The European Parliament has ruled that employers are not liable for workers’ over-exposure to sunshine.

The EU legislature rejected binding Europe-wide rules determining whether employers should have to protect those working outdoors from the sun’s radiation. Individual member states are now free to make their own ruling.

The Optical Radiation Directive aimed to protect workers from exposure to artificial and natural forms of radiation that can damage eyes and skin. It would have required all employers with staff working outside, such as construction operatives, to make daily risk assessments of the levels of UV radiation to which they would be exposed and devise plans to minimise health risks.

The legislation will now go to a conciliation committee in which parliament, EU governments and the Commission must agree on the final wording.

It was argued that the legislation was vital to reduce skin cancer rates among outdoor workers, but concerns were raised over the burden this would place on businesses.

Source

Electrical and Mechanical Contractor