Health and Safety at Work

HC Deb 10 February 1982 vol 17 cc374-5W

Sir Anthony Meyer

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will list in the Official Report the measures adopted by the European Community since 1973 in the field of health and safety at work; and if he will assess the effect of such measures on safety standards in the United Kingdom.

Mr Alison

Directives arising from he European Community's action programme on safety and health at work—which was endorsed by resolution of the Council of Ministers on 29 June 1978—include77/576/EEC—Safety signs at places of work. 78/610/EEC—Protection of the health of workers exposwd to vinyl chloride monomer. 80/1107/EEC—Protection of workers from the risks related to exposure to chemical, physical, and biological agents at work—the "harmful agents" directive

In addition, the Euratom directive 80/836/EURATOM—superseding 76/579/EURATOM and 79/343/EURATOM—lays down basic safety standards for the health protection of general public and workers against the dangers of ionising radiation.

Finally, there are health and safety implications of directives adopted under the programme for the elimination of technical barriers to trade—the "harmonisation" programme. These include some directives on product standards, and the following directives on the classification, packaging, and labelling of dangerous substances, and preparations: 67/548/EEC—as amended for the sixth time by 79/831/EEC (dangerous substances). 73/173/EEC—as amended by 80/781/EEC (solvents). 77/728/EEC—(paints, varnishes, printing inks, adhesives, and similar products). 78/631/EEC—as amended by 81/187/EEC (pesticides).

The Safety Signs Directive, 77/576/EEC, was implemented by the Safety Signs Regulations 1980 based largely on the relevant British Standard; and the vinyl chloride monomer directive, 78/610/EEC, was implemented by means of amendment to the Health and Safety Commission's existing approved code of practice.

The Harmful Agents Directive, 80/1107/EEC, is a "framework" directive whose provisions will be called into effect by subsequent directives covering specific harmful agents. There are health and safety regulations or proposals for such regulations governing the specific agents likely to be the subject of directives.

The HSC has published proposals for implementing the EURATOM directive, 80/836/EURATOM, and classification, packaging, and labeling directives.

It is difficult to assess the effect of all these measures on safety standards in the United Kingdom because the negotiation of many of these directives had proceeded concurrently with the development of proposals for domestic legislation. However, the United Kingdom Government have not agreed to the adoption of any directives in such a form as would lead to the lowering of United Kingdom safety standards.