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Attention: Safety media

TUC hails Euro-Parliament move to protect workers from asbestos

The European Parliament’s Employment and Social Affairs Committee today voted to cut in half the maximum exposure for asbestos proposed by the European Commission in its new Asbestos Directive.

TUC General Secretary John Monks, welcoming today’s vote by MEPs, said:

'This is a major step forward in protecting workers engaged in repair, refurbishment and demolition. All asbestos exposures are dangerous, but because of the millions of tonnes left in Europe’s buildings, workers will continue to be exposed for many years to come. But MEPs have made it clear that they will take action to keep those exposures as low as possible.'

The European Parliament is currently considering a European Commission proposal for a new Asbestos Directive, which has already been endorsed by the Council of Ministers. Changes proposed by the Parliament are then discussed with Governments.

The Commission is proposing a new exposure limit of 0.1 fibres per cubic centimetre (f/cm³) for an eight hour period (the UK’s current levels are 0.3 f/cm³ over four hours for white asbestos and 0.2 f/cm³ over four hours for all other forms - the latter being equivalent to the Commission proposal). The crucial amendment put forward by Liberal Democrat MEP Liz Lynne would change that to a four hour reference period, effectively halving the exposure allowed (and cutting the UK white asbestos limit by two thirds).

A full TUC briefing on the Directive is at http://www.tuc.org.uk/h_and_s/tuc-4228-f0.cfm

Press release (300 words) issued 20 Mar 2002