Action programme (EEC) for the European Year of Safety, Hygiene and Health at Work, 1992-1993

In its Decision of 25 July 1991 (Official Journal No L 214 of 2.8.1991) the Council declared 1992 to be "European Year for Safety, Hygiene and Health at Work", starting on 1 March 1992 and ending on 28 February 1993. This Decision was taken on the basis of Article 118a of the Single European Act and with reference to the Community's third action programme in the field of safety, hygiene and health at work (1987-1992)

Article 118a of the Single European Act enables action at Community level as regards the improvement of the working environment to be intensified and expanded in order to protect the safety and health of workers. It provides in particular for the improvement of safety and health conditions at work, which constitute an essential feature of the social dimension of the internal market. In this context the European Year aims to underscore the interdependence of the social and economic aspects of problems relating to safety, hygiene and health at work, and to help make young people, workers and employers more aware of risks at the workplace and of what can be done about them.

Data available at Member State level give a good idea of the high cost in human and social terms of the consequences of accidents at work and occupational illnesses. For 1984 the amount of compensation paid for such accidents and illnesses is put at some ECU 16,000 million for the whole Community, i.e. 7% of total expenditure on sickness insurance.

The Advisory Committee on Safety, Hygiene and Health Protection at Work recommended that the European Year take particular account of the following four topics:
- Cleanliness of air at work;
- Safety at work;
- Well-being at work;
- Measures to combat noise and vibration.
To conduct a number of activities designed to promote and enhance the value of the substantial body of Community measures in the field of safety, hygiene and health at work.
- Actions to be financed entirely from the Community budget:
. Organization of a European colloquium to launch the European Year;
. Organization of a European colloquium to close the European Year;
. Audiovisual festival (promotion of television programmes and videos, dealing particularly with the most dangerous branches of work);
. Production of booklets and stickers on the Community's policy on safety, hygiene and health at work;
. Logo design and poster campaigns;

- Actions by public and/or private organizations, cofinanced from the Community budget, aimed at:
. Improving and promoting the dissemination of information on occupational risks and their prevention, and in particular the influence of work organization on safety, hygiene and health at work;
. Giving greater importance to the training of workers and employers in the field of safety, hygiene and health at work;
. Integrating instruction in safety, hygiene and health at work into teaching and training programmes aimed at employers and workers;
. Improving the understanding of problems of safety, hygiene and health at work in small and medium-sized enterprises and promoting specific solutions;
. Improving the exchange of information on good enforcement practice in Member States regarding Community legislation on safety, hygiene and health at work;

- Actions to be undertaken by the Member States or by public and/or private organizations, without financial implications for the Community budget:
. Promoting the idea of work systems and work places which take account of safety and health requirements;
. Promoting the use of the common logo and slogan of the European Year in regular publicity campaigns;
. Encouraging the spread of information on the European Year through the mass media;
. Other actions to be determined.
The Commission is responsible for implementing the Council Decision on the European Year, assisted by a Steering Committee of an advisory nature composed of a representative from each Member State and chaired by the representative of the Commission. National coordinating committees, composed on a tripartite basis, act in liaison with the Advisory Committee on Safety, Hygiene and Health Protection at Work.

An amount of ECU 12 million is estimated as necessary to implement the Decision. At least 50% of this amount is to be used to cofinance actions by public and/or private organizations, up to a maximum of 70% of the total costs of each action. The remainder will be used to finance the total costs of actions by the Community, the Member States and the social partners.

The Commission shall inform the European Parliament, the Council, the Economic and Social Committee and the Advisory Committee for Safety, Hygiene and Health Protection at Work of the progress of the actions carried out.