"Asbestos is deadly serious - prevent exposure": this is the motto of the European Asbestos Campaign 2006 for information and supervision to be launched on 1st September," informed Dr. Bernhard Brückner from Germany, member of the European Senior Labour Inspectors Committee (SLIC), in the Helsinki press conference.
"The European campaign will be launched by the EU Commission and SLIC: a co-ordinating committee of Member States' Labour Inspectorates. The campaign will be uniformly conducted in all Member States and focus on the removal work of weakly-bound asbestos, the maintenance and removal work of asbestos cement and other tightly-bound asbestos products, and on the disposal of waste. The main target groups of the campaign are employers, employees and labour inspectors."
A Practical Guide to support the campaign
The campaign includes a “Practical Guide on Best Practice to Minimise Asbestos-Risks” in work that involves or may involve asbestos. As well as being used in the 2006 Asbestos Inspection Campaign, this Guide aims to provide all actors in the field of work under the risk of exposure to asbestos with a common European baseline for best practices.
The EU's leading role in protecting workers from one of the most serious health hazards follows a clear and distinct policy of preventive legislation. Since 2005, a general ban of the production and marketing of asbestos or products containing asbestos has been in effect. Handling of asbestos in any form is prohibited in the EU since April 2006; only demolition, maintenance, and removal work are allowed, under strictly regulated conditions.
Despite legislation problems continue
"Despite the regulations, the practical problem remains of preventing exposure to asbestos in the course of removal, demolition, servicing and maintenance activities. Moreover, in times of close economic ties and globalization, we have to pay attention not to counteract our efforts by re-importing asbestos-containing materials", explained Dr. Brückner.
ILO support for global asbestos ban
The continuing use of asbestos causes great concern to ILO. Its extensive use in the past has caused a world epidemic of asbestos-related diseases today.
Director Jukka Takala from ILO revealed in the press conference that ILO estimates that
100 000 persons die every year from incurable asbestos illnesses (30 000 from mesothelioma, 60 000 from lung cancer, and 10 000 from asbestosis), and that many more will develop them because of the iron grip of latency from previous exposures to asbestos.
"Some 40 countries have decided to ban the use of asbestos. Still, two million tons of asbestos continue to be used largely in countries in transition and developing countries, endangering lives of millions of workers worldwide", explained Dr. Takala.
The International Labour Conference (95th session, June 2006) resolves that:
(a)"... the elimination of the future use of asbestos and the identification and proper management of asbestos currently in place are the most effective means to protect workers from asbestos exposure and to prevent future asbestos-related diseases and deaths, and
(b) the Asbestos Convention, 1986 (No. 162), should not be used to provide a justification for, or endorsement of, the continued use of asbestos...”
….”The General Conference of the International Labour Organization,
…requests the Governing Body to direct the International Labour Office to:
(a) continue to encourage member States to ratify and give effect to the provisions of the Asbestos Convention, 1986 (No. 162), and the Occupational Cancer Convention, 1974 (No. 139);
(b) promote the elimination of future use of all forms of asbestos and asbestos containing materials in all member States;
(c) promote the identification and proper management of all forms of asbestos currently in place…”
ILO resolution calls for the elimination of the use of asbestos
To pursue the goal of a universal ban of asbestos, the 95th session of ILO adopted a resolution calling for the elimination of the use of asbestos and asbestos-containing materials, both now and in the future, as the best means of preventing asbestos-related diseases and deaths. The resolution is designed to bolster existing ILO Conventions related to asbestos and other carcinogenic substances, specifically the Occupational Cancer Convention 1974 (No. 139) and the Asbestos Convention 1986 (No. 162), and resolves that the latter should not be used to provide a justification for, or endorsement of, the continued use of asbestos.
ILO encourages member states to start national asbestos elimination programmes
ILO is strongly determined to support its member States in the proper management of asbestos currently in place, and to encourage them to include measures in their national occupational safety and health programmes that should prescribe effective preventive actions at national and enterprise levels to protect workers from exposure to asbestos. A national asbestos elimination programme would be a logical and self-evident component of the national safety and health programme.
Estonia starts national project to implement asbestos directives
An Estonian asbestos project was introduced by Dr. Antti Tossavainen from the Finnish Institute of Occupational Health. The aim of the project is to reduce asbestos-related diseases in Estonia by strengthening national infrastructures through sustainable, long-term activities. The project will provide training of medical personnel and labour inspectors, and increase public awareness on the health risks of asbestos exposure. Special attention will be paid to the construction industry.
Additional information:
- EU: Bernhard Brückner, tel. +371 7 021 520, +371 288 843 87, bernhard.brueckner@lm.gov.lv
- ILO: Jukka Takala, tel. +041 79 203 5794, takala@ilo.org
- Ministry of Social Affairs and Health, Finland: Jaakko Itäkannas, tel. +358 3 262 72516, +358 40 758 1105, jaakko.itakannas@stm.fi
- Finnish Institute of Occupational Health: Harri Vainio, +358 30 474 2340, harri.vainio@ttl.fi and Antti Tossavainen, + 358 30 474 2233, antti.tossavainen@ttl.fi
Internet: www.ilo.org
ILO press release: http://www.ilo.org/public/english/bureau/inf/features/06/asbestos.htm
ILO Resolution concerning asbestos, see page 69:
http://www.ilo.org/public/english/standards/relm/ilc/ilc95/pdf/pr-20.pdf
Asbestos regulations
EU Directive on the protection of workers from the risks related to exposure to asbestos at work (2003/18/EC) and EU Directive on the marketing and use of asbestos (1999/77/EC)
ILO Convention No.162 concerning Safety in the Use of Asbestos adopted in 1986
The campaign website:
http://ec.europa.eu/employment_social/health_safety/slic_en.htm