EU Employment and Social Affairs Ministers have today adopted a Directive to prevent injuries and infections to healthcare workers from sharp objects such as needle sticks – one of the most serious health and safety threats in European workplaces and estimated to cause 1 million injuries each year. The Directive translates into Community law an agreement negotiated by the European social partner organisations in the sector, which employs around 3.5 million people.
László Andor, EU Commissioner for Employment, Social Affairs and Inclusion said: “The healthcare sector is one of the biggest employers in Europe and needles represent a real risk to workers, both in terms of injuries and increased rates of life-threatening infections like HIV or hepatitis”. He added “This new Directive will better protect workers and their families while reducing the burden of injuries on European health services.”
A framework agreement on prevention from sharp injuries in the hospital and healthcare sector was signed in July 2009 by the European Public Services Union (EPSU) and the European Hospital and Healthcare Employers’ Association (HOSPEEM) European Social partner organisations. On 27 January 2010, the Parliament’s Employment and Social Affairs Committee adopted a draft Motion for a Resolution (by 44 votes to 1 with no abstentions), supporting the adoption by the Council of the proposal for a directive implementing the Framework Agreement.
The new Directive aims to achieve the safest possible working environment for employees in the sector and protect workers at risk, as well as patients, including prevention of injuries to workers caused by all types of sharp medical objects (including needle sticks). The Directive proposes the setting up of an integrated approach to assessing and preventing risks as well as to training and informing workers.
The legislation specifically addresses one of the priority objectives of the EU’s current strategy for health and safety at work, which aims to cut workplace accidents by 25% by 2012.
