
Improved Protection Against Asbestos for Workers
Committee has discussed exposure limit and measuring methods
JA – 02/2023
On 6
February, the Committee on Employment and Social Affairs discussed the draft
report presented by Véronique Trillet-Lenoir (Renew Europe/France) about
protecting workers from the risks related to being exposed to asbestos in the
workplace. The European Commission previously published its proposed amendment
to Directive 2009/148/EU about protecting workers from the risks related to
asbestos exposure at work back in September 2022. It also contained a proposal
to reduce by one tenth the currently applicable maximum allowable
concentrations value to 0.01 asbestos fibres per cm³ as well as the
introduction of an obligation to use more modern and sensitive asbestos fibre
analysing methods.
Discussions about measuring method and exposure limit
Members of Parliament welcomed in principle the
proposals from rapporteur Trillet-Lenoir. The discussions focused on the exposure
limit, changing the measuring method and the time frame for a new review. There
was no clear consensus on the part of the Members of Parliament with regard to
the exposure limit: Some Members of Parliament spoke in favour of the exposure limit
of 0.01 f/cm³ proposed by the European Commission in the form of time-weighted average concentration – which the rapporteur also took up in her draft
report. However, other Members of Parliament called for a further reduction to
0.001 f/cm³ as the instantaneous value. Then the exposure limit would not be
exceeded at any time.
The introduction of an obligation to use more
modern and sensitive asbestos fibre analysing methods was also the subject of
debate. Electron microscopy was especially highlighted as a reliable measuring
method. Further demands included introducing appropriate training programmes
for working with asbestos and certifying the companies.
Most common cause of occupational cancers
78 per
cent of the occupational cancers recognised in the member states are
asbestos-related. The average time between exposure and the first signs of
disease is longer than 30 years. This means that cancers can still occur
decades after occupational exposure. Some of the workers would already have
retired by then.
DSV
welcomes the initiative to protect workers from the dangers of asbestos. In
January DSV published an opinion on the European Commission’s proposal and spoke out in favour of
using a time-weighted average concentration for measuring asbestos.
The aim
of occupational health and safety is to reduce the incidence of diseases caused
by asbestos as much as possible. Therefore preventive measures to protect
workers from being exposed to asbestos must be strengthened. This is absolutely
essential, especially in view of the energy-efficient renovation of buildings
and the expected "renovation wave" that will be part of the European
green deal.