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Employment and Social Affairs Committee - 5 October 2011 Terry Woolmer

CEEMET POSITION ON THE PROPOSAL FOR A DIRECTIVE AMENDING DIRECTIVE 2004/40/EC ON ELECTROMAGNETIC FIELDS. Employment and Social Affairs Committee - 5 October 2011 Terry Woolmer. Presentation Items. Who are CEEMET? What is EMF? The Precautionary Principle Impact Assessment

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Employment and Social Affairs Committee - 5 October 2011 Terry Woolmer

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  1. CEEMET POSITION ON THE PROPOSAL FOR A DIRECTIVE AMENDING DIRECTIVE 2004/40/EC ON ELECTROMAGNETIC FIELDS Employment and Social Affairs Committee - 5 October 2011 Terry Woolmer

  2. Presentation Items • Who are CEEMET? • What is EMF? • The Precautionary Principle • Impact Assessment • Guiding principles • Unintended Consequences • Is Directive fit for purpose? CEEMET - Council of European Employers of the Metal, Engineering and Technology-based industries

  3. CEEMET • CEEMET represents the interests of employers’ organisations in the metal, engineering and technology-based (MET) industries from 22 countries • CEEMET strongly support effective management of health and safety risks to ensure worker protection. CEEMET - Council of European Employers of the Metal, Engineering and Technology-based industries

  4. What is EMF? • Electromagnetic Fields (EMFs) - a type of natural or man made non-ionising radiation created when electrical energy is used. • Everyday EMF sources include telecommunications, microwave ovens and electricity transmission and distribution. • Electric fields created by differences in voltage: Higher voltages = stronger electric fields. Electric fields exist even when there is no current flowing. • Magnetic fields created when electric current flows: Higher currents= stronger magnetic fields. • What are the effects on the Human Body? CEEMET - Council of European Employers of the Metal, Engineering and Technology-based industries

  5. The Precautionary principle • Precautionary Principle? • Health and Safety Framework Directive 89/391/EEC already regulates EMF CEEMET - Council of European Employers of the Metal, Engineering and Technology-based industries

  6. Impact Assessment Deficiencies • Failure to identify, quantify or monetize Health and Safety benefits • Costs based on different requirements and action levels • Vailidity of original cost projections • Number of businesses affected CEEMET - Council of European Employers of the Metal, Engineering and Technology-based industries

  7. Guiding principles developed by the tripartite working group • Coverage of all sectors • Clear definition of adverse health effects • Inclusion of Limit values • Use of Zoning • Simplification of Risk Assessment • Flexibility in a controlled environment • Medical Surveillance CEEMET - Council of European Employers of the Metal, Engineering and Technology-based industries

  8. Unintended Consequences • Action values and exposure limit values are likely to be exceeded for common manufacturing processes: • Midfrequency pulsed resistance welding • Midfrequency pulsed arc welding • High power single phase resistance welding • Other? • Incorrect action values for hand exposures CEEMET - Council of European Employers of the Metal, Engineering and Technology-based industries

  9. Is Directive Fit for Purpose? - what criteria should the Employment and Social Affairs Committee consider? • Have the working group met its guiding principles? • Status of theRegulatory Impact assessment? • Does Harm Exist? • Can employers apply the Directive? • Does it prevent unintended consequences? CEEMET - Council of European Employers of the Metal, Engineering and Technology-based industries

  10. Thank you for your attention For further information: www.ceemet.org Terry Woolmer

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