Ensuring a high level of safety and sometimes public health is often the main policy objective of technical harmonisation directives that provide for the free circulation of goods (Art. 95 of the Treaty). Many directives aim at providing a minimum basis for the protection of health, especially for workers at the work place (Art. 175 of the Treaty). Due to its high level of complexity, this legislation often refers to harmonised standards that help manufacturers to comply with the legal requirements, also called “essential requirements”, for New Approach legislation. Market surveillance controls are key to preserving customer confidence in high safety levels of products manufactured according to New Approach principles. Unfortunately, poor customs and market controls render it impossible to prevent the growth of unsafe imported products, especially in consumer markets.

ORGALIME aims at ensuring, as much as possible, that social legislation requirements (worker-oriented) do not overlap with those of technical legislation (market-oriented). This is particularly relevant with regard to risk-assessment, which falls under the manufacturer’s responsibility when he/she places professional equipment (e.g. a machine tool) on the market but falls under the employer’s responsibility when the same equipment is used by the workforce. Conversely, there is a similar scope overlap between specific product-oriented legislation (e.g. the LVD on electrical safety) and consumer-oriented legislation (e.g. the general product safety directive).

Picture Courtesy of Erikkila LCS