Protecting workers’ health: new rules for exposure to lead and diisocyanates
- Rules for exposure to lead updated for the first time in 40 years
- First time ever limit values for diisocyanates
- Better protecting female workers at childbearing age
The new rules will better protect workers’ health by lowering limit values for lead and diisocyanates.
Negotiators from Parliament and Council reached a provisional agreement on Tuesday on the directive as regards the limit values for lead and its inorganic compounds and diisocyanates.
Limit values for lead
Limit values for lead will be regulated for the first time in 40 years. The directive limits the occupational exposure limit to 0.03 mg/m3 and the biological limit value to 15 µg/100 ml.
Regarding the biological limit value, the directive foresees a transition period of three years, on top of the two-year transposition period, during which the limit will be set at 30 µg/100 ml. After this three-year transition period, the biological limit value will be lowered to 15 µg/100 ml.
Historical exposure to lead
Some workers have been occupationally exposed to lead over several years and have therefore accumulated blood-lead levels well above any new limit value. To better protect the health of these workers, medical surveillance will have to be carried out regularly for workers exposed to certain levels of lead and its inorganic compounds.
Protecting female workers
Exposure to lead can affect sexual function and fertility for both men and women. The new rules update the existing rules from 1982 to limit exposure to lead. The European Commission will have to revise these rules within five years to better protect female workers at childbearing age.
Limit values for diisocyanates
Limit values for diisocyanates will be regulated for the first time ever, as there are currently no limit values at EU level. The overall occupational limit value for diisocyanates will be set at 6µg NCO/m3 (the maximum concentration that a worker can be exposed to during an eight hour working day) and at 12µg NCO/m3 for short-term exposure (i.e. for a period of 15 minutes). The European Commission will review these limits by 2029.
Quote
Rapporteur Nikolaj Villumsen (The Left, DK), said: “We have secured rules that will protect millions of workers across the EU. This is the case for both lead and the until now unregulated and harmful diisocyanates. At the same time, we are expanding the framework for future occupational health and safety legislation in the EU so that it better corresponds to the reality in the workplace. More than four million industrial and construction workers can now look forward to limit values and better protection against something we have known for years is harming their health.”
Next steps
Both the Parliament and the Council will have to formally adopt today’s provisional agreement.
Contacts:
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Arianne SIKKEN
Press Officer