BARE CHESTED BUILDERS COULD BE A THING OF THE PAST - LYNNE

11.54.26am BST (GMT +0100) Thu 30th Jun 2005

Workers could be forced to keep their clothes on by employers if EU directive goes through, according to Liz Lynne Liberal Democrat Employment spokesperson in the European Parliament.

A very sensible directive to protect workers from optical radiation could go too far by including exposure to natural radiation from the Sun.

"This is an example of where we are our own worst enemy. Many workers want to get a suntan for their holidays so they strip off to just a pair of shorts. Imagine the language if they were told they could no longer do that," said Liz Lynne.

"How could anyone prove either whether the person was exposed to too much sun at work or was it from too much sunbathing in their backgarden? Yes we have to advise people of the danger of the sun and people should be encouraged to take precautions, but I don't see how employment legislation on this could be enforced."

"Hopefully we can amend this directive, so we retain the sensible attempts to protect workers from harmful artificial radiation, but also allow people to decide for themselves what clothing is appropriate to wear while working outside."

Ends

Notes

MEPs on the Parliament's Employment & Social Affairs committee are now being asked to vote on 12 July on proposals that require employers to assess the risk of eye and skin damage from optical radiation. The vote has been delayed to see if any last minute compromises can be achieved. Liz Lynne MEP, ALDE Shadow Rapporteur, is leading attempts to remove solar radiation from the directive or at least allow it to be left to member states to decide. At present, both the Commission and EPP Rapporteur's proposal make reference to solar radiation as well as artificial radiation.

The new laws are part of a directive that would limit the amount of optical radiation (UV rays and infrared sources) that workers such as welders and metal forgers can safely be exposed to in the workplace.