UE: miglioramento della protezione dei lavoratori dalle sostanze chimiche pericolose

La presidenza del Consiglio e il Parlamento europeo hanno raggiunto un accordo provvisorio per aggiornare la direttiva sugli agenti cancerogeni e mutageni, una normativa dell'UE che protegge i lavoratori dai rischi derivanti dall'esposizione a sostanze cancerogene e mutagene.

Ai sensi dell'accordo, i lavoratori beneficeranno di una maggiore protezione grazie alla fissazione di limiti di esposizione per l'acrilonitrile e i composti del nichel e all'abbassamento dei limiti per il benzene. Il Consiglio e il Parlamento hanno inoltre convenuto di estendere l'ambito di applicazione della direttiva alle sostanze reprotossiche, sostanze chimiche che possono interferire con il sistema riproduttivo umano.

Si tratta di un altro passo avanti dell'UE per proteggere i lavoratori dalle sostanze che possono provocare il cancro o altre malattie. Secondo le stime, queste nuove norme ridurranno l'esposizione di un milione di lavoratori alle sostanze chimiche cancerogene.

Janez Cigler Kralj, ministro sloveno del Lavoro, della famiglia, degli affari sociali e delle pari opportunità Sostanze reprotossiche Nell'ambito dell'accordo tra il Consiglio e il Parlamento, d'ora in poi le sostanze reprotossiche saranno disciplinate dalla direttiva sugli agenti cancerogeni e mutageni (che sarà ribattezzata direttiva sulle sostanze cancerogene, mutagene e reprotossiche). Di conseguenza i valori limite per le 12 sostanze reprotossiche attualmente oggetto di un'altra normativa UE saranno trasferiti nella direttiva più rigorosa sugli agenti cancerogeni e mutageni.

Farmaci pericolosi I farmaci pericolosi sono medicinali che possono comportare rischi per la salute degli operatori sanitari che li manipolano e li somministrano ai loro pazienti. Il Consiglio e il Parlamento europeo desiderano che gli operatori che trattano medicinali cancerogeni, mutageni o reprotossici ricevano una migliore formazione su come maneggiarli in modo sicuro. Invitano inoltre la Commissione a formulare orientamenti in materia di formazione, sorveglianza e controllo.

Prossime tappe Nel settembre 2020 la Commissione europea ha proposto un quarto aggiornamento della direttiva sugli agenti cancerogeni e mutageni. Il Consiglio ha definito la sua posizione il 25 novembre 2020. L'accordo provvisorio raggiunto oggi sarà ora esaminato dal Comitato dei rappresentanti permanenti del Consiglio, che dovrà approvarlo. Il voto formale in seno al Consiglio e al Parlamento europeo seguirà in una fase successiva.

Contesto Secondo i dati della Commissione, oltre un milione di lavoratori è esposto all'acrilonitrile, ai composti del nichel e al benzene e nell'Unione europea ogni anno il 52% dei decessi legati a un'attività professionale è dovuto al cancro.

Direttiva sugli agenti cancerogeni e mutageni durante il lavoro (Agenzia europea per la sicurezza e la salute sul lavoro - in lingua inglese ) - leggi di seguito o visita la pagina a questo link https://osha.europa.eu/it/legislation/directive/directive-200437ec-carcinogens-or-mutagens-work

Directive 2004/37/EC - carcinogens or mutagens at work of 29 April 2004 on the protection of workers from the risks related to exposure to carcinogens or mutagens at work (Sixth individual Directive within the meaning of Article 16(1) Directive 89/391/EEC).

Note: This Directive replaces Directive 90/394/EEC and its subsequent amendments (Directive 97/42/EC and Directive 1999/38/EC).

Objectives

This Directive covers the protection of workers from health and safety risks from exposure to carcinogens or mutagens at work. This Directive does not apply to workers exposed to radiation for cases covered by the Euratom Treaty.

Definitions

Definition of ”limit value”, ”carcinogen” and ”mutagen”. Reference is made to Regulation (EC) No 1272/2008 .

Contents

The employer shall assess and manage the risk of exposure to carcinogens or mutagens. This process shall be renewed regularly and data shall be supplied to the authorities upon request. Special attention should be paid to investigate and take account of all possible ways of exposure (including all skin-related possibilities), and to persons at particular risk.

Workers' exposure must be prevented. If replacement is not possible, the employer shall use a closed technological system. The employer shall reduce the use of carcinogens or mutagens by replacing them with a substance that is not dangerous or less dangerous.

Where a closed system is not technically possible, the employer shall reduce exposure to the minimum.

Exposure shall not exceed the limit value of a carcinogen, as set out in Annex III.

Wherever a carcinogen or mutagen is used, the employer shall:

Limit the quantities of these carcinogens or mutagens at the place of work; Keep the number of workers exposed as low as possible; Design the work processes so as to minimise the substance release; Evacuate carcinogens or mutagens at source, also respecting the environment; Use appropriate measurement procedures (especially for early detection of abnormal exposures in the event of unforeseeable events or accidents); Apply suitable working procedures and methods; Use individual protection measures if collective protection measures are not enough; Provide the necessary hygiene measures (regular cleaning); Keep workers informed about related issues; Demarcate risk areas and use adequate warning and safety signs (including ”No smoking” signs); Draw up emergency plans; Use sealed and clearly/visibly labelled containers for storage, handling, transportation and waste disposal. Employers shall make certain information available to the competent authority upon request (activities, quantities, exposures, number of exposed workers, preventive measures) and inform workers if abnormal exposure has happened.

In cases of abnormal exposure or incident, only workers essential for repairs shall be permitted to work in the affected area, and only with appropriate protection. The exposure should not be permanent and shall be minimised.

If a temporary, planned, higher exposure is unavoidable (e.g. as part of maintenance), the employer/management shall consult workers/representatives on the measures which will be taken to minimise exposure, and provide appropriate prevention, together with access control.

If there is a risk to workers, specified areas shall be made accessible solely to workers who, by reason of their work or duties, are required to enter them.

The employer shall take adequate measures to ensure proper hygiene (minimising the risk of contamination with carcinogens/mutagens). Provisions and conditions must be free of charge for the workers, and will include:

The prohibition of eating/drinking/smoking in contamination risk areas Provision of appropriate protective clothing Provision of separate storage places for working/protective clothing and for street clothes Acces to appropriate and adequate washing and toilet facilities Availability of cleaned, checked and maintained protective equipment, stored in a well-defined place. The employer shall also provide appropriate training on potential risks to health, precautions to prevent exposure, hygiene requirements, protective equipment, clothing and incidents handlings.

Employers shall inform workers about objects on site containing carcinogens or mutagens, and label them clearly and legibly, together with warning and hazard signs. Employers shall inform workers and/or representatives about abnormal exposure incidents as quickly as possible.

Workers and/or any workers' representatives shall control and be involved in the application of this Directive.

Employer will keep an up-to-date list of workers exposed, and will give specified access to data to authorized persons (doctor, authorities, workers and representatives).

Consultation and participation of workers shall take place in accordance with Directive 89/391/EEC .

Social Partners' agreements shall be listed on the EU-OSHA website.

The Member States shall establish arrangements for health surveillance of workers if there is a risk to their health and safety (prior to exposure, at regular intervals thereafter; and even after the end of exposure - if this is requested by the responsible doctor/authority). If a worker is suspected of suffering ill-health due to exposure, then the subsequent health surveillance of other exposed workers may be required, and the risk shall be reassessed. Individual medical records of health surveillance shall be kept.

Information and advice must be given to workers regarding any health surveillance that they may undergo following the end of exposure. Workers shall have access to the results of the health surveillance that concern them. Workers concerned, or the employer, may request a review of the results of the health surveillance. All cases of occupational cancers shall be notified to the competent authority. Records shall be kept for at least 40 years following the end of exposure, and transferred to the authority concerned if the firm ceases to exist. The Commission is empowered to adopt delegated acts to make strictly technical amendments to Annex II (health surveillance).

Member States have to comply with the 2017 amendments by 17 January 2020. Transitional measures (graded lowering of the limit values) apply to hardwood dusts and Chromium (VI).

Member States have to comply with the early 2019 amendments by 21 February 2021. Special deadlines apply to Diesel engine exhaust emissions: the limit value of 0,05 mg/m3 measured as elemental carbon may, should be reached after additional transitional periods (in addition to the transposition period) of 2 years respectively of 5 years for the sectors of underground mining and tunnel construction.

Member States have to comply with the mid-2019 amendments by 11th July 2021. Transitional higher limit values for cadmium and beryllium shall apply until 11th July 2027. For the copper smelting sector, the limit value for arsenic shall apply only from 11th July 2023. A transitional higher limit value for formaldehyde shall apply in the health care, funeral and embalming sectors until 11th July 2024.

Annexes

ANNEX I: List of substances, mixtures and processes

Manufacture of auramine. Work involving exposure to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons present in coal soot, coal tar or coal pitch. Work involving exposure to dusts, fumes and sprays produced during the roasting and electro-refining of cupro-nickel mattes. Strong acid process in the manufacture of isopropyl alcohol. Work involving exposure to hardwood dusts. Work involving exposure to respirable silica dust generated by a work process Work involving dermal exposure to mineral oils that have been used before in internal combustion engines to lubricate and cool the moving parts within the engine. Work involving exposure to diesel engine exhaust emissions. ANNEX II: Practical recommendations for the health surveillance of workers

ANNEX III: Limit values and other directly related provisions

In 2017 binding limit values and skin notations were reviewed/set for the following agents ("1st step"):

Hardwood dusts Chromium (VI) compounds Refractory ceramic fibres Respirable crystalline silica dust Benzene Vinyl chloride monomer Ethylene oxide 1,2-Epoxypropane Acrylamide 2-Nitropropane o-Toluidine 1,3-Butadiene Hydrazine Bromoethylene In early 2019 binding limit values and skin notations were reviewed/set for the following agents ("2nd step"):

Trichloroethylene 4,4′-Methylenedianiline Epichlorohydrine Ethylene dibromide Ethylene dichloride Diesel engine exhaust emissions Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons mixtures, particularly those containing benzo[a]pyrene, which are carcinogens within the meaning of this Directive Mineral oils that have been used before in internal combustion engines to lubricate and cool the moving parts within the engine In mid-2019 limit values, skin and sensitisation notations were set for the following agents ("3rd step"):

Cadmium and its inorganic compounds Beryllium and inorganic beryllium compounds Arsenic acid and its salts, as well as inorganic arsenic compounds Formaldehyde 4,4′-Methylene-bis (2-chloroaniline) - MOCA ANNEX IV: Repealed Directive and its successive amendments

ANNEX V: Correlation table