Safety and health at work: exposure of workers to optical radiations

 The committee adopted the report by Csaba ŐRY(EPP-ED, HU) amending the Council's common position under the 2nd reading of the codecision procedure: 

- Article 4: the definition of any obligations on the employer to assess risks to health and safety arising from natural sources of optical radiation should come within the regulatory competence of the Member States;

- Article 8: it should be clearly stated that the purpose of health surveillance of workers is "the prevention and early diagnosis of any adverse health effects, as well as the prevention of any long-term health risks and any risk of chronic diseases, resulting from exposure to optical radiation". In the event of over-exposure, workers should be entitled to a medical examination;

- new Article 12a: the Commission should draw up a practical guide to the provisions of Articles 4 and 5 and Annexes I and II in order to help employers, in particular managers of smaller firms, to apply the directive.