New European Community Strategy for Health and Safety: The Elephant in the Room

Abstract

Although Lithuania has comprehensive health and safety legislation in line with EU requirements, on a range of general health and occupational health and safety (OHS) indicators, it is a poor performer. Survey data suggest that the norm for work in Lithuania is based on a regime of intensification without a participative working environment in which employees have a voice in safety management. Although European-style legislative reforms appear to be having no measurable effects on CHS performance in post-communist New Member States, the EU OHS strategy for 2007–2012 fails to take account of the deteriorated working environments in these states, suggesting that prospects for harmonization of working environment standards in the enlarged Europe may recede with eastward expansion.

Keywords:

• European enlargement
• occupational health and safety
• policy
• new Member States
• European Union
• Lithuania