In remembrance of victims of accidents at work and of occupational diseases, MEPs are asking for 8 August to be designated the European Day in Remembrance of the Victims of Accidents at Work and for the Protection and Dignity of Workers.
The day would aim to raise awareness, they argue, about the importance of prevention and safety at work at public, enterprises, and institutions, together with a roll-out of concrete initiatives in schools and workplaces. The text was endorsed by MEPs with 395 votes in favour, 12 votes against, and 41 abstentions.
Health and safety risks related to AI
Parliament also wants the Commission to assess and address occupational health and safety risks associated with AI and algorithmic management systems. MEPs say that workers engaged through digital labour platforms and those whose tasks, pace and performance are directed or evaluated by AI-based tools, can face heightened risks due to intensified work rhythms and abusive monitoring in algorithmic decision-making.
Heat risks at work
MEPs call on the Commission to assess occupational safety and health risks related to climate-related factors, such as heat stress, extreme weather events, and air pollution. They have asked for better protective and preventive workplace measures to protect workers from extreme heat and climate change impacts, which they want to be recognised as major occupational risk factors.
Inspections
To help achieve safe and healthy workplaces, Parliament underlines the importance of regulatory occupational health and safety inspections and call on EU-countries to strengthen labour inspectorates with permanent staff, adequate resources and institutional independence.
Quote
Chiara Gemma (ECR, IT), rapporteur, said: “We must translate our remembrance of victims of work-related accidents into a concrete commitment to their prevention. Our resolution strengthens support for the ‘Vision Zero’ objective: zero fatalities at work. Safe and dignified working conditions are a fundamental right and a cornerstone of Europe’s social model. Memory must lead to responsibility, awareness and stronger protection for every worker.”
Background
On 8 August 1956, 262 miners lost their life at the tragedy at the Bois Du Cazier mine in Marcinelle, Belgium. The workers were citizens from several countries that are currently EU-countries.
In the EU in 2023, there were 3,298 fatal accidents at work and around 2.8 million non-fatal accidents resulting in at least four days’ absence from work, with serious problems in high-risk sectors such as construction, transport, manufacturing and agriculture.
Discussion about this post