EC publishes best practice guide to prevent or minimise exposure to asbestos
"Asbestos is deadly serious! Prevent exposure!" is the slogan of the 2006 European Asbestos Campaign launched by the European Commission. This is linked to the recent introduction of legislation banning the extraction of asbestos and the manufacture or processing of asbestos products. Further exposure to asbestos fibres in primary manufacturing is therefore prohibited. However, the problem of exposure to asbestos in the course of removal, demolition, servicing and maintenance activities remains.
As part of the campaign, a best practice guide to prevent or minimise exposure to asbestos has been prepared by IOM expert consultants on behalf of the Senior Labour Inspectors’ Committee (SLIC), in consultation with a SLIC working group that involved employers' and employees' representatives from the European Commission's Advisory Committee for Safety and Health. The guide is available (in English and in 19 other European languages) at:
http://ec.europa.eu/employment_social/health_safety/asbestos_en.htm.
IOM is delighted to have been associated with this step towards protecting workers throughout Europe from exposure to asbestos.