On Tuesday 31 January, the European Commission proposed new indicative exposure limits to hazardous chemicals in the workplace such as Amitrole and glycerol. This was made by way of a legislative proposal updating the 1998 directive on protection of workers’ health and safety (directive 98/24/EC).
In practice, the new text introduces 25 new maximum limits and updates six value limits already defined in European legislation. These limits apply over an exposure reference period (8 hours, 15 minutes). In a press release, the Commission explains that these involve “reference points” for maximum exposure levels to these products authorised in the workplace. On this basis, the member states will have to adopt their respective national limits for which they have a certain margin for manoeuvre.
The indicative limits were set out with the assistance of 21 experts from the Scientific Committee on Occupational Exposure Limits (SCOEL), after consultation with the advisory committee for health and safety in the workplace (CCSS) made up of representatives from the member states and social partners.
The Commission directive will be published on 1 February in the EU Official Journal.
At the beginning of January, the Commission advocated exposure value limits for seven other cancer causing chemical products (see EUROPE 11700). This measure was intended to complete a first raft of measures presented in May 2016 (see EUROPE 11551). (Original version in French by Sophie Petitjean)