EU Sun Directive

A proposed EU directive which will force bosses to make daily risk assessments on the strength of the sun, is being branded unworkable by a North West Euro MP.

Conservative MEP David Sumberg said that under European Commission Optical Radiation Directive all employers with staff working outdoors would be forced to make daily ‘risk assessments’ of the levels of UV radiation to which their employees could be exposed. This would mean assembling complex meteorological information and analysing its implications for employees. The directive would affect thousands of companies and apply to builders, farmers, gardeners, park attendants, lifeguards, sports teachers, policemen, traffic wardens and even waiters.

On the basis of the assessment, the employer would have to devise an action plan to minimise the potential health and safety risk to its employees.

Mr Sumberg said bosses would need the expertise and knowledge of Michael Fish to cope with the baffling legislation.

“Most businesses have neither the resources nor the expertise to undertake such scientific analysis,’ said Mr Sumberg. "This directive requires an utterly unrealistic degree of technical and medical expertise the vast majority of bosses simply do not have. It would be a nightmare to comply with on top of all other EU red tape business is being lumbered with. Worryingly it could also open a legal can of worms for employers by creating uncertainty about legal liability in cases of diseases caused by exposure to natural sources of radiation. For public bodies it would just be another drain on taxpayers cash as councils, emergency services and schools as hours are wasted trying to cope with the paper work."

Mr Sumberg said the directive should be amended with natural sources of radiation, like sunlight, removed from its scope. This would still enable the proposal to cover artificial radiation, so employees working with x-rays and lasers are protected.

Please Note

The European Parliament’s employment and social affairs committee will discuss it on July 11 and 12. Its decision would then be ratified by a full session of the parliament in September.

The Health and Safety Executive believes that the plan could affect one million people who regularly work outside.

EU sun directive unworkable