Health and security at work: protection of workers from the exposure to carcinogens (amend. Directive 90/394/EEC)
1998/0093(SYN)
Adopting the report by Mr Quinidio Correia (PES, P) on the protection of workers from the risks
related to exposure to carcinogens at work, Parliament considers it highly probable that dust from
other types of hardwood can also cause cancer. The precautionary principle should therefore be
applied to protect workers and consequently, the directive should cover dust from all types of
hardwood. For this reason, Parliament proposes that the limit value of 5.0 mg/m3 advocated by the
directive apply to all hardwood dusts (including mixtures of different hardwoods). Parliament calls
for further research into the carcinogenic properties of other wood dusts. On the basis of scientific
data, the Commission could present, within five years of this directive, a proposal to adopt revised
limit values for vinyl chloride monomer and wood dust. The directive is to come into force within
three years of its adoption. To safeguard employment, the provisions related to wood dusts will apply
to existing places of work only after a transitional period. In order to avoid any misunderstanding as
to the purpose of the directive, Parliament points out that implementation does not aim to restrict the
processing of hardwoods by craft workers or the use of such materials or to replace them by other
types of wood. The purpose is solely to provide effective protection for workers against the risks of
developing cancer as a result of exposure to wood dust at work, as it is known that the risk of
developing cancer is related to exposure of wood dust and not wood itself.
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