The Commission adopted, on 21 February 2007, a proposal for a new strategy for promoting health and safety at work 2007-2012. The actions proposed, both at European and national levels, aim to achieve an overall 25% reduction of occupational accidents and diseases in the EU.
The strategy highlights the need to improve the current legislation and guarantee its proper implementation. It proposes to simplify the current legal framework and support small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in the implementation of the legislation, as SMEs account for 82% of all occupational injuries and 90% of all fatal accidents.
The strategy also proposes that member states define and implement strategies tailored to their own specific needs and urges better identification and assessment of potential new risks.
Entitled Improving quality and productivity at work, the proposed strategy describes health and safety of workers as key to the EU's Growth and Jobs agenda. "By bolstering productivity and quality at work, we will boost European growth and competitiveness," said Employment and Social Affairs Commissioner Vladimír Špidla. He also explained that occupational illness and the annual 4 million accidents at work are a "heavy burden on both workers and employers as well as social security systems and public finances".
