet 83: Good practice in preventing risks to young workers - A Summary (EU-OSHA, 2009)
Sector specific	EU OSH Legislation Directive 92/57/EEC – temporary or mobile construction sites Directive 92/29/EEC – medical treatment on board vessels Directive 93/103/EC – work on board fishing vessels Directive 92/104/EEC – mineral-extracting industries Directive 92/91/EEC – mineral-extracting industries through drilling Directive 2010/32/EU – prevention from sharp injuries in the hospital and healthcare sector Directive 2019/1834 – medical treatment on board vessels (technical adjustments) Guidance A non–binding guide to best practice with a view to improving the application of related directives on protecting health and safety of workers in agriculture, livestock farming, horticulture and forestry (EC, 2016) Occupational health and safety risks in the healthcare sector – Guide to prevention and good practice (EC, 2014) Non-binding guide to good practice for understanding and implementing Directive 92/57/EEC on the implementation of minimum safety and health requirements at temporary or mobile construction sites (EC, 2011) Studies and activities Study: Analysis and evaluation of the effects of the practical application of national legislation related to safety and health at work in mineral extraction through drilling – Directive 92/91/EEC (EC, 2013)
OSH risk management	EU OSH Legislation Directive 89/391/ECC – framework directive Guidance Health and safety at work is everybody’s business - Practical guidance for employers (EC, 2017) OiRA – Online interactive Risk Assessment (EU-OSHA) Worker participation in occupational safety and health – A practical guide (EU-OSHA, 2012) Management leadership in occupational safety and health – A practical guide (EU-OSHA, 2012) Studies and activities Peer review: The use of web-based tools for OSH risk assessment, Ireland, October 2017
Future of work	Studies and activities Foresight study: New and emerging occupational safety and health risks associated with information and communications technologies and work locations by 2025 (EU-OSHA, 2016) Other publications Protecting workers in the online platform economy: An overview of regulatory and policy developments in the EU (EU-OSHA, 2017) Key trends and drivers of change in information and communication technologies and work location (EU-OSHA, 2017) Discussion paper: The future of the (e-)retail sector from an occupational safety and health point of view (EU-OSHA, 2018) Automation, digitalisation and platforms: Implications for work and employment (Eurofound, 2018) Game changing technologies: Exploring the impact on production processes and work (Eurofound, 2018) Working anytime, anywhere: The effects on the world of work (Eurofound, 2017) New forms of employment (Eurofound, 2015)

EU Strategy and Actions on Public Health
​

Public health is usually thought to be in the hands of the Member States alone. However, there are dozens of European laws in place, € 5.3 billion of European funds for health and a strategy has begun to digitise EU public health. And to protect workers, EU has 23 legislative provisions.

Learn more...