The Committee unanimously adopted a report (cooperation procedure, second reading) by Mrs. Outi OJALA (EUL-NGL, FIN) on the protection of workers from the risks related to exposure to carcinogens at work. Because the Council adopted only a few of the amendments tabled by the parliament on the first reading, the committee decided to retable ten original amendments.
The committee considered the proposal as representing real progress in the field of health and safety of workers as it extends the scope of the directive. Among other things, it includes a limit value for benzene. The committee was disappointed, however, by the fact that the Council rejected the idea of speeding up the entry into force of the limit value. Instead, Council's decision may postpone it by as much as six years. Council's common position makes no reference to biological limit values nor measuring procedures.
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