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The EU Framework Directive on 'the introduction of measures to encourage improvements in the safety and health of workers at work' was introduced in June 1989. Along with other health and safety directives, this measure places duties upon member states of the EU to ensure that the provisions are complied with. In its Third European Survey the European Foundation for the Improvement of Living and Working Conditions questioned the protection that these directives are giving to working people. Under Article 6 of the Framework Directive employers are obliged to follow general principles of prevention which include adapting the work to the individual, especially as regards the design of workplaces, the choice of work equipment and the choice of working and production method with a view, in particular, to alleviating monotonous work and pre-determined work-rates and to reducing their effect on health. They are also obliged to develop a coherent prevention policy which covers technology, organisation of work, working conditions, social relationships and the influence of factors related to the working environment. Under other Articles the employer shall be in possession of an assessment of the risks to safety and health at work, including those facing groups of workers exposed to particular risks (Article 9), particularly sensitive risk groups must be protected against the dangers which specially affect them (Article 15).
In the European Union in 2000, the year of the survey, 159 million people were in employment. 83% were employees and 17% self-employed. For the survey 21,500 workers across the EU were questioned in face to face interviews on their working conditions. Raymond-Pierre Bodin, Director of the Foundation stated, 'At the Foundation we have charted the trends in working conditions during the past ten years and the inescapable conclusion we must draw from this survey, taken in conjunction with the 1991 and 1995 surveys, is that working conditions are not improving and, in some respects are getting worse'.
Despite the specific requirements of the Framework Directive that should have been transposed into national law and implemented by member states, European workers face increasing work-related health problems, intensification of work and flexible employment practices. The 2000 Survey identifies common work-related health problems including back pain (33%), stress (28%), muscular pains (neck and shoulders) (23%) and burn-out (23%) (see fig.1). It also highlights exposure to poor physical design (carrying heavy loads and painful positions), a continuing intensification of work, work that is increasingly client-driven, repetitive work and monotonous work and that gender segregation remains strong and detrimental to women.
Fig. 1 Work related health problems
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Backache |
Burn-out |
Stress |
Headaches |
Lower limbs |
Upper limbs |
Neck and shoulders |
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Muscular pain | |||||
There is also widespread flexibility with 'round the clock' work and fluctuating schedules, extensive use of part timers (17%), multi-skilling and teamwork and an increasing use of temporary workers (temporary workers continue to report more difficult work situations than permanent employees). According to the Foundation survey, in 2000, more than half of the workers report working at high speed and to tight deadlines during at least one-quarter of their working time. In addition, 21% of all workers stated that they did not have enough time to do their job. Moreover, the intensity of work is strongly correlated to health problems and accidents at work
The 2000 Survey also shows that temporary work is linked to poor working conditions. Temporary workers are more exposed than permanent workers to: working in painful positions, vibration, noise, working at high speed continuously, making repetitive movements continuously, having no control over pace of work and a lack of training.
The latest Survey from the European Foundation shows us that some of the key elements of the Framework Directive are not being put into practice in the workplace. The Directive requires amongst other things, for work to be adapted to the individual by design of working/production methods and monotonous and pre-determined work-rates to be alleviated to reduce their impact on health. Prevention policies should be implemented to cover the organisation of work and workers exposed to particular risks protected.
It appears that prevention activities in member states are not adequately addressing the impact of methods of production and work organisation upon occupational health. As a result, the quality of life at work and the health of workers continues to suffer. The European Foundation is calling for a European debate on working conditions and the quality of work in Europe. Trade unions will have a critical role in ensuring that Governments and employers meet their responsibilities in preventing occupational ill health.
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