Government department lead

HSE

Background

On 21 February 2007, the European Commission (EC) published a communication setting out its proposals for a new European occupational safety and health (OSH) strategy to run from 2007-2012. The new strategy is called ‘Improving quality and productivity at work: Community strategy 2007-2012 on health and safety at work’.

This strategy succeeds the former strategy ‘Adapting to change in work and society: a new Community strategy on health and safety at work 2002-2006.’ It will set the agenda for the next five years for OSH policy development in Europe.

Developments

All of the European institutions have now commented on the strategy:

• The Council of Ministers agreed a resolution on the strategy in June 2007.
• The European Parliament adopted a resolution on the strategy on 15 January 2008.
• The Committee of the Regions adopted an opinion on the strategy on 28 November 2007.
• The European Economic and Social Committee adopted an opinion on the strategy in May 2008.

Timetable

The Advisory Committee for Safety and Health at Work is holding a workshop for its members on national strategies for health and safety in October 2008.

Links

• Improving quality and productivity at work [1.7MB]