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Answer to a written question – Strengthening workplace health and safety to prevent sudden cardiac arrest deaths – E-001716/2025(ASW)

Source: European Parliament

The EU ‘occupational safety and health (OSH) Framework Directive’[1] lays down the duty of the employer to ensure workers’ safety and health in all work-related aspects.

It sets minimum requirements that apply to all workers and sectors of activity, covering risk assessment, preventive and protective measures, health surveillance and training, with special protection for sensitive risk groups.

Along with the related OSH directives, the framework Directive provides comprehensive protection against all occupational risks. Therefore, it does not include explicit provisions for specific medical conditions, and there are no current plans for amendment. The development and implementation of specific measures fall under the prerogative of Member States.

Nevertheless, several cardiovascular disease (CVD) risks are addressed by EU actions, for example, by providing an E-guide to managing stress and psychosocial risks[2].

The Commission is also working on addressing other relevant OSH risks, for example via the review of the Workplace Directive[3] and the Display Screen Equipment Directive[4] to address new ways of working.

The Commission facilitates the exchange of good practices and supports evidence-based policymaking to address CVD risks within the OSH context.

In this regard, the European Agency for Safety and Health at Work provides analyses, guidelines, and tools to support the prevention and management of occupational CVDs[5] related risks.

It is also planning an overview of regulation, policies, strategies and programmes for the prevention of work-related CVDs[6]. The Senior Labour Inspectors’ Committee prepares publications relevant to CVD prevention[7].

  • [1] 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. OJ L 183, 29.6.1989, p. 1. — https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/ALL/?uri=celex%3A31989L0391.
  • [2] European Agency for Safety and Health at Work, https://osha.europa.eu/en/tools-and-resources/e-guides/e-guide-managing-stress-and-psychosocial-risks.
  • [3] Council Directive 89/654/EEC of 30 November 1989 concerning the minimum safety and health requirements for the workplace (first individual directive within the meaning of Article 16 (1) of Directive 89/391/EEC). OJ L 393, 30.12.1989, p. 1-12. — https://eur-lex.europa.eu/eli/dir/1989/654/oj/eng.
  • [4] Council Directive 90/270/EEC of 29 May 1990 on the minimum safety and health requirements for work with display screen equipment (fifth individual Directive within the meaning of Article 16 (1) of Directive 89/391/EEC) (90/270/EEC). OJ L 156 21.6.1990, p. 14. — https://eur-lex.europa.eu/eli/dir/1990/270/oj/eng.
  • [5] https://osha.europa.eu/sites/default/files/documents/20230105%20Final%20SPD%202024-2026-FINAL.pdf.
  • [6] https://osha.europa.eu/en/about-eu-osha/procurement/osha2025lvp0002-exa-overview-regulation-policies-strategies-initiatives-and-programmes-prevention-work-related-cardiovascular-diseases-cvds-low-value-procedure.
  • [7] https://circabc.europa.eu/ui/group/fea534f4-2590-4490-bca6-504782b47c79/library/95caf22f-5b52-45e3-ad25-01aaa5c78e2c/details.