Upload
beverly-simmons
View
226
Download
0
Tags:
Embed Size (px)
Citation preview
The Current EU Strategy on Asbestos Problems
- Ideals versus Realities -
Domyung PaekWHO EURO ECEH
Three Parts
• Before beginning, backgrounds about EU in general
• EU Asbestos Strategy
• Problem Areas
Before Beginning
• EU is not a nation, but a kind of nation.• EU integration, especially in economic
dimensions, is almost complete. It is also true for social integration, even though slightly behind and somewhat complimentary to the economic change.
• The mere shift of social burdens within EU without solving is strongly discouraged.
Before Beginning
• EU directive is above the laws of each member country, and each country should harmonize its laws with the directives. Otherwise, they can be sued through the EU courts.
• Four major players, that is, UK, Germany, France and Italy are competing with their ideas and experiences to draw the directives to their sides, and usually struck a compromise in-between.
Before Beginning
• UK: pragmatic and utility based approach
• Germany: legalistic and consensus based approach
• France: Cartesian and ideals based approach
• Italy: humanistic and instinct based approach
Building of EU Strategy
• Initiated and exhorted by France• Organized by Germany• Pushed by Italy• Finalized by UK
• All four major players have contributed.
Overall Strategy
• Directives• Campaigns• Training and Education• Stakeholder Engagement• Concrete Technical Guidelines• Enforcement through Inspections
Directives
• 1999/77/EC : bans all uses of asbestos (Target 2ndary industry) as from 2005 Jan 1st
• 2003/18/EC : bans the extraction, manufacture and processing of asbestos products (Target primary industry) as from 2006 Apr 15th
• Leaving only problems from removal, demolition, servicing and maintenance activities
Campaigns
• European Asbestos Campaign 2006
Training and Education
• EU-Leonardo programme : research funds allocated to international projects to develop appropriate information and training materials
Stakeholder Engagement
• International Bodies : ILO & WHO– ILO Resolution (2006 June)– WHO
• Member Countries Inspectors– Dresden Declaration (2003)
• Employer Association– ?
• Labour Unions– ETUC response to consultation
Technical Guideline
Enforcements
• European Asbestos Campaign 2006– Inspection Campaign organized by Senior Labour Insp
ectors Committee from 2006 Sep to 2007 June
Problem Areas
• Identification of asbestos and its products – legal versus practical definition?
• External check by notification – how far and wide? For how much higher risk?
• Appropriate working methods – remove or shield?
• Training requirements – including self employed?
• Waste – including solids?
Asbestos Containing Material
• Definition
Yes, if any amount of asbestos is contained.
If not sure, then assume that it dose and treat it as asbestos containing material.
No, only if none is present.
No Effect (Cancer) Threshold Assumed
http://www.inrs.fr/inrs-pub/inrs01.nsf/B20B5BF9E88608EDC1256CD900519F98
/$File/ed1475.pdf
Ambiguous Definition of Notifiable vs Lower Risk Work
Discordant Approaches for Removal or Keep
Removal (Germany) or Shield (UK)
Training of Workers
• Only those employed by employers and excluding self-employed
Asbestos Waste
• Once removed, whether from lower risk work or from notifiable work, all materials containing asbestos are asbestos waste.
• Asbestos waste should be treated as hazardous waste.
No Effect (Cancer) Threshold Assumed
Asbestos Removal Examples
• Pictures taken just in front of my current office in Germany in 2006
• Picture taken during a trip to Russia in 2005
Discrepant Conditions among Member Countries
• Recognition of occupational asbestosis differs among different member countries
-> EU15+ (old member) countries tend to have more asbestosis cases detected while with lower incidences of mesothelioma than EU+12 (new member) countries
Summary
• In EU, the ideals of no threshold are still preserved, even though realities are allowing diverse approaches.
• Enforcement mechanisms through the provision of database and education, through the requirement of notification, and through the guidelines and inspections are all contributing to the final effectiveness of the strategy without abandoning the ideals.
• Matching the ideals to realities is possible !!
Thank you !!!
• I miss you all.
Reference
http://ec.europa.eu/employment_social/health_safety/asbestos_en.htm
http://ec.europa.eu/employment_social/health_safety/asbestos_en.htm