European Health and Safety Regulations: A Comprehensive Overview
Fundamental Objective of the Single European Act
The main objective is the protection of workers as health and safety concerns.
What Member States Seek
Improving the working environment, protecting the health and safety of workers, and harmonizing existing conditions.
European Commission Action Plans
- Security and workplace ergonomics
- Health and safety at work
- Information
- Training
- SME
- Social dialogue
Social Charter
- Free movement of workers
- Right to adequate social protection
- Equal treatment between men and women
- Protection of health and safety at work
- Protection of children, adolescents, seniors, and disabled
Characteristics of Worker Safety and Health Obligations
- Same level of protection for all
- Employers’ liability
- Primary prevention
- Assessment, planning, and prevention
- Information and training
- Worker participation
- Health surveillance
- Rights and obligations of workers
- Government actions
Health Definitions
Prevention: Set of activities to avoid or reduce work-related risks.
Security: Techniques to eliminate or reduce accident risks.
Unconscious Security and Safety Science
Unconscious Security: Seeking security instinctively.
Safety Science: Analyzing accident factors for corrective measures.
Comprehensive Security: Includes all risks and losses.
Security Techniques
- General and specific
- Preventive and protective
- Analytical and operational
- Design and correction
Formula: Value aspects of risk gravity: consequences, exposure, and probability
Ventricular Fibrillation
Action of cardiac muscle fibers leading to serious injuries without oxygenated blood circulation.
When Fibrillation Occurs
Occurs for intensity values greater than 500 mA.
Fibrillation Thresholds
High threshold ranges from 500 mA to 400 mA for short exposures.
Other Effects of Electrical Current
- Brain injuries
- Laryngospasm
- Coronary spasm
- Burns
- Increased blood pressure
Current Value Formula
Joule’s Law: Q = U * t * 0.24 calories
Total Body Impedance
Calculated by adding internal and skin impedance for current entry and exit.
Human Body Resistance
Depends on current path and contact surface.