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2.1. Health and Safety in the Workplace in the EU.

Article 153 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union[1] gives the EU the authority to adopt directives in the field of safety and health at work.

The Framework Directive, with its wide scope of application, and further directives focusing on specific aspects of safety and health at work are the fundamentals of European safety and health legislation.

Member States are free to adopt stricter rules for the protection of workers when transposing EU directives into national law. Therefore, legislative requirements in the field of safety and health at work can vary across EU Member States.[2]

Imagen 7: https://www.europapress.es/

The European Framework Directive[3] on Safety and Health at Work (Directive 89/391 EEC) adopted in 1989 was a substantial milestone in improving safety and health at work. It guarantees minimum safety and health requirements throughout Europe while Member States are allowed to maintain or establish more strict measures.[4]

In addition to the Framework Directive, a series of individual directives focusing on specific aspects of safety and health at work were adopted. Where individual directives contain more strict and specific provisions, these special provisions prevail. Individual directives tailor[5] the principles of the Framework Directive to:

• Specific tasks (e.g., manual handling of loads)
• Specific hazards at work (e.g., exposure to dangerous substances or physical agents)
• Specific workplaces and sectors (e.g., temporary work sites, extractive industries, fishing vessels)
• Specific groups of workers (e.g., pregnant women, young workers, workers with a fixed duration employment contract)
• Certain work-related aspects (e.g., organisation of working time)

The individual directives define how to assess[6] these risks and, in some instances, set limit values for certain substances or agents.

Please, take a peek and look for the Directive regulating Health and Safety signs in the workplace.

Image 8: https://osha.europa.eu/

Visit the European Agency for Health and Safety in the workplace: https://osha.europa.eu/en/safety-and-health-legislation/european-directives

Do you know where is located this European Agency? Amsterdam, Paris, Brussels or Bilbao?

https://european-union.europa.eu/principles-countries-history/history-eu/eu-pioneers/jean-monnet_es

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2.2.           Safety signs in the workplace.[1]

“Safety and/or health signs” mean signs referring to a specific object, activity or situation and providing information or instructions about safety and/or health at work by means of a signboard, a colour, an illuminated sign or acoustic signal, a verbal communication or a hand signal, as the case may be.

1. prohibition sign means a sign prohibiting behaviour likely to incur or cause danger.
2. warning sign means a sign giving warning of a hazard or danger.
3. mandatory sign means a sign prescribing specific behaviour.
4. emergency escape or first-aid sign means a sign giving information on emergency exits or first-aid or rescue facilities.
5. information sign means a sign providing information other than that referred to in (b) to (e).

[1] Adapted from Directive 92/58/EEC - safety and/or health signs  https://osha.europa.eu/en/legislation/directives/9

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For the purpose of this task students might use the Directive original text in English, along with the Spanish “Real Decreto”.

Signboard means a sign which provides specific information by a combination of:

1. a geometric shape[1],
2. colours (safety colour means a colour to which a specific meaning is assigned),
3. and a symbol or pictogram (a figure which describes a situation or prescribes specific behaviour, and which is used on a signboard)

2.3 Understanding the safety code.

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First option: provide students with large poster board or cardboard, using the safety colours and white and black for contrast, scissors, glue and tape. That is all they will need.

Image 9: https://www.pexels.com/

Second option: provide students with a plan of the facilities they use for the VET practical classes. Ask them to draw the signs needed in each place, machinery, facility or emerging risks.

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Test your knowledge: apply the code to understand the meaning of the signs.

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Homework. You already know what to do on your notebook.

Image 10:  https://osha.europa.eu/en/tools-and-resources/napo-safety-smile