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Health & Safety European Union For businesses

EU Workplace Health & Safety (OSH) Compliance Check

EU workplace health and safety check: risk assessment, competent persons, training and worker consultation under OSH Framework Directive 89/391/EEC.

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Did you know? The numbers behind this check.

  • All employers, any sizeApplies to
  • Over 3,000Fatal workplace accidents (EU, per year)
  • Absence over 3 working daysAccident records required
  • Directive 89/391/EECCore law

Why this matters.

Every employer in the EU, whatever its size or sector, has a legal duty to ensure the safety and health of workers in every aspect related to work. This comes from the OSH Framework Directive 89/391/EEC, which every member state has written into national law (for example the Arbeitsschutzgesetz in Germany, the Code du travail in France and Ley 31/1995 in Spain). The Directive requires you to follow the general principles of prevention in Article 6, carry out and document a risk assessment (Articles 6(3)(a) and 9), designate competent workers or external services for protective and preventive measures (Article 7), and arrange first aid, fire-fighting and evacuation (Article 8). Workers must be informed, consulted and trained (Articles 10 to 12).

Individual directives under the framework add specific rules for workplaces (89/654/EEC), work equipment (2009/104/EC), personal protective equipment (89/656/EEC), display screen work (90/270/EEC), manual handling (90/269/EEC), pregnant workers (92/85/EEC) and young workers (94/33/EC). National labour inspectorates enforce these rules with fines, stop-work orders and, after serious accidents, criminal prosecution. Eurostat records over 3,000 fatal and close to 3 million non-fatal workplace accidents a year in the EU, and a missing or out-of-date risk assessment is one of the most common findings in inspections.

Have these to hand.

  • The EU country or countries where you employ staff
  • Your current written risk assessment, if you have one
  • Details of who handles health and safety (in-house or an external service)
  • Records of accidents, training and any inspections

What you’ll get.

  • 1A score out of 100Where you stand today, at a glance.
  • 2Findings ranked by riskWhat could cost you, highest risk first.
  • 3A plan with timeframesWhat to fix first and by when.

Use this free tool to check whether your business meets the core EU workplace health and safety duties under the OSH Framework Directive, from risk assessment and competent persons to training, consultation and accident records, and get a plan for your country.

General guidance only, not legal advice. Consult a qualified solicitor or adviser in your jurisdiction for specific issues.