REACH Chemicals in downstream industries ECEG – EMCEF Conference, Prague 23/24 March 2006

1. REACH Chemicals in downstream industries ECEG – EMCEF Conference, Prague 23/24 March 2006

2. How to improve health and safety standards in Downstream Industries through initiatives of the Social Partners • Setting the scene • Chemical substances under attack because of widespread use and • exposure by workers in many sectors (Sacconi, Belpomme, ETUC…) • Good practice already exists in the chemical industry, triggered by • Existing legislation on Occupational Health and Safety • Social partners involved in training of workers • How can this practice be extended to other DU and industries?

3. Overview of chemical industry involvement in HSE with downstream industries

4. Overview of chemical industry involvement in HSE with downstream industries

5. Examples to illustrate BESTPRACTICEfor benchmarking purposes • A brochure will be produced to illustrate a few of the best • practices from the chemical and related industries • Circulation and training in DU industries to be organised • To be used within our advocacy work with stakeholders and • regulators in the development of REACH • Examples selected • Life Cycle Assessment and proper management of cyanide • Workplace training materials and support for solvent users • Vinyl 2010 performance-improving approach along the vinyl value chain • Employee training package called “Walk the Talk” from ISOPA • Better wellbeing for farmers

6. Cyanides Sector Group • “Guideline for Storage, Handling and Transportation of Alkali Cyanides” • Production, Product Information and Basic Chemistry - Solid and Solution • Personal Protection • Product Handling and Packaging • Storage • Loading and Unloading • Transport • Emergency Procedures • Medical Treatment of cyanide poisoning • “Mutual aid Scheme” between several companies • This manual has been prepared by the CEFIC Cyanides Sector Group. It is designed • to augment and strengthen existing national and company communication systems • when dealing with cyanides. It describes a mutual aid scheme whereby cyanide • producing companies who are members of the CEFIC Sector Group have • undertaken to respond as necessary on each other's behalf in order to ensure that • expert assistance is available as quickly as possible at the scene of a cyanide • transport emergency. Guidelines defining the methods of dealing with an incident • involving cyanides have also been produced.

7. Workplace training materials and support for SOLVENT USERS - ESIG • European Solvents Industry Group • Simplified information to 50,000 SMEs • Do’s & Don’ts Posters • Solvents at work: a guide to safe working practices • ESIG Distributor policy / ESAD II • A Memorandum of Understanding with the Federation of Chemical Distributors and Cefic, to support ESAD II, a renewed European assessment scheme for chemical Distributors • ESIG Abatement Advisor • Advice on emission control strategies • ESIG Vapour pressure tool ESIG • Calculation tool to determine whether hydrocarbon solvents are VOCs • ESIG Solvent Stewardship Awards • To promote and award Best Practices in responsible use of solvents (SME in EU 25) • ESIG Best Practice Guidelines • Three guides on exposure management • One guide on flammability

8. ISOPA – Walk the Talk • The Logistics Programme is aimed at improving EHS performance during the loading/ transportation/un-loading phases • of the transport of diisocyanates (MDI & TDI). There are three key elements: • Detailed guidelines and emergency information available in 10 languages • A driver training programme (again in 10 languages) which has been taken up by ISOPA’s 28 logistics company partners and through which about 2,500 drivers have been trained • An annual live emergency response exercise staged in different EU locations and involving local emergency services; followed by a workshop to further engage our logistics partners • Walk the Talk is a new programme, launched on 1-1-2006, aimed at improving the behavioural safety of all in the • industry in the EU25 plus CH and N through a dialogue-based approach by sales and technical services representatives • of the members. • There are some 20,000 users of diisocyanates and related chemicals in the EU • The larger users are supplied directly by ISOPA members and are active in trade associations. Many smaller users are supplied via systems houses and distributors. Some distributors buy chemicals from manufacturers based outside the EU • The smaller users struggle to provide an infrastructure which can support a safety culture • Communications to the shop floor have to be in the national languages

9. ECPA – Better wellbeing for farmers • - The European Crop Protection Association (ECPA) decided to launch an initiative destined to improve the safety conditions of millions of farmers in this area, and chose as a pilot Almeria in Spain, where the most intensive greenhouse conglomeration is found. This 3-year project was funded by the crop protection industry. • - The aim of the initiative was to address safety issues regarding label compliance, including application techniques and equipment, Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), hygiene and waste disposal. • - A baseline survey was conducted with 200 small-to-medium growers to assess ehaviours. Notable observations were taken with regard to commonly used application equipment, label use, use of PPE and container disposal.  • - Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) was researched and tested for comfort and safety, and specific recommendations were given for rain suits, gloves, boots, masks, goggles and face shields. The recommended clothing had to be comfortable, cost-effective, available in the local market, and protective in worst-case scenarios. • - A training programme was developed which incorporate a video and the specific recommendations coming from the research of equipment and PPE. • - A progress survey was conducted, and improvements were made in all 30 identified success factors. The Spanish national association will continue progressing the work done in the region to maintain maximum worker safety. • - Rollout of Safe Use Initiatives has begun in Greece, Portugal, France and Italy.

10. Way forward Generalisation of approaches Identification of voluntary initiatives across industry Extraction of best practices Communication and spread out Cross-industry chemicals management • Partners to be involved • Employers’ organisations • Trade Unions • European Commission • European Agency for Health and Safety at Work (Bilbao)