Health and safety at work: exposure of workers to electromagnetic fields; transposition of Directive

The European Parliament adopted by 610 votes to 37, with 14 abstentions, a legislative resolution on the proposal for a directive of the European Parliament and of the Council amending Directive 2004/40/EC on minimum health and safety requirements regarding the exposure of workers to the risks arising from physical agents (electromagnetic fields) (eighteenth individual Directive within the meaning of Article 16(1) of Directive 89/391/EEC).

Parliament adopted its position at first reading under the ordinary legislative procedure. The only amendment adopted in plenary is the result of a compromise negotiated between the European Parliament and the Council and aims to amend the delay of transposition of Directive 2004/40/EC.

The Commission suggested the date to the brought forward to 30 April 2014 (instead of 30 April 2012) so as to take into account a number of technical difficulties relating to the implementation of the directive for the medical imaging industry. Following the vote in plenary, the date for the delay of transposition of Directive 2004/40/EC is set at 31 October 2013.