Occupational health and safety (OHS) is an area in which the European Union has had a significant impact, particularly since the Single European Act of 1987. Two years later, in June 1989, Directive 89/391/EEC, known as the Framework Directive, established the main principles for improving the safety and health of workers in the workplace. Other specific directives, known as individual directives, followed to cover specific aspects. Together, these texts, which have since been amended and codified, form the basis of European OSH legislation.
After a brief history, this new Focus takes stock of:
- the procedure for adopting binding OSH legislation,
- the directive, a key tool for harmonizing OSH provisions,
- the 1989 Framework Directive and the individual directives derived from it,
- other EU texts relevant to OSH.
This Focus includes the latest updates since the first edition in December 2022. Only one text is still pending: the directive on improving working conditions in the context of platform work.
Focus on EU law on health and safety at work (document in French only)
