Personnel Today
  • OHW+
  • Resources
    • Clinical governance
    • Disability
    • Ergonomics
    • Health surveillance
    • OH employment law
    • OH service delivery
    • Research
    • Return to work and rehabilitation
    • Sickness absence management
    • Wellbeing and health promotion
  • Conditions
    • Mental health
    • Musculoskeletal disorders
    • Blood pressure
    • Cancer
    • Cardiac
    • Dementia
    • Diabetes
    • Respiratory
    • Stroke
  • CPD
  • Webinars
  • Jobs
  • Personnel Today

Register
Log in
Personnel Today
  • OHW+
  • Resources
    • Clinical governance
    • Disability
    • Ergonomics
    • Health surveillance
    • OH employment law
    • OH service delivery
    • Research
    • Return to work and rehabilitation
    • Sickness absence management
    • Wellbeing and health promotion
  • Conditions
    • Mental health
    • Musculoskeletal disorders
    • Blood pressure
    • Cancer
    • Cardiac
    • Dementia
    • Diabetes
    • Respiratory
    • Stroke
  • CPD
  • Webinars
  • Jobs
  • Personnel Today

Employment lawHealth and safetyLatest NewsMusculoskeletal disordersWellbeing

EEF calls for closer collaboration on EU health and safety law

by Personnel Today 1 Feb 2011
by Personnel Today 1 Feb 2011

Manufacturers are urging the Government to redouble its efforts to build an alliance with other European Union member states to reduce the burden of health and safety legislation and remove unnecessary red tape.

The call was made by the manufacturers’ organisation EEF following a survey it conducted showing that companies are becoming increasingly concerned at EU proposals for even more health and safety legislation.

By contrast, the survey revealed a strong appetite for case study guidance as the best means of improving control of key risks, the organisation said.

Employers also rejected the idea of a statutory licence for both health and safety advisers and consultants, preferring the option of a tougher voluntary accreditation system for consultants, which is due to be introduced following last year’s review of health and safety by Conservative peer Lord Young.

Two key changes to European law are worrying employers: a European Commission proposal to require stress and work pressure to be considered as part of risk assessments for back pain and other musculoskeletal disorders and proposals to change the legislation on ionising radiations.

Of the two, three-quarters of employers polled believed the musculoskeletal proposition was bad, while, of the quarter of businesses that worked with ionising radiations, 95% believed that the current law was appropriate and should be neither tightened nor relaxed.

The survey also identified a need for case study guidance that could provide companies with some of the practical solutions to health and safety problems.

To this end, the EEF has launched new case study guidance on musculoskeletal disorders such as back pain and repetitive strain injuries (RSIs), which can be downloaded for free by EEF members from the EEF website.

Steve Pointer, EEF head of health and safety, said: “The legislative framework in the UK is mature and there is little belief amongst those managing health and safety that further legislation would raise standards.

Sign up to our weekly round-up of HR news and guidance

Receive the Personnel Today Direct e-newsletter every Wednesday

OptOut
This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

“However, whilst there is pressure in the UK to reduce legislation and remove unnecessary bureaucracy, the European Commission is moving in the opposite direction, continuing to propose new legal requirements,” he added.

XpertHR provides a quarterly round-up of health and safety legislation.

Personnel Today

previous post
Government warned not to ignore low-paid workers
next post
Stroke Association warns of high stress levels

You may also like

House of Lords to resume scrutiny of Employment...

30 May 2025

Indefinite leave to remain proposal could place workers...

30 May 2025

Overseas workers bring key benefits to IT and...

30 May 2025

Trade uncertainty means 7 million fewer jobs globally

30 May 2025

Personnel Today Awards 2025: Two weeks left to...

30 May 2025

Pension reforms could put savings at risk, group...

30 May 2025

Black workers face greatest risk from workplace surveillance

30 May 2025

Capita and PizzaExpress named for minimum wage underpayments

29 May 2025

Charlie Mayfield: HR needs more proactive approach to...

29 May 2025

Warning issued over loss of ‘frictionless’ business travel...

29 May 2025

  • Preparing for a new era of workforce planning (webinar) WEBINAR | Employers now face...Read more
  • 2025 Employee Communications Report PROMOTED | HR and leadership...Read more
  • Prioritising performance management: Strategies for success (webinar) WEBINAR | In today’s fast-paced...Read more
  • Retaining Female Talent: Four Ways to Reduce Workplace Drop Out PROMOTED | International Women’s Day...Read more

PERSONNEL TODAY

About us
Contact us
Browse all HR topics
Email newsletters
Content feeds
Cookies policy
Privacy policy
Terms and conditions

JOBS

Personnel Today Jobs
Post a job
Why advertise with us?

EVENTS & PRODUCTS

The Personnel Today Awards
The RAD Awards
Employee Benefits
Forum for Expatriate Management
OHW+
Whatmedia

ADVERTISING & PR

Advertising opportunities
Features list 2025

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Instagram
  • Linkedin


© 2011 - 2025 DVV Media International Ltd

Personnel Today
  • OHW+
  • Resources
    • Clinical governance
    • Disability
    • Ergonomics
    • Health surveillance
    • OH employment law
    • OH service delivery
    • Research
    • Return to work and rehabilitation
    • Sickness absence management
    • Wellbeing and health promotion
  • Conditions
    • Mental health
    • Musculoskeletal disorders
    • Blood pressure
    • Cancer
    • Cardiac
    • Dementia
    • Diabetes
    • Respiratory
    • Stroke
  • CPD
  • Webinars
  • Jobs
  • Personnel Today