Modernisation of the legal framework for health and safety at work.

The digital and green transformation does not stop at health and safety in the workplace. This is why the European Commission (EC) has decided to review and, if necessary, revise the existing legal framework, especially for display screen equipment and workplaces. However, the target of implementing this by 2023 has not been realised. Therefore, it is now up to Executive Vice-President Roxana Mînzatu and the Directorate-General for Employment, Social Affairs and Inclusion (DG EMPL) to implement this outstanding measure from the EU's Strategic Framework for Health and Safety at Work 2021-2027.

ACSH has called for the Display Screen Equipment and Workplace Directives to be revised

A major step towards implementing this was taken by ACSH (Advisory Committee on Safety and Health at Work) at the end of 2024. At its last meeting, it adopted opinions related to the Display Screen Equipment Directive and the Workplace Directive. ACSH expressly advocates for revising both directives. Not only have the quality and product features of the hardware and software used in the workplace evolved, but other technological developments and digitisation have also massively changed workplaces.

Future workplaces

ACSH is in favour of extending the scope of the Workplace Directive in order to adapt workplaces to changes. Current state-of-the-art must be taken into account, as well as new and future working procedures. This also means that the directive must cover not only employees in the company, but also those who work outside the company or from home. A more inclusive arrangement of workplaces, especially for certain at-risk groups and employees, is also important to the ACSH.

There is potential for improvement in the planning and construction of new workplaces. Consequently, the study proposed obligations for complying with minimum requirements by building owners and planners in order to identify and evaluate possible options for revising the Workplace Directive. This idea was welcomed by ACSH, but it should only be considered at a later date after further research and data collection.

Increasing use of display screen equipment

ACSH sees an urgent need for action as the proportion of people who work intensively on computers, laptops and smartphones on a daily basis has risen massively over the last 30 years and the use of display screen equipment has also increased in various occupations. A directive revision should address work-related challenges that new technologies bring with them. On the one hand, improved screen technology has contributed to a reduction in certain risk factors, whereas on the other hand the prevalence of other risk factors, such as psychological or psychosocial ones, has increased. It must also be ensured that the directive becomes and remains future-proof. Support will be needed, especially for small and medium-sized enterprises, during implementation through non-binding EU guidelines as well as from national authorities.

Outlook

Although the conclusions for both directives are similar in many respects, ACSH agrees that the Display Screen Equipment Directive and the Workplace Directive should not be merged. When DG EMPL can be expected to submit its proposed amendments remains uncertain.

Based on the information provided by the EC in autumn 2023, the preparatory work was completed with the publication of the ACSH opinions and the results of the studies to identify and evaluate possible options for revising both directives. It remains to be seen whether the EC's work programme, which is due to be published on 11 February 2025, will clarify when the amendments to the Display Screen Equipment Directive and the Workplace Directive can be expected. However, this is unlikely to be the case, as DG EMPL has commissioned a supplementary study to support revising the Display Screen Equipment Directive and the Workplace Directive.