Brussels, 29/06/2001 (Agence Europe) - The EU Council of Ministers formally adopted June 25 a common position on the draft directive which sets minimum health and safety conditions for employees exposed to the dangers caused by mechanical vibrations, which are today the primary source of professional illnesses. Once adopted the directive will apply to cases of vibrations transmitted to the hands and arms, especially leading to vascular problems, osteo-articular lesions or neurological or muscular problems, as well as vibrations transmitted throughout the body, in particular those which might lead to lumbago and trauma to the spinal column. Limit values of daily exposure to vibrations are also envisaged: to take account of the technical difficulties in implementing the proposal, especially in SMEs, the proposal foresees a transitional period of 6 years for these limit values to be applied.
This period is cut to 3 years when brand new equipment is installed and may be extended to 9 years for equipment in the farming and silvicultural sectors. Member States will have the option of exempting themselves from implementing the limit value only for maritime navigation and air sectors.