Basic documents and KAN position papers

Edition 2.1 – July 2017 (Update of 2^nd Edition)

NOTE: The KAN position paper is currently under revision.

Workplaces must be illuminated such as to facilitate work that is economically viable, safe, and conducive to good health.
Light in all its forms has a biological effect upon human beings – irrespective of the type and source of illumination, and of whether biological effects are caused incidentally by conventional lighting or by forms of illumination planned and used intentionally for this purpose. All of these effects are associated with opportunities and risks for occupational safety and health.

Since November 2016, the process description elaborates on the Policy paper in the role of Standards in the safety and health of workers at work published in 2015. It describes the functions of the players and the processes und supports the objective of incorporating the Expertise of all stakeholders in OSH into KAN's Position in an appropriate and timely manner. 

The Guide to the implementation of directives based on the New Approach and the Global Approach (the ‘Blue Guide’) was published in 2000. Since then, it has become one of the main reference documents explaining how to implement the legislation based on the New Approach, now covered by the New Legislative Framework.

PART I - Role of the Commission's Standardisation requests to the European standardisation organisations PART II  - Preparation and adoption of the Commission’s standardisation requests to the European standardisation organisations PART III - Guidelines for the execution of standardisation requests

The safety of products in the health sector - from hospital beds to heart-lung machines – is assured by standards. Increasingly however, and to some extent with the support of the European Commission, standardization is addressing not only products but also services in the health sector, ranging from nursing to the electronic processing of patients' data.
The Commission for Occupational Health and Safety and Standardization (KAN) is taking a critical interest in this development as it could result in established, proven social security systems (especially those concerning health and safety) colliding with undesired parallel systems – to workers' detriment.

The policy paper was drawn up by the working group on “Standardization in the health and safety of workers at work”. The working group was set up by Germany’s Federal Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs and consisted of representatives of the federal states’ supreme labour protection authorities, the Federal Agency for Occupational Safety and Health (BAuA), the Secretariat of the Commission for Occupational Health and Safety and Standardization (KAN), the umbrella associations of the social accident insurance institu­tions, the social partners, DIN (German Institute for Standardization) and of VDE (Association for Electrical, Electronic and Information Technologies).

Standards are an important element in prevention activity for safe and healthy workplaces. Elaborated at European and increasingly also at international level, they set out technical requirements for products and define measurement methods for emissions such as noise, vibration, radiation and harmful substances. At the same time, standards increasingly impact upon non-technical areas such as the harmonization of OSH management systems. Against this background EUROGIP (represented by R. Haeflinger), INRS (Institut National de Recherche et de Sécurité pour la prévention des maladies professionnelles et des accidents du travail, represented by S. Pimbert) and KAN (Kommission Arbeitsschutz und Normung, represented by N. Breutmann), supported by the social partners, have agreed upon a set of joint positions on their standardization policy.

In the opinion of the Commission for Occupational Health and Safety and Standardization (KAN), the concept behind these documents is such that they are not a suitable means of making stipulations on occupational safety and health. Documents such as DIN SPECs (prestandards) and DIN SPECs (technical reports), which are drawn up by a standards body, can include safety and health aspects by virtue of their nature.

amending Council Directives 89/686/EEC and 93/15/EEC and Directives 94/9/EC, 94/25/EC, 95/16/EC, 97/23/EC, 98/34/EC, 2004/22/EC, 2007/23/EC, 2009/23/EC and 2009/105/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council and repealing Council Decision 87/95/EEC and Decision No 1673/2006/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council

"Guidance document for the development of service standards"

For many years, it has been normal practice to do without glossy surfaces at VDT
workstations, because glare from such surfaces is perceived as unpleasant or can
reduce visual performance. The intent of this position paper is to increase awareness among other
occupational health and safety experts in Europe and overseas, and encourage
them to support the German position.

These comments are intended for members of standards committees, and are to
provide guidance on whether a service standard should address OH&S aspects.

Guidance for writing standards taking into account micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) needs

Owing to the EU Vibration Directive 2002/44/EC, which has now been transposed into national laws and regulations, measurement of vibration exposure at workplaces is becoming increasingly important. Measuring instruments conforming to EN ISO 8041 must be employed for the measurements required for risk assessment in accordance with accepted good practice. As yet, EN ISO 8041 does not contain provisions governing dosemeters. As a result, simple vibration indicators which are sold as dosemeters may result in the risk being underestimated.

"Common policy guidance for addressing standardisation on qualification of professions and personnel"

Standardisation for Safe Products

on a common framework for the marketing of products, and repealing Council Decision 93/465/EEC

setting out the requirements for accreditation and market surveillance relating to the marketing of products and repealing Regulation (EEC) No 339/93 (9 July 2008)

(Single Market / product safety)

(Safety and health of workers at work)

European Standardization is mandated to contribute to the competitiveness of Europe and to support the European economy in international trade. Manufacturers and importers of machinery (who have to construct or distribute their machinery in accordance with the EC Machinery Directive) as well as standards bodies developing product standards found that there is a certain lack of easily applicable generic standards in the field of ergonomics. As a result, specifications concerning ergonomic aspects are sometimes regulated several times in different standards and not necessarily in the same way. A clear structure for ergonomics standards and their contents will help to prevent possible uncertainties for the users. The present guide is intended to effectively support the core activities of the ergonomics standards committees in this sense.

Text of the CEN Resolution BT 22/1997, which was adopted unchanged by CENELEC at the BT meeting held from 30/09 to 2/10/1997

AGREEMENT ON TECHNICAL BARRIERS TO TRADE