| Author (Corporate) | Council of the European Union, European Parliament |
|---|---|
| Series Title | Official Journal of the European Union |
| Series Details | 2023/2668 |
| Publication Date | 30/11/2023 |
| Content Type | Blog & Commentary, Legislation, News, Policy-making |
Summary:Directive (EU) 2023/2668 - adopted by the co-legislators on 22 November 2023 - introducing amendments to Directive 2009/148/EC concerning the protection of workers from the risks related to exposure to asbestos at work. Further information:Occupational cancer is the first cause of work-related deaths in the European Union (EU). It is primarily caused by exposure to carcinogenic substances such as asbestos. The progressive ban on the use of asbestos in the EU began in 1988 with the prohibition of crocidolite and was subsequently extended to cover other asbestos-containing materials. Since 2005, all forms of asbestos are banned in the EU. Council Directive 83/447/EEC was the first piece of legislation aimed at protecting workers from the specific risks of workplace exposure to asbestos. The Directive was substantially amended several times until its most recent codified version (Directive 2009/148/EC), also known as as the Asbestos at Work Directive (AWD). The AWD protects workers against risks to their health arising or likely to arise from exposure to asbestos at work, including by preventing such risks. Under the AWD, for all activities in which workers are or may be exposed to dust from asbestos or materials containing asbestos, exposure must be reduced to a minimum and in any case below the fixed binding occupational-exposure limit (OEL) of 0.1 fibres/cm3 as an 8-hour time-weighted average (TWA). This Directive amends the AWD to introduce updates on the basis of the latest available scientific evidence. It seeks to make its OEL more effective. The draft law was adopted by the European Commission on 28 September 2022, alongside a Communication focusing on work towards an asbestos-free future. The Council of the European Union adopted its general approach for the proposed Directive on 8 December. The plenary of the European Parliament endorsed a negotiating position on 10 May 2023. An informal agreement between the co-legislators on a compromise text for this file was reached on 27 June. This was formally endorsed by Parliament on 3 October and by the Council on 23 October. The Act was signed by the co-legislators on 22 November 2023 and published in the Official Journal on 30 November 2023. |
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| Source Link | Link to Main Source http://data.europa.eu/eli/dir/2023/2668/oj |
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| Subject Categories | Employment and Social Affairs, Health |
| Subject Tags | Health and Safety, Public Health |
| International Organisations | European Union [EU] |
