date: 12 March 2002 embargo: For immediate use

Attention: health and safety editors, Europe correspondents

TUC welcomes European plan to fight stress and RSI

The TUC has welcomed the European Commission’s five year plan for health and safety published on Monday (11 March), but has warned that it will require a serious commitment from Governments and real money for implementation. The plan includes proposals to legislate on RSI and open discussions with employers and unions on ways of reducing stress at work.

TUC General Secretary John Monks said:

'The Commission knows that if Europe doesn’t take action over the epidemics of the new economy - stress and RSI - then our chances of global economic success are doomed to be short-lived. A modern economy doesn’t have to mean driving the workforce into the ground with mental or physical strain, and unions are ready to work in partnership with employers and the Commission to put this plan into effect.'

The Commission’s plan, which will go before a special EU conference in Barcelona on 22-23 April at which Amicus National Women’s Officer and TUC member of the Health and Safety Commission Maureen Rooney will represent the TUC. She said:

'I warmly welcome the priority which the Commission has given to women’s health and safety. With women’s participation in the economy growing all over Europe, we cannot afford to ignore the injuries and illnesses suffered in silence by so many women at work.'

A detailed TUC briefing on the European Commission’s plans is available on the TUC website. The Commission text is available in English at http://europa.eu.int/eurlex/en/com/pdf/2002/com2002_0118en01.pdf

Other key elements of the plan are:

• setting targets for reducing the toll of injuries, illnesses and resulting sickness absence as part of the EU’S Employment Guidelines (following the lead of the HSC in Britain and the Dutch Government);

• a special focus on asbestos, back strains and noise-induced deafness - key issues for the TUC;

• support for tougher enforcement, for example against companies which refuse to pay fines levied by foreign courts, and more attention to health and safety provisions when letting EU contracts; and

• extending awareness of risks through education and vocational training.

Notes to Editors:

All TUC press releases can be found at www.tuc.org.uk

Contacts:

Media enquiries: Philip Taylor, 020 7467 1310 or 07699 744 115 or email ptaylor@tuc.org.uk

Other enquiries: Owen Tudor, 020 7467 1325 or email otudor@tuc.org.uk

Press release (400 words) issued 13 Mar 2002