Ensuring safe working conditions for divers

15.10.2012

Question for written answer P-009310-12
to the Commission
Rule 117
Ivailo Kalfin (S&D)

Diving is a high‐risk occupation, and underwater accidents are becoming increasingly common. At the same time, there are no EU safety standards for diving and it has been left to the Member States to draw up the rules applicable to health and safety conditions in this area. This means that in some countries such as Germany and France, standards have been adopted, while in others they have not.

A constituent has informed me that in Bulgaria, for example, the government has recently, and without explaining this publicly, reneged on its stated intention to frame and adopt a decree regulating this dangerous occupation.

Can the Commission state, in this connection:

Whether it considers that in the case of certain specific activities, such as diving, there is a need to ensure safe working conditions by means of specific rules and regulations?

Whether any observations have been made as to whether working conditions for divers across the Member States are in line with EU standards, ensuring the safety, and safeguarding the health, of persons working in that profession?

Whether it intends, with regard to the free movement of workers, to make common recommendations setting minimum standards applicable to the carrying on of high‐risk occupations in the EU?

Whether it will encourage the Member States to draw up such standards at national level and monitor their compliance with these?

Whether it plans to regulate, via common statutory health and safety requirements, the working conditions of divers operating in the EU?

OJ C 301 E, 17/10/2013