Safety and health at work is everyone’s concern. It’s good for you. It’s good for business. Asbestos hearing European Parliament 18 September 2012 Dr. Christa Sedlatschek Director

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3 Health issues Most common diseases caused by asbestos exposure are:  Malignant Mesothelioma: A rare form of cancer of the pleura and peritoneum, the thin membranes lining the abdomen and chest.  Asbestos Lung Cancer: Cancer of the lung. The two most common types of lung cancer are small–cell and non–small cell cancer.  Asbestosis: A non malignant disease that causes scarring of the lung tissue.  Asbestos Pleural Disease: A non malignant disease that causes scarring of the thin membranes lining the lung and chest.  Other possible: cancer of the digestive tract, colon, larynx, oesophagus, kidney and some types of lymphoma, due to swallowing longer asbestos fibers that are caught in the upper airways.  Recently discovered: link to cardiovascular diseases in asbestos workers, women more likely than men to be affected (HSL 2012)

4 Groups potentially exposed  Construction workers  Shipbuilding and repair  Trains/ repair work  Welders, sheet metal workers, boilermakers, smiths  Rubber, paper, paints and varnishes  Electricians, mechanics  Ceramics  Nuclear installations  Retailers of asbestos articles  Laboratory workers  Service workers: ironer, surface cleaning  Repair and maintenance (e.g. household appliances)  Jewellers, goldsmiths  Brewers, cider workers  Emergency workers

5 EU-OSHA activities  Participation in Dresden declaration 2003  Asbestos an issue in EU-OSHA campaigns: 2004 Construction campaign Facts 31 – Asbestos in construction in 20 languages Maintenance campaign E-fact 48: Safe maintenance – asbestos in building maintenance −EFBWW and EBC campaign partners  EU-OSHA supported the SLIC campaign, see

6 EU Senior Labour Inspector s Committee´s campaign 2006  Problems with: - identifying asbestos (Is it asbestos or not? Which type of asbestos?); - drawing up an inventory of asbestos-containing material (location, amount, state); - accidental exposure in refurbishment and maintenance work; - risk assessment and appropriateness of working methods; - removal and disposal of asbestos cement, especially from private buildings; - waste disposal and OSH; - licensing and certification of companies in removal and disposal of asbestos; -information for the general public and training of inspectors, employers and workers. Campaign concentrated on three fields of demolition, maintenance and repair asbestos work: -DMR work with weakly bound asbestos; -DMR work with asbestos-cement products; -Waste disposal.

7  In many countries asbestos work related to ‘sporadic exposure at low intensity’  Trend to smaller-scale work with asbestos containing material, often done by small and micro businesses  Workers at risk are mainly in maintenance.  Overlooked: railway trains, recycling of (roof) tiles, transport containers  Removal of weakly bound asbestos products more strictly regulated, detailed technical provisions described in each country's regulations. New forms of communication and training recommended More information and easy-to-understand (graphic, pictorial) information Weak points:  Work plan, instruction on site: partly or not at all  Training certificates  Coordinator, expert, responsible for monitoring on site  Securing of waste and transport, landfill certificates  Waste disposal scored worst on risk assessment, dust-free equipment, documentation, training and monitoring Read the report: EU Senior Labour Inspector s Committee´s campaign 2006

8 Healthy Workplaces Campaign “Working together for risk prevention”

9 Campaign objectives  promote the idea that it is essential for solving OSH problems in an organisation that employers and workers and their representatives work together in partnership;  raise awareness of the importance of OSH leadership for the prevention of work-related accidents and illnesses;  raise awareness of the legal responsibility and the practical need to manage occupational risks in the workplace;  provide the involved actors with practical information and tools to promote a risk prevention culture particularly within SMEs;

10 Further information Visit the campaign website To find out about events and activities in your country, contact your national focal point