PURPOSE: to align certain provisions of five Directives that aim to protect workers’ health and safety with Regulation (EC) No. 1272/2008 on classification, labelling and packaging of substances and mixtures (CLP Regulation.)
LEGISLATIVE ACT: Directive 2014/27/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council amending Council Directives 92/58/EEC, 92/85/EEC, 94/33/EC, 98/24/EC and Directive 2004/37/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council, in order to align them to Regulation (EC) No 1272/2008 on classification, labelling and packaging of substances and mixtures
CONTENT: the aim of the Directive is to update five Directives on health and safety at work in order to bring them into line with the new system of classification and labelling of substances and mixtures in the Union:
· Council Directive 92/58/EEC (provision of safety and/or health signs);
· Council Directive 92/85/EEC (safety of pregnant workers and workers who have recently given birth or are breastfeeding)
· Council Directive 94/33/EC (protection of young people at work);
· Council Directive 98/24/EC (protection of the health and safety of workers from the risks related to chemical agents at work);
· Directive 2004/37/EC (protection of workers from the risks related to exposure to carcinogens or mutagens at work).
These amended Directives contain references to the previous classification and labelling system and needed to be amended in order to align them to Regulation (EC) No 1272/2008. That Regulation established a new classification and labelling system for substances and mixtures in the Union, based on the United Nations Globally Harmonised System of Classification and Labelling of Chemicals (GHS) at international level, within the framework of the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe.
The aim of this Directive is not to change the scope of those Directives. This Directive intends to maintain and not reduce the level of protection of workers that is provided by those Directives.
However, in view of on-going technological progress, those Directives should be subject to periodic review in order to ensure the coherence of legislation and an appropriate level of health and safety protection when hazardous chemical substances and mixtures are present in the working environment. Particular attention should be paid to employees within professions where there is frequent contact with hazardous substances and mixtures.
ENTRY INTO FORCE: 25/03/2014.
TRANSPOSITION: 01/06/2015.