European Interest

Protect workers from asbestos more robustly

flickr/The Left/CC BY 2.0

The EU needs to reduce workers’ exposure to asbestos and remove asbestos from buildings in a safe way, MEPs say in a resolution adopted on Wednesday.

Asbestos remains one of the most significant occupational health challenges in the EU. With this in mind, MEPs ask the Commission to present a European strategy to remove all asbestos from buildings (ESRAA). This framework should contain new legislative proposals and an update of current legislation on the protection of workers from asbestos, including an evaluation of different types of asbestos fibres and their adverse health effects.           In line with the latest scientific advice, MEPs call for the current binding occupational exposure limit value (OEL) to be reduced from the current limit of 0,1 fibres/cm3 to 0,001 fibres/cm3.

Mandatory screening of buildings

In the context of “A Renovation Wave for Europe”, i.e. the Commission’s plans to finance the renovation of 35 million buildings by 2030, MEPs demand urgent and mandatory asbestos screening and for asbestos to be removed from buildings before renovation works can start. All available EU funding should be allocated to mitigate the financial and administrative impact of this obligation and transition periods should be introduced.                    MEPs also call for the establishment of public national digital registers for asbestos and other hazardous substances found in public and private buildings. A framework directive should lay down the minimum standards for these registers.

Recognition of occupational diseases and minimum standards for compensation

Many cases of asbestos-related disease are not recognised as an occupational disease, depriving victims of compensation. MEPs therefore demand a legislative proposal that ensures all occupational diseases are recognised, including all known asbestos-related diseases, and minimum standards for the compensation of victims.                                                  MEPs also urge the Commission to put forward a proposal for member states to establish an ombudsperson to assist victims of occupational diseases that have a long latency period. The resolution was adopted by 675 votes in favour. 2 against and 23 abstentions.

“On dusty ceilings and in narrow basements, over the next decade construction workers will risk being exposed to our past massive use of asbestos fibers, when European buildings will be climate-renovated as part of the Green Wave. It requires action now! I insist that Europe’s green transition must ensure a safe working environment. No one should die from going to work,” said rapporteur Nikolaj Villumsen (The Left, DK).

Asbestos is a highly dangerous carcinogenic agent used worldwide in building and other materials in many areas of our daily life. It causes between 30 000 and 90 000 deaths per year in the European Union, mostly through occupational cancer. Eighty percent of the occupational cancers recognised in Europe are asbestos-related. Asbestos is proven to be responsible for asbestosis, mesothelioma and lung cancers, the latter being the most common occupational cancer in the EU.

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