Council agrees to improve protection of workers

Ministers of employment settled their position on a proposal to tighten EU legislation protecting workers from the risks of asbestos.

The Council position – on the basis of which it will negotiate with the European Parliament – is that the current exposure levels should be lowered and that asbestos fibre-counting should be carried out on the basis of a more modern method. This is part of the Europe's Beating Cancer Plan.

Stronger protection of workers from the risks of asbestos will save lives. EU member states must drastically limit workers' exposure to the danger of asbestos and I am glad they are ready to do so.

Marian Jurečka, deputy prime minister and minister of labour and social affairs

Lower exposure level

If agreed, the new rules would ensure that no worker is exposed to a concentration of more than 0.01 fibres of asbestos per cm³. This is a tenfold decrease compared to the value currently in force.

Improved measuring method

Member states also decided to use a more modern and sensitive method for counting asbestos fibres, i.e. electron microscopy (EM). Member states would have 7 years to comply with the new methodology requirements, in order to allow enough time for a successful transition from the current measuring method, phase-contrast microscopy (PCM), to the new EM method.

The Commission would be tasked to support member states during this switch of measuring method. During the transition period the measuring methods currently in use may remain in place.

Background and next steps

In September of this year, the Commission presented a proposal to revise the directive on the protection of workers from the risks related to the exposure to asbestos at work. The measure is one of the flagship initiatives of the Europe’s Beating Cancer Plan.

Before becoming law, the Council and the European Parliament need to agree on a joint position on the proposed revision. The Parliament is still in the process of defining its stance.

Although asbestos is banned in the EU since 2005 it remains present in older buildings. When asbestos fibres are released and inhaled, for instance during renovations, it does pose a threat for workers’ health. As much as 78% of occupational cancers recognised in EU member states are related to asbestos.