Working too many hours?

[Silver Star]

A question which may have been asked before (apologies ive only just registered), who would look after the welfare of operations staff if an employer has overworked them?

Short story is a friend is just about to be hospitilised after suffering a breakdown a few months ago experts have reported it is due to working too many hours approx seventy plus per week

I understand that the working time directive is not applicable which seems ludicrous What protects people against this sort of thing in the aviation industry

If anyone has any info on the subject it would be a huge help

Thanks