HSE’s role in Europe

Negotiating and transposing European Legislation

HSE, on behalf of the UK Government, is responsible for negotiating and transposing European legislation relating to occupational safety and health (OSH). During the negotiation phase, HSE engages with the European Commission, Member States in the Council and the European Parliament to secure the best possible deal for the UK in a Community of 27 Member States. HSE transposes EU legislation to ensure the right balance between providing adequate protections for workers, based upon risk, while minimising burdens on business.

Representing the UK

HSE represents the UK on various European committees. This ranges from our membership of the Advisory Committee on Safety and Health at Work and the Committee of Senior Labour Inspectors to sitting on various technical standards committees. These are mostly concerned with advising the Commission on various OSH initiatives or preparing European standards. HSE also represents the UK on comitology committees where Commission Directives (those areas where the Commission has delegated authority to propose legislation without going through the ordinary legislation procedure) are debated and voted on by Member States.

Working with EU-OSHA

HSE works with the European Agency for Safety and Health at Work (EU-OSHA) and other EU Member States to facilitate sharing of best practice in OSH and to promote the European Campaigns. The European Campaigns run for two years and highlight a key health and safety issue by raising awareness and promoting action by employers and workers. The 2010 – 2011 theme is ‘Safe Maintenance’