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9 September 2005 - EU Vote No to Daily RA
of Sunlight
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European Parliament members have voted 397 to 260 with 9
abstentions against parts of the proposed EU Optical Radiation Directive, where
it included employers duties to make provision for daily risk assessments of
sunlight rays, in order to protect workers from the risk of skin cancer.
The original EU Optical Radiation Directive was designed to
limit exposure within such area as the following:
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Computer Screens.
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X-rays.
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Welding torches.
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Lasers.
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Ultra-violet lamps.
The inclusion of employers responsibility for exposure to
sunlight was deemed not to be feasible, as most businesses would not have the
resources nor expertise for Risk Assessment compliance on a daily basis.
The Directive will be amended to allowing individual EU states
to choose whether employers should be responsible or not.
Director General of the British Chambers of Commerce (BCC), Mr.
David Frost said:
"Ensuring the safety of workers was in the best interest of
employers but this could mean an extra burden on businesses in a very grey area.
"This whole area is a potential legal minefield, with
employers being left open to the risk of court action over an employee's skin
condition, regardless of whether the condition developed from sun exposure at
work or during personal time.
"Identifying and preparing for risks is one thing, but if the speculation came
true around employers having to provide suntan lotion and hats, it would be an
affront to common sense."
Liz Lynne, British Liberal MEP said during a debate in
Strasbourg on Tuesday:
"It is no business of the EU to tell workers that they can't
be bare-chested or wear shorts.
"Should employers provide suncream? Should they provide
sunglasses? This is no task for the EU."
However, Mr. Stephen Hughes, British Socialist pointing out the
cases of skin cancer in the UK had doubled over the past 25 years, and had risen
by 15 to 20% amongst German farm workers in the last decade said:
"We will do all we can to... continue to improve and not
undermine worker protection."
Csaba Ory, Hungarian Conservative also commented by saying:
"EU-wide rules were unworkable because of the variation in
climate across Europe.
"Clearly there are different levels of sunlight in Sweden and
Spain, in Greece and Germany."
A conciliation committee will now be set up to attempt to reach a
compromise.
Article by Alexandra Johnston
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