Source: European Parliament
Question for written answer E-001716/2025
to the Commission
Rule 144
András Tivadar Kulja (PPE)
The EU’s Occupational Safety and Health (OSH) Directive (89/654/EEC), establishing minimum workplace safety requirements, has remained unchanged since 1989. However, over the past three decades, the work environment and its risks have continued to evolve. The World Health Organization and the International Labour Organization have reported that work-related deaths fell by 14 % from 2000 to 2016, yet heart disease fatalities related to long working hours saw a rise of 41 % in that same period. It is thus crucial to mitigate the risks associated with health emergencies, such as sudden cardiac arrests. EU legislation can be updated to meet this risk by improving access to cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) training and automated external defibrillators (AEDs). By strengthening workers’ ability to respond to medical emergencies, the EU can promote a culture of preparedness within the workplace and beyond.
In this context:
- 1.Does the Commission intend to revise the OSH Directive to include mandatory CPR training and AED availability in workplaces, ensuring a harmonised approach to emergency preparedness across the Member States?
- 2.How does the Commission intend to integrate the Council conclusions of 3 December 2024 on cardiovascular health into occupational health and safety legislation, given its focus on making AEDs publicly available and ensuring individuals are properly trained to use them?
Submitted: 29.4.2025