Democracy at work ensures occupational health and safety protection
For the past three decades, workers in the EU have held wide ranging rights to information and consultation on health and safety issues; indeed, since the adoption of the Community Charter of Fundamental Social Rights for Workers in 1989(Art. 19) these rights form part of the general frameworkof workers’ rights. This form of democracy at work is exercised by health and safety representatives as well as by trade unions and works councils active in the workplace. An ETUC study (ETUC 2013) identified a widespread presence of health and safety representation across the EU.
The 1989 Framework Directive on health and safety at work requires all Member States to ensure that employees and their representatives are informed and consulted about occupational health and safety (OSH) matters at the workplace. Employees and their representatives can voice their opinion on health and safety issues, and are also entitled to submit their own proposals for improvements and changes.
more information in Benchmarking Working Europe 2019 - Chapter 4 Democracy at work