European Policy and the Practice of Worker Representation on Health and

Safety

Laurent VogelETUC

Safety Reps in the European Union

Laurent VogelHESA department

ETUI-REHS

Historical background

• A double input from the ’70s– New workers ’ strategies for health and safety– Workers’ control on strategic aspects of

management: the debate on the introduction of new technologies

• At EU level: a post-68/73 agenda– The « Vredeling directive » proposal– A new negative context from 79/first 80s

The Framework Directive as a compromise (1)

• OSH a central priority for social policy in the EU (from the Single Act in 1986)– Less divergences– Already a consolidated tradition– The illusion of a non conflictive area

dominated by technical approach– Linked with the market unification (machine

directive, chemicals)

The Framework Directive as a compromise (2)

• « Balanced participation »– Something more than information and

consultation– No clear definition– National practice …

• Coexistence of two conceptions– Management just informs…– Workers and their organisation as an central

agent

An era of topdown reforms• In most of the countries

– Systematic management is strongly consolidated: risk assessment, prevention plans, preventive services, etc…

– Industrial relations system is neglected (go on with the existing system in a context changing dramatically !)

• Some exceptions where no specific OSH representation existed– Italy and Spain (Greece and Portugal to a minor

extent)

In Eastern Europe

• From a Trade Union Control with a context of Party-State dominated TU…

• …to a liberal pro-management approach• with some space for safety reps

• The debate on TU inspection• The debate on general representation from the

workers• The difficulty to define an autonomous TU strategy

for OSH

Present situation

• Coverage ???– No systematic monitoring– Excluding factors:

• Size• Trade union density• Contingent workers

Structures for safety representation

• Elected/nominated by TU• Joint structures/delegates• A OSH specific structure/a general

representation structure• Specific common structures from SME’s

and worksites: still an exception

An effective intervention ?

• Many factors are preconditions– Rights and competences– Links between safety representation and the

general OSH management: participatory risk assessment

– Trade union strategy