Legislative program needed to implement the EU’s occupational Safety and Health Strategy

Effective occupational safety measures and prioritization of workers’ health and safety are resource factors that also support productivity and the economy in a socially sustainable manner. The COVID-19 crisis made the interaction between the economy, health, and safety increasingly visible and highlighted the need to strengthen internal cooperation within the European Union. A common Occupational Safety and Health Strategy supports cooperation and brings the union’s activities closer to people’s everyday lives. As the changes in the world of work are continuous and rapid, and challenges such as the climate crisis bring new risk factors, the Occupational Safety and Health Strategy must also evolve, and its objectives should be able to be updated during the strategy’s validity period. Finland also benefits from these EU occupational safety measures.

A Directive to prevent psychosocial risks

The EU’s Strategic Framework for Occupational Health and Safety recognizes psychosocial risks and increased mental health problems. This is a phenomenon that significantly threatens the health of workers, leading to considerable negative consequences such as workplace stress. There are economic costs involved in workers’ absences; sick leaves and early disability pensions. Over half of workers in EU countries report that work-related stress is common in their workplace, and four out of five managers are concerned about work-related stress. According to a survey conducted by the European Agency for Safety and Health at Work, the majority of employers state that compliance with the law is the main reason for addressing occupational health and safety issues in the workplace.

However, the actions proposed in the EU strategy are limited to projects, campaigns, and recommendations. In addition to these, a legislative program is needed to support the implementation of the strategy. The need for legislation to prevent psychosocial risks and work-related mental health problems is evident. We need a directive for the prevention of work-related psychosocial risks, overload, and mental health problems, and the Commission must act promptly. EU-level legislation is needed because, so far, only a few member states have clear legislation on managing psychosocial stress factors.

Key legislative initiatives to ensure Occupational Health and Safety

Another significant cause of incapacity to work is work-related musculoskeletal disorders. Legislation regarding this issue also needs to be reviewed, updated, and developed.

In the next legislative term, efforts to develop occupational chemical safety at the EU level should continue. Setting and updating exposure limits is necessary to reduce the risk of work-related cancer and reproductive health risks.

Regulations benefit workplaces only when they translate into practical actions in everyday workplace operations. EU legislation on occupational health and safety should take into account recent research findings and the current challenges posed by factors such as the changing world of work, the climate crisis, technostress, ethical stress, and global infectious diseases.

In addition to preparing new directives, the effective implementation, application, monitoring, and updating of existing regulations must also be prioritized in the EU. The European Parliament and the Advisory Committee on Safety and Health at Work, operating under the Commission, play a significant role in the preparation and monitoring process. Alongside new challenges, traditional occupational health and safety work and risk prevention must also be well managed.

Impact of Digitalisation

Remote and hybrid work, digitalisation of the workplace, and multi-location mobile work are becoming more common across various sectors. The specific features of Occupational Health and Safety related to remote work must be considered in all activities. The right to disconnect for workers must be strengthened. Regulation of digitalisation and AI (Artificial Intelligence)
systems must also establish fair frameworks for future development.

Additional information:

• Susanna Salovaara, Director at FinUnions, tel. +32 488 47 95 08, susanna.salovaara@finunions.org  
• Pekka Ristelä, Head of International Affairs, SAK, tel. +358 40 5468781, pekka.ristela@sak.fi
• Maria Häggman, Head of International Affairs, STTK, tel. +358 40 148 9091, maria.haggman@sttk.fi

This is FinUnions’ Privacy and Data Protection Statement in accordance with the EU General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). Completed on 1.1.2021. Last modification 16.11.2022.

1. Data Controller

FinUnions, Boulevard du Roi II, 5, 1210 Bryssel

Email: finunions.org@gmail.com

2. Contact person responsible for the register

Marie Sandberg-Chibani, marie.sandberg-chibani@finunions.org, tel +32 492 08 01 39.

3. Name of the register

FinUnions contact information register, marketing and stakeholder register (for events), online service user register, newsletter member register.

4. Legal basis and purpose of personal data processing

The legal basis for processing personal data under the EU General Data Protection Regulation is
– the consent of the individual (documented, freely given, specific, informed and unambiguous)
– a contract to which the data subject is a party
– the law
– the performance of a public task (based on what), or
– a legitimate interest of the controller (e.g. pre-contractual customer relationship, employment relationship, order).

The purpose of processing personal data is to communicate with customers, maintain customer relations, marketing.

The data will not be used for automated decision-making or profiling. 

5. Data content of the register

The data to be recorded in the register are: person’s name, title, company/organisation, contact information (phone number, email address, address), website addresses, social media accounts/profiles, information about ordered services and changes, billing information, other information related to the customer relationship and services.

The data will only be kept for as long as necessary for the purpose for which it was collected. The IP addresses of visitors to the website and cookies necessary for the functioning of the service are processed for legitimate interests, such as ensuring data security and collecting statistical data on visitors to the site in cases where they can be considered as personal data. Third-party cookies will be subject to separate consent where necessary.

6. Regular sources of information

The information stored in the register is obtained from the customer through, for example, messages sent via web forms, email, telephone, social media services, contracts, customer meetings and other situations where the customer discloses their information.

Information on contact persons of businesses and other organisations may also be collected from public sources such as websites, directory services and other businesses.

7. Regular disclosures and transfers of data outside the EU or the EEA

The information is not regularly disclosed to other parties. Information may be published to the extent agreed with the customer.

Data may also be transferred outside the EU or EEA by the controller. Data will not be transferred to the United States without the express consent of the data subjects.

8. Principles of register protection

The register is processed with due care and the data processed by the information systems are adequately protected. When register data is stored on Internet servers, the physical and digital security of their hardware is adequately ensured. The registrar shall ensure that stored data, server access rights and other information critical to the security of personal data are treated confidentially and only by employees whose job description includes this.

9. Right of inspection and right to request correction of information

Every person in the register has the right to check the information stored in the register and to request the correction of any inaccurate information or the completion of incomplete information. If a person wishes to check or request rectification of the data stored about him or her, the request must be sent in writing by e-mail to the data controller. If necessary, the controller may ask the applicant to prove his or her identity. The controller will respond to the customer within the time limit set by the EU General Data Protection Regulation (usually within one month).

10. Other rights related to the processing of personal data

A person in the register has the right to request the erasure of personal data concerning him or her from the register (“right to be forgotten”). Data subjects also have other rights under the EU General Data Protection Regulation, such as the restriction of processing of personal data in certain  situations. Requests should be sent in writing by email to the controller. If necessary, the controller may ask the applicant to prove his or her identity. The controller will respond to the customer within the time limit set by the EU General Data Protection Regulation (usually within one month).