MEPs push for stricter workers’ safety standards

Date: 09/11/1995

By Fiona McHugh

SOCIALIST MEP Peter Skinner has accused EU governments of putting money before their workers' health and safety.

“It is clear that the Commission has bowed to the prevailing mood of member states which believe that safety can be sacrificed to save money for businesses,” Skinner says of draft new rules governing the use of certain equipment in work.

“This piece of legislation was supposed to lay down minimum safety requirements but, in fact, all it does is set objectives and targets. There is a big difference between the two - one forces employers to obey certain rules, the other only gives them goals.”

The European Parliament is now bracing itself for a battle with the Council of Ministers over the draft directive, according to the British Socialist rapporteur.

Several amendments aimed at tightening the current proposal have been tabled and will be voted on by the full assembly next week (16 November). MEPs want strict standards introduced to ensure the safety of scaffolding and ladders and to prevent accidents caused by falling objects. Among other requirements, they want untrained staff kept out of danger and scaffolding and wood-working machinery checked on a regular basis by competent people.

“If, for instance, scaffolding has been left outdoors or machinery left idle for a number of months, then it should be thoroughly checked by a competent person before being used again,” explains Skinner.

“And when we say competent, we mean competent. There is no point in getting a labourer who has worked on a site for two or three days to check equipment.”

All equipment which does not meet EU safety standards should be phased out by the year 2001, according to another amendment.

But these changes, even if they are adopted by the assembly, are unlikely to be taken on board by social affairs ministers.

“I don't think there is any hope of the Council agreeing to the changes proposed by Mr Skinner,” said one diplomat, reflecting the uncompromising stand being taken by most member states over the issue. They feel that these changes would heap costly administrative work on businesses already struggling to cope with EU safety rules passed in 1989.

Jari Hellsten, of the European Federation of Building and Wood Workers, expressed disappointment at member states' failure to agree on high safety standards which he said were clearly needed.

“I am sure that a lot of the machinery currently being used in the Union is no longer safe,” he said.

According to Commission, an average of 6,800 people die each year from occupational accidents in the EU.