EU Framework Directive 89/391/EEC on health and safety at work
The EU baseline that every employer must assess workplace risks, take preventive measures, inform and train workers and consult them; national laws on electrical work, work at height and similar hazards build on it.
- 3requirementsin our own words
- 1edition Council Directive 89/391/EEC of 12 June 1989
- 27places where it is a duty of 30 assessed
- 18 Oct 2026last checkedat the sources below
Where it applies
It is a duty in 27 of 30 places, and 1 needs a closer read. The outcome holds under the conditions shown and says nothing about any one site.
| Where | Outcome | Basis | Conditions | Authority and route |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| All 27 EU Member States | Applies | Required by law In force | None stated EU directive implemented in national law of every Member State. | Not stated |
| Norway | Needs review | Required by law Status not confirmed | None stated EEA relevance; Norwegian working environment law not checked. | Not stated |
| Switzerland, United Kingdom | Does not apply | Required by law In force | None stated EU directive; GB and CH have their own laws. | Not stated |
What it asks for
3 requirements, each in our own words with the evidence an assessor would expect and who on a site usually owns it. Read the clause itself on the scheme owner's page.
| Requirement | Evidence expected | Owner | When |
|---|---|---|---|
| Assess workplace risks and take preventive measures. | Risk assessments Record, checked by document review | EHS | Every year Governance, the organisation |
| Inform, train and consult workers. | Training and consultation records Record, checked by document review | HR | Every year Governance, the organisation |
| Keep records and report workplace accidents. | Accident register Record, checked by document review | EHS | Continuous Record keeping, the organisation |
Editions
Which text is in force, from when, and which one it replaced.
| Edition | Status | Published | In effect | Replaces |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Council Directive 89/391/EEC of 12 June 1989 | Current | 12 Jun 1989 | Not stated | None named |
About the programme
- Scheme owner
- Council of the European Union
- Assessed by
- The duty holder
- Scope
- employer and workplace
- Validity
- Continuous duty.
- Accreditation route
- none
- Regulator
- National labour inspectorates
- Official body
- Council of the European Union
- Who asks for it
- Regulator, Insurer
- Where it is used
- EU27
Sources
Official bodies behind this page, each with the date we last read it.
- EUR-Lex (Official Journal of the EU)read 18 Oct 2026
Not legal advice. Confirm each duty against the text itself.