ABSTRACT
Whereas that Article provides that such Directives shall avoid imposing administrative, financial and legal constraints in a way which would hold back the creation and development of small and medium-sized undertakings;
Whereas the Council Resolution of 27 February 1984 on a second action programme of the European Communities on safety and health at work provides for the development of protective measures for workers exposed to dangerous agents;
Whereas the communication from the Commission on its programme concerning safety, hygiene and health at work provides for the adoption of Directives to guarantee the safety and health of workers;
Whereas compliance with the minimum requirements designed to guarantee a better standard of safety and health as regards the protection of workers from the risks related to exposure to biological agents at work is essential to ensure the safety and health of workers;
Whereas this Directive is an individual Directive within the meaning of Article 16(1) of Council Directive 89/391/EEC of 12 June 1989 on the introduction of measures to encourage improvements in the safety and health of workers at work; whereas the provisions of that Directive are therefore fully applicable to the exposure of workers to biological agents, without prejudice to more stringent and/ or specific provisions contained in the present Directive;
Whereas more precise knowledge of the risks involved in exposure to biological agents at work can be obtained through the keeping of records;
Whereas employers must keep abreast of new developments in technology with a view to improving the protection of workers’ health and safety;
Whereas preventive measures should be taken for the protection of the health and safety of workers exposed to biological agents;
Whereas this Directive constitutes a practical aspect of the realization of the social dimension of the internal market;
Whereas, pursuant to Decision 74/325/EEC, the Advisory Committee on Safety, Hygiene and Health Protection at Work is consulted by the Commission on the drafting of proposals in this field,
HAS ADOPTED THIS DIRECTIVE:
SECTION I
GENERAL PROVISIONS
Article 1
Objective
1. This Directive, which is the seventh individual Directive within the meaning of Article 16(1) of Directive 89/391/EEC, has as its aim the protection of workers against risks to their health and safety, including the prevention of such risks, arising or likely to arise from exposure to biological agents at work.
