Latest update: 21/03/2018

Directive 92/91/EEC - mineral-extracting industries - drilling

of 3 November 1992 concerning the minimum requirements for improving the safety and health protection of workers in the mineral-extracting industries through drilling (eleventh individual Directive within the meaning of Article 16 (1) of Directive 89/391/EEC)

Objective

This directive lays down the minimum requirements for improving the safety and health protection of workers in the mineral-extracting industries through drilling i.e. extraction of minerals (onshore and offshore), preparation of extracted materials for sale, etc.

Definitions

The terms mineral-extracting industries through drilling and workplace are defined.

Contents

To safeguard the safety and health of workers, the employer shall take the necessary measures to ensure that:

• workplaces are designed, constructed, equipped, commissioned, operated and maintained so that workers can perform their work without endangering their health and safety and those of others;
• work takes place under the supervision of a person in charge;
• work involving a special risk is undertaken only by competent staff and carried out according to employers’ instructions;
• safety instructions are comprehensible to all workers;
• appropriate first-aid facilities are provided;
• relevant safety drills are performed regularly.

Employers must draw up and keep up to date a safety and health document demonstrating
• that risks to workers’ health and safety in the workplace have been determined and assessed;
• adequate measures will be taken to meet the requirements of this Directive;
• that the design, use and maintenance of the workplace and equipment are safe.

Where workers from more than one employer are present in the same workplace, the employer who is in charge of the workplace must coordinate the implementation of health and safety measures. Nevertheless, each employer is responsible for all matters under his control. Any serious or fatal occupational accidents, and situations of serious danger must be reported by the employer to the competent authorities.

Employers must take precautions to avoid, detect and combat the starting and spreading of fires and explosions and prevent the occurrence of explosive or health-endangering atmospheres. Employers must provide and maintain appropriate means of escape and rescue to ensure that workers can leave workplaces promptly and safely in the event of danger. Necessary warning and communication systems to enable assistance, escape and rescue should be provided.

Appropriate health surveillance must be introduced in accordance with national law. Each worker must be entitled to health surveillance prior to and following their duties.

The minimum health and safety requirements specified in the annex of this Directive must be satisfied by existing and new workplaces. When workplaces undergo changes, the employer must take the necessary measures to ensure those changes correspond to the minimum requirements laid down in the Annex of this Directive.

Member States must bring into force laws, regulations and administrative provisions to comply with this Directive. Member States must report to the Commission every five years following the implementation of this Directive.

Annex
Part A: Common minimum requirements applicable to on-shore and off-shore sectors
Part B: Special minimum requirements applicable to the on-shore sector
Part C: Special minimum requirements applicable to the off-shore sector

Read the full text of the consolidated version of the Directive (including later amendments)

Read the full text of the original Directive

National laws implementing this Directive

Further information on this topic

See also further documents of the European Commission on that topic:

The analysis and evaluation of the effects of the practical application of national legislation related to safety and health at work in mineral extraction through drilling Directive 92/91/EEC (2013)

Evaluation of the Practical Implementation of the EU Occupational Safety and Health (OSH) Directives in EU Member States - Directive on mineral extracting industries - Drilling (2017)