Asbestos hearing European Parliament 18 September 2012

1. Asbestos hearing European Parliament 18 September 2012 Dr. Christa Sedlatschek Director

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 campaignFacts 31 – Asbestos in construction in 20 languages • 2010-11 Maintenance campaignE-fact 48: Safe maintenance – asbestos in building maintenance • EFBWW and EBC campaign partners • EU-OSHA supported the SLIC campaign, see http://osha.europa.eu/en/campaigns/asbestos

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. EU Senior Labour Inspector s Committee´s campaign 2006 • 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: http://osha.europa.eu/en/campaigns/asbestos

8. Healthy Workplaces Campaign 2012-13“Working together for risk prevention”

9. Further information • Visit the campaign website • www.healthy-workplaces.eu • To find out about events and activities in your country, contact your national focal point • www.healthy-workplaces.eu/fops