Concern about safety and health in the workplace has been a constant throughout history. From the dawn of the Industrial Revolution, where working conditions were extremely dangerous, to the present day, where significant progress has been made in protecting workers, the evolution of regulations on occupational risk prevention has been a continuous and necessary process.
The 20th century witnessed significant advances in labour legislation in many countries. Laws and regulations were enacted that established minimum safety standards in the workplace, as well as the obligation to provide adequate protective equipment and training in risk prevention. The creation of institutions specialised in monitoring compliance with these regulations, such as occupational safety agencies, also contributed significantly to this progress.
The European Union (EU), for its part, has played a fundamental role in the harmonisation and improvement of regulations on occupational risk prevention (ORP) in the Member States. Since the adoption of the Treaty of Rome in 1957, which established the framework for cooperation on safety and health at work, the EU has developed a series of directives and regulations that have laid the foundation for the protection of workers throughout Europe.
Framework Directive 89/391/EEC, adopted in 1989, was a milestone in this process. It established the general principles of occupational risk prevention, including risk assessment, information and training of workers, and their participation in matters of safety and health at work. Since this directive, numerous sectoral directives have been issued that address specific risks, such as the handling of hazardous substances or safety in construction.
In recent decades, with the advent of new technologies and the globalisation of the economy, regulations on occupational risk prevention have had to adapt to changes in the labour market.
More specific and sophisticated laws have been enacted, addressing emerging risks such as work-related stress, ergonomics and psychosocial risks: in 2019, the EU adopted the EU Action Plan on Health and Safety at Work 2019-2024, which aims to address emerging challenges, such as those related to digitalisation and the green economy, and to strengthen the implementation and enforcement of existing legislation.
In addition, greater attention has been paid to the prevention of occupational diseases, as well as to the promotion of a safety culture in companies, where responsibility lies not only with employers, but also with workers themselves.
Fostering a safe working environment is a task for all companies and employees.