Health and safety at work is one of the areas where the EU has had the biggest impact – with a solid legal framework covering the maximum number of risks with the minimum number of regulations.

The Commission also works with the European Agency for Health and Safety at Work and the European Foundation for the Improvement of Living and Working Conditions to disseminate information, offer guidance and promote healthy working environments – particularly in small businesses.

Legal basis

Directive 89/391/EEC on measures to improve safety and health at work:

• encourages improvements in occupational health and safety in all sectors of activity, both public and private.
• promotes workers' rights to make proposals relating to health and safety, to appeal to the competent authority and to stop work in the event of serious danger.
• seeks to adequately protect workers and ensure that they return home in good health at the end of the working day.

Statistics

• European Statistics on Accidents at Work (ESAW) – case-by-case data on occupational accidents with more than 3 days of absence from work and fatal accidents
• A simplification project on European Occupational Diseases Statistics (EODS) is ongoing
• Labour Force Survey ad hoc modules on accidents at work and work-related health problems 

Committees

Committees of national experts contribute to developing, implementing and monitoring EU legislation on health and safety at work

• Advisory Committee on Safety and Health at Work (ACSH)
• Scientific Committee on Occupational Exposure Limits (SCOEL)
• Senior Labour Inspectors Committee (SLIC)