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by Kate Holman in Strasbourg

EUROPEAN countries need to boost their implementation of laws on health and safety at work, and tighten workplace inspections, the European Parliament declared this week. A report on the European Union current health and safety strategy, in force until 2013, criticises its lack of specific action proposals and weak enforcement of existing legislation by member states.

The strategy aims for a 25 per cent cut in workplace accidents across the EU. More than 167,000 people died from work-related accidents or diseases in the EU in 2006, with another 300,000 suffering permanent disabilities.

British Labour MEP Glenis Wilmott called for stronger sanctions against “rogue employers” who neglect health and safety. She highlighted the higher risks facing immigrants, women, young people and other vulnerable workers, and those in small companies and sectors such as building and transport. MEPs approved her report by a big majority.

European trade unions were already critical of the strategy when it was launched last year, saying it focused too narrowly on accidents at work to the exclusion of other work-related illnesses, and urging the EU to take tougher action to prevent musculo-skeletal disorders and cancers, in particular, with effective workplace inspection systems in all countries and sectors. The MEPs’ report calls for a new EU directive on MSDs, and a reinforced network of workers’ health and safety representatives.
Labour MEP Stephen Hughes urged the Commission to tackle the dangers to health care workers of 1 million needlestick injuries – accidental pricks by infected needles – each year.