The EU Framework -

Towards a more integrated

management of MSDs at work

Fit for Work

Brussels, 30 September 2009

Antonio Cammarota
European Commission, DG EMPL/F4
"Health, Safety and Hygiene at Work"

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 Recent EU Initiatives on
Ergonomics and WRMSDs
SLIC “Manual Handling of Loads” Campaign 2007-2008

EU-OSHA “Lighten the Load” Campaign 2007

Initiatives at sector social dialogue level (telecommuniations,

agriculture)

Commission initiative in the framework of the legislative

simplification exercise

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The Commission’s Legislative
Initiative

Outline the context

Summarise the current state of discussion

Current consultation process

What next?

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 CONTEXT

Commission Communication COM(2002) 118 final – "Adapting

to change in work and society: a new Community strategy on
health and safety at work 2002-2006“

Commission Communication COM(2007) 62 final – “Improving

quality and productivity at work: Community strategy 2007-
2012 on health and safety at work"

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 BACKGROUND
WRMSDs: one of the major OSH problems in Europe

– Account for 53% of all work-related diseases in the EU-15

– The most often work-related health problem resulting in lost

days and permanent incapacity to work

49.9% of all more than 3 days absences from work

49.2% of all 2 weeks or more absences

about 60% of all reported cases of permanent incapacity

(source: 1999 LFS "Ad hoc module on accidents at work and work-related health
problems", Eurostat)

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 BACKGROUND
WRMSDs: a major cost burden for industry and
society

– Available cost estimates of MSDs put the cost at between

0.5% and 2% of GDP

– MSD responsible for up to 40%-50% of the costs of all

work-related health issues

– With ageing EU active population, prevalence rate of

WRMSDs among older workers may result in increasing
costs

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 BACKGROUND
WRMSDs are on the increase in the EU
Some reference data (EU-27)
(source: Fourth European Survey on Working Conditions, 2006, European Foundation Dublin)

 Occurrence of exposure to risk factors: ergonomic risks are the most commonly
reported risk at work

Repetitive hand or arm movements (62.3%)

Tiring or painful positions (45.5%)

Heavy loads (35%)

Vibrations (24.2%)

 Perceived work-related health problems: WRMSDs are the most often reported work-
related health symptoms

Backache (24.7%)

Muscular pains (22.8%)

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 The EU Legal Framework
At present, no specific legal provision aiming at WRMSDs at large

However several European directives apply, either directly or

indirectly, to MSDs and their prevention, in particular:

– Council Directive 89/391/EEC (Framework Directive)

– Council Directive 90/270/EEC (work with display screen equipment)

– Council Directive 90/269/EEC (manual handling of loads)

– Council Directive 2002/44/EC (vibration)

The current regulatory framework does not

cover all types of work situations or address
all risk factors leading to WRMSDs!
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 CONTEXT

2004: First-stage consultation of the

European social partners under Article 138(2)
of the EC-Treaty

2007: Second-stage consultation of the

European social partners under Article 138(3)
of the EC-Treaty

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 CONTEXT
Results of the two-stage
consultation
Employers not in favour of new legislation

– A single text covering all types of WRMSDs would be unrealistic because of their
multifactoral nature

– WRMSDs already largely covered by the current EU legal framework

– Emphasis to be put on more effective implementation of the existing legislation

Workers in favour of new legislation

– Advocate a limit-value-approach

– Psychosocial aspects to be considered

– Support global approach (regulatory and non-regulatory)

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 Socio-economic impact
assessment
Preliminary results (study tendered by the
Commission in 2007)

 Qualitative and semi-quantitative analysis of the potential effects

of 6 main policy options:

1) Status quo, no EU actions;

2) Non-binding initiatives;
3) Technical update of MSD-legislation;
4) Technical update of MSD-legislation plus non-binding
initiatives;
5) Simplifying MSD-legislation taking account of all risk factors
and incorporating existing specific legislation;
6) Simplifying MSD-legislation plus non-binding initiatives.

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 Socio-economic impact
assessment
Preliminary results (study tendered by the Commission in 2007)

– Policy option 6 (simplifying MSD-legislation plus non-binding initiatives)

the option with the highest impact on indicators at national, sector,
company and individual level

At national level, impacts on 1) national legislation, 2) labour inspectorate

activities, and 3) national campaigns / prevention strategies.

At sector level, impacts on 1) sector campaigns, 2) dissemination of good

practices, and 3) sector agreements.

At company level, impacts on 1) awareness, 2) risk assessment, 3) training

/ preventive actions, and 4) compensation costs.

At individual level, impacts on 1) knowledge, 2) risk exposure, 3)

symptoms, and 4) sickness absence.

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The current state of discussion
The development of a new
legislative initiative
Simplification initiative:

 Proposal for a new individual directive addressing all significant risk

factors in all workplaces and incorporating existing directives 90/269 and
90/270 included in the CLWP 2009

 Make legislation easier to apply (reduced number of reference texts-

 Less burdensome (simplified administrative and technical obligtions)

 More effective (easier to implement and enforce)

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The current state of discussion
The development of a new
legislative initiative
Main assets:

– Provide a comprehensive definition of WRMSDs and

work-related risk factors (bio-mechanical, working
environment and workstation layout, organisation of
work)

– Provide a methodological platform for carrying out risk

assessment and setting up, where necessary, a
coherent ergonomic prevention programme

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 Next steps

Consultation process (ACSH, technical working

group of national experts)

Timeline for the Commission’s proposal:

– Socio-economic impact assessment report to be submitted

to the Impact Assessment Board in December 2009 /
January 2010.

– Adoption of the proposal by the College: First half of 2010

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Ladies and Gentlemen

Thank you for your attention

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