1. Mat Jongen / Remco Visser / Sonja Nossent Evaluating a national support strategy for managing chemical risks in small firms The Dutch experience:

2. TNO Quality of Life, Cardiff - 06 March 20082 This presentation General information on chemicals and exposure Chemicals management Special Dutch initiatives Evaluation Current trends

3. TNO Quality of Life, Cardiff - 06 March 20083 Sectors (1) 26 High risk sectors: High risks agents: allergenic agents (organic dust, latex, isocyanates, biocides), organic solvents (in paints, glues etc.), wood dust, asbestos, quartz, chromium, welding fumes, cleaning substances, metal working fluids; The most hazardous working processes: manual cleaning and washing work (wet work), pouring, weighing and mixing of powders, spraying of paints and alike, slivering operations; Main health risks: allergy, skin effects, neurological effects (like OPS), respiratory effects, cancer.

4. TNO Quality of Life, Cardiff - 06 March 20084 Sectors (2) 26 high risk sectors (number of workers): Bakeries, flour industry (44,500) Car industry (34,000) Car recycling (11,250) Car trade and repairs (> 42,000) Cattle-fodder industry (??) Cement, chalk, gypsum, concrete, ceramics, natural stone (19,500) Cleaning of buildings (200,000) Construction of building (440,000) Fish and meat industry (29,800) Furniture production (24,000) Glass and glass products Hair dressers (35,000) Health care (211,000) Hotels, restaurants, cafes (300,000) Metal products industry (450,000) Paint and ink production (7,000) Polyester construction industry ( 30.000) Primary metal production (27,500) Printing and publishing shops (45,000) Recycling construction and demolishment materials (6,000) Roads and utility construction (See Construction of buildings) Rubber products industry (4,500) Ship construction industry (??) Tapestry and parquet flooring (37,000) Chemical industry (various) Wood products industry (17,000)

5. TNO Quality of Life, Cardiff - 06 March 20085 Hazardous substances (percentage of companies) Organic solvents (9) Exhaust fumes(8) Corn, wood or flour dust(4) Quartz(2) Welding fumes(5) Tar products(1) Reproduction toxic agents(1) Other carcinogenic agents(1) Pesticides(4) Dangerous cleaning agents(15) Other chemicals(13) Other(10)

6. TNO Quality of Life, Cardiff - 06 March 20086 Exposure and health effects 1.7 million workers exposed (population: 16 million) 17000 workers with health effects 1850 workers die early Main health effects: Skin disorders Respiratory disorders OPS, headache, migraine Injuries due to accidents

7. TNO Quality of Life, Cardiff - 06 March 20087 Chemicals management - actors (1) Seven main actors in Dutch chemicals management: 1.Governmental 2.OSH-service companies 3.Suppliers of chemicals 4.Branch organisations 5.Sector specific training and education organisations 6.Professional associations 7.Trade unions

8. TNO Quality of Life, Cardiff - 06 March 20088 Chemicals management - actors (2) Government (6 ministries): 1.Social Affairs and Employment (labour, OSH) 2.Housing, Spatial Planning and the Environment (environment) 3.Health, Welfare and Sport (public health, consumer safety) 4.Interior and Kingdom Relations (fire brigades, fire prevention) 5.Transport, Public Works and Water Management (transport) 6.Agriculture, Nature and Food Quality (enforcement of labelling)

9. TNO Quality of Life, Cardiff - 06 March 20089 Legislation Implementation of European Directives requires lots of tuning: long implementation time

10. TNO Quality of Life, Cardiff - 06 March 200810 Special Dutch initiatives (1) 1997 - 2004: OSH covenants. In 14 of 62 covenants the handling of hazardous chemicals was part of the plan of action. Large programmes with multimillion EURO budgets. 1998 - 2003: SOMS (Strategie OMgaan met Stoffen - Strategy for the handling of chemicals) was initiated by the Dutch government in 1998 with the goal of eliminating risks from chemicals by 2020. 2004 - 2007: VASt (VASt: Versterking Arbeidsveiligheid Stoffen - Enhancement of Occupational Safety regarding Hazardous Chemicals) was directly aimed at improving chemical risk management in SMEs.

11. TNO Quality of Life, Cardiff - 06 March 200811 Special Dutch initiatives (2) Mandatory contracts with OSH service companies (now forbidden by EU) Mandatory assessment of risk assessment by OSH services (partly abandoned) MAC values policy (700 values - now mostly abandoned) Policy on reproductive substances (Dutch list of substances) Policy on OPS (substitution of organic solvents for indoor use)

12. TNO Quality of Life, Cardiff - 06 March 200812 Dutch strategies for chemicals management (1) General: 1.Legislation is main driving force 2.Policy making is based on consultation of involved interest groups (employers, employees, NGOs, professional associations, etc): the polder-model: covenants 3.Prevention gets much attention in science and policy. This results in a substantial amount of research on health and environmental effects of chemicals 4.Mid nineties to 2005: 4 step assurance of adequate OSH service: (1) certificates for OSH servies, (2) accreditation of 4 mandatory disciplines, (3) approval of risk assessment, and (4) four mandatory services in contract with company

13. TNO Quality of Life, Cardiff - 06 March 200813 Dutch strategies for chemicals management (2) NOW: No more covenants SOMS overruled by EU legislation VASt finished in 2007 No new Dutch legislation Contracts with OSH services less strict NEW: Arbocatalogus (OSH catalogue - best practices) REACh (exposure scenarios)

14. TNO Quality of Life, Cardiff - 06 March 200814 Results of the VASt-programme (1) Purpose: to strengthen chemicals management in SMEs Period: 2004 - 2007 24 action plans in branches and sectors Indicators for chemicals management: 1.Use of branch specific risk assessment 2.Percentage of companies measuring exposure 3.Percentage of companies not receiving SDSs 4.Percentage of companies that find branch organisation useful 5.Percentage of companies giving adequate instruction 6.Percentage of companies satisfied with information on chemicals

15. TNO Quality of Life, Cardiff - 06 March 200815 Result of the VASt programme (2)

16. TNO Quality of Life, Cardiff - 06 March 200816 Strategies in the Netherlands - 2008 Government: Implementation of European legislation, including REACh. No more new Dutch legislation Shift from government responsibility to industry responsibility: REACh MAC values: from public to private Risk assessment responsibility of company Government supports the development of OSH catalogues with best practices and instruments per sector / branch (labour inspection regime is dependent on use of catalogue) Industry: Chemical industry: renewed attention to Responsible Care - Global Charter Huge effort in implementation of REACh

17. TNO Quality of Life, Cardiff - 06 March 200817 Discussion Who is helping SMEs in Wales? Regarding occupational safety and health in general? With questions on the safe use of hazardous substances? What is the best way for improvement?