Old asbestos line renovation – Photo by SELIM ARDA ERYILMAZ on Unsplash
(STRASBOURG) – The European Parliament gave its green light Tuesday to new rules to protect EU workers from the health risks related to asbestos and to improve the early detection of asbestos.
MEPs overwhelmingly adopted the directive, already agreed with the EU’s member states, which will decrease the occupational exposure limit of asbestos and calls for the use of more modern and accurate technology to detect the presence of thin asbestos fibres.
The law aims to reduce exposure to asbestos fibres to the lowest possible level. The occupational exposure limit (OEL) will be ten times lower as the limit value will be decreased from 0.1 to 0.01 fibres of asbestos per cubic centimetre (cm³), without a transition period.
After a maximum transition period of six years, member states will have to switch to more modern and sensitive technology that can detect fibres, namely electron microscopy. They will then have the option to either decrease the level to 0.002 fibres of asbestos per cm³ excluding thin fibres, or to 0.01 fibres of asbestos per cm³ including thin fibres.
The new rules also include new requirements to protect workers more robustly. They will have to wear individual protective and respiratory equipment, clothing will have to be cleaned safely, there will be a decontamination procedure, and high-quality training requirements for workers.
The EU Council will now have to formally endorse the text, before its publication in the EU Official Journal and entry into force.
Further information, European Parliament
