Occupational health and safety, the collateral damage from the “Better Legislate” approach taken over recent years, may well make a comeback in 2016. Following the presentation (2 years behind schedule) of the 2014-2020 roadmap (c.f. article No. 8435), the European Commission will present a series of new measures covering health for pregnant and breast feeding workers as well as carcinogenic agents and mutagens. However it is unlikely that the sensitive case of musculoskeletal disorders will be revisited. These themes are at the heart of the European week for occupational health and safety from 19-23 October.
Assessing the overall framework. The EU Commission is currently undertaking an assessment via the REFIT program of some 24 Directives on occupational health and safety (c.f. article No. 130586) as well as of article 17a of the Framework Directive 89/391. The Commission is conducting its study “as regards their pertinence, efficacy, and coherence while taking into account the specificities of SMEs and the potential for modernization and simplification in this area whilst maintaining a high degree of workers protection.”
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