Citation

Woolfson C. Pol. Pract. Health Saf. 2005; 3(2): 21-40.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2005, Institution of Occupational Safety and Health (Great Britain))

DOI

unavailable

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

The current accession of 10 new European Union member states, eight of which are former communist countries, has re-opened inherent tensions in EU policy-making in health and safety in the workplace. These spring from seemingly incompatible objectives: the need to ensure broad member state compliance with regulation around agreed minimum standards through active regulatory enforcement; and the promotion of voluntary initiatives in the management of workplace risks and hazards in order to create 'a culture of prevention'. The present EU strategy, which ends in 2006, seeks to secure a balance between both sets of objectives. This paper does not attempt a comprehensive review of all aspects of the existing strategy, but instead focuses on the implications of the expansion of the EU in May 2004, suggesting that serious unresolved problems remain. It would seem sensible for recognition of the failures of the existing strategy, especially with respect to anticipated further enlargement, to inform any future strategy. A review of current trends in EU policy with regard to health and safety suggests this is not happening. In turn, this provokes the question: will the 'new European strategy' from 2006 onwards be 'new', or simply 'more of the same'?