Occupational Safety and Health Reps, their role and functions in the EU

Systems of workers representation  Trade unions  Work councils  Mixed Occupational Safety and Health Reps, their role and functions in the EU

1. Legal definition  Legal status  Establish criteria  Fundamentals of mandate Occupational Safety and Health Reps, their role and functions in the EU

2. Powers – competency  To investigate complaints by any workers relating to health, safety or welfare at work  To investigate potential hazards  To ask the employer to take appropriate measures and to submit proposals to him so as to reduce hazards for workers and/or to remove sources of danger  To examine the causes of accidents  To participate in risk assessment procedures Occupational Safety and Health Reps, their role and functions in the EU

2. Powers – competency  To make proposals  To receive information and consultation in advance on measures which may substantially affect H&S  To consult in advance on designation of workers with special responsibility for OHS or services or persons outside  To consult on planning and organization of training Occupational Safety and Health Reps, their role and functions in the EU

2. Powers – competency  To receive information from inspectors during their visits  To submit observations to inspectors during their visits  Competence to appeal to the authorities responsible for OHS  Attendance on meetings of safety committees  Access to experts outside Occupational Safety and Health Reps, their role and functions in the EU

3. Support  Specific training  Access to information  Time allotted for work related to representation  Specific tools  Basic legal and office reqiurements Occupational Safety and Health Reps, their role and functions in the EU

4. Relationships  Preventive services inside the enterprise  Health and safety committees  Outside institutes and bodies  Sectoral Trade Unions  Labour inspections  Hygiene services Occupational Safety and Health Reps, their role and functions in the EU

Current European practices, Different approaches  H&S Reps (usually from 5 emploees)  Safety groups (5 and more employees)  H&S Committees (50 workers and above)  New forms of representation  Regional H&S Reps (Sweden)  H&S advisory services (UK)  Joint committees and bilateral structures in some regions and branches or territorial Reps (Italy and Spain) Occupational Safety and Health Reps, their role and functions in the EU

Importance of legislative schemes  Traditional legislative (Sweden)  More recent legislative (Italy)  Joint arrangements within workplaces through collective agreements (Denmark) versus Voluntary schemes (Spain, UK) Need for legislative provisions Occupational Safety and Health Reps, their role and functions in the EU

 Trade unions support  Commitment of employers’ organisations Agreements between TU & employers’ organisations  The commitment of members  Pooled resources  Training  Information  Other (regulatory agencies, preventive services, insurance companies) Occupational Safety and Health Reps, their role and functions in the EU

Resourcing  Employers  Trade Unions  Local and central authorities  Insurance companies Occupational Safety and Health Reps, their role and functions in the EU

Viktor Kempa The Trade Union Technical Bureau Budapest September 18, 2003 Constrains and Obstacles  Absence of  Legislative framework  Resourcing (support from other interested parties)  Understanding of H&S issues (education & OHSMS)  Awareness of H&S issues and insecurity of jobs  Adequate number of representatives (apart from Sweden)  Sufficient and high-quality training Occupational Safety and Health Reps, their role and functions in the EU

Viktor Kempa The Trade Union Technical Bureau Budapest September 18, 2003 The way forward  Role of the TU in promoting and sustaining initiatives  Legislative arrangements and collective agreements  Commitment of participants  Concertation of all actors  What works best in different situations  More evaluation of approaches to participation in OHS  More quantitive data Activating, developing and sustaining new approaches of workers representation Occupational Safety and Health Reps, their role and functions in the EU

 Occupational Safety and Health Reps, their role and functions in the EU

CONTACT ETUI - HESA Boulevard du Roi Albert II, 5 box 5 B-1210 Brussels Belgium Tel: 32-2/ Fax: 32-2/ The European Trade Union Technical Bureau For Health and Safety