Answer to a written question – Improving workplace health and safety to prevent deaths from sudden cardiac arrest – E-002329/2025(ASW)

The Commission refers to its reply to Question E-001716/2025, noting that the EU’s occupational safety and health (OSH) acquis provides comprehensive protection against all occupational risks, without explicit provisions for specific medical conditions.

As detailed in the above Commission reply, the development and implementation of specific measures fall under the prerogative of Member States. Nevertheless, there are several EU actions addressing various cardiovascular disease risks.

The Council, in its conclusions on the improvement of cardiovascular health in the EU[1], among others, invited the Member States to address hazards for cardiovascular health in their OSH policies, as well as to consider promoting the installation and use of automated external defibrillators ( AEDs) in and out of hospital settings, including in communities and physical activity centres.

There are various EU funding programmes that Member States can use to help fund initiatives for the installation of AEDs in different high-capacity environments. For example, the European Social Fund Plus (ESF+) can be used to fund the purchase of AEDs to be used in public schools, workplaces and similar high-capacity environments as part of a wider operation (and not as a standalone purchase).

The Commission is currently reviewing the Workplace Directive[2] and the Display Screen Equipment Directive[3] to address new ways of working.

• [1] Cardiovascular health: Council calls for more robust efforts to help prevent cardiovascular diseases — Consilium.
• [2] 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.
• [3] 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.