New legislation to reduce injuries for 3.5 million healthcare workers in europe eu employment and social affairs ministers have today adopted a directive to prevent injuries and infections to healthcare workers from sharp objects such as needle sticks &ndash one of the most serious health and safety threats in european workplaces and estimated to cause 1 million injuries each year. The directive translates into community law an agreement negotiated by the european social partner organisations in the sector, which employs around 3.5 million people.
