ABSTRACT

At the European level, directive 89/391/EEC-the Framework Directive-is the most important regulation governing occupational safety and health (OSH) management in the EU countries. The directive calls for a systematic, integrated, proactive, and participative approach to OSH management aimed at ensuring continuous improvement of the safety and health of workers. Risk assessment should be the main tool used in OSH management. Employers must evaluate risks to the safety and health of workers and-following the evaluation-take the appropriate (technical and/or organisational) measures to ensure an improvement in the level of workers’ health and safety protection. The employer must monitor the effectiveness of the measures and adapt them to changing conditions and technological progress. The introduction of the OSH obligation of risk assessment clearly indicates that OSH management in enterprises should be proactive, that is, all hazards to the safety and health of workers should be identied and the risks arising from them eliminated or controlled to prevent occupational accidents and work-related diseases. Performing and organising risk assessment appropriately, particularly the consultation and participation of workers, ensures its effectiveness.