New European Parliament resolution aims to strengthen the Vision Zero approach.

The European Parliament intends to strengthen occupational safety and health in Europe. On 21 May, Members of the European Parliament (MEP) adopted, by a large majority (395 votes in favour, 12 against and 41 abstentions), a resolution on reducing work-related fatalities. The proposal was introduced by Italian MEP Chiara Gemma (ECR). The core elements of the resolution are the call for a European Day in Remembrance of people harmed through work, as well as for improved protection and stronger safeguarding of the dignity of workers.

Remembering Bois du Cazier

In future, the day of remembrance is to be observed annually on 8 August and will commemorate the Bois du Cazier mining disaster in Marcinelle, Belgium. In the 1956 disaster, 262 miners lost their lives, including numerous workers from several current EU Member States; more than half of them were Italian nationals. According to the European Parliament, the day of remembrance should not only honour the victims of accidents at work and occupational diseases in Europe, but also raise awareness of prevention, safe working conditions and effective inspections. At the same time, it is intended to reinforce the political commitment of the EU and its Member States to the Vision Zero approach: the long-term objective of completely eliminating work-related deaths.

Climate change in the workplace

The resolution places particular emphasis on new risks arising from climate change. The European Parliament calls on the European Commission to comprehensively assess risks such as heat stress, extreme weather events, air pollution and new biological hazards, and to further strengthen preventive measures. This includes, among other things, the need for early warning mechanisms and sector-specific guidelines for particularly affected sectors such as construction, agriculture, transport and emergency services.

The European Agency for Safety and Health at Work (EU-OSHA) is also examining the consequences of climate change for the world of work. In a new foresight study, the Agency analyses how climate change and climate mitigation measures could affect the safety and health of workers over the next 25 years. The study focuses not only on immediate risks such as heat stress, but also on long-term changes linked to new green technologies, changing forms of work organisation, increasing labour mobility and economic transformation processes. The study shows that prevention strategies and occupational safety and health systems must also continue to evolve in order to address future risks effectively.

Digitalisation and AI-related risks

The European Parliament’s resolution also addresses the impact of artificial intelligence (AI) on occupational safety and health. MEPs call on the European Commission to further assess and regulate risks linked to AI-supported and algorithmic management systems. The risks identified include increased work intensity, psychosocial strain, excessive surveillance and the growing blurring of boundaries between work and private life. Workers on digital platforms or engaged in algorithmically managed work processes are considered to be particularly exposed to such risks.

Stronger enforcement of occupational safety and health rules

In addition, MEPs call for more consistent enforcement of existing occupational safety and health legislation, a demand that is increasingly also being supported by employers’ organisations. To this end, labour inspectorates across Europe would need to be better equipped in terms of staffing and financial resources. According to the European Parliament, infringements of occupational safety and health requirements, particularly in subcontracting chains and in relation to migrant workers or posted workers, should be monitored and sanctioned more effectively, especially where gross negligence leads to serious injuries or fatalities.