Activities of Cindy FRANSSEN related to 2019/2182(INL)
Plenary speeches (1)
Protecting workers from asbestos (debate)
Shadow reports (1)
REPORT with recommendations to the Commission on protecting workers from asbestos
Amendments (20)
Amendment 1 #
Draft opinion
Recital 1 a (new)
Recital 1 a (new)
1a. whereas a financial framework, based on the use of Union Structural and Investment Funds, should be established to support building owners and linking the removal of asbestos to other public policies and programmes (such as energy efficiency, improvements of the living environment and social housing) for reasons of efficiency and the use of synergies;
Amendment 20 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 2
Paragraph 2
2. Stresses the existence of different types of non-occupational exposure to asbestos, whether of para-occupational, domestic or environmental origin; in that regard, calls on the Commission to update, no later than 31 December 2022, the Asbestos at Work Directive1a with a view to amending the existing binding occupational exposure limit value (OEL) for asbestos, taking into account the latest scientific knowledge and technical developments, including an evaluation of different types of asbestos fibres and their adverse health effects, as well as to start the process for updating the list of fibroussilicates within the scope of the directive and in this context consider the inclusion of actinolite, anthophyllite, tremolite, grunerite and riebeckite as well as winchite, richterite, fluoro-edenite, and erionite, as well as an assessment of a differentiated limit value for different types of asbestos fibres; __________________ 1a Directive 2009/148/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 30 November 2009 on the protection of workers from the risks related to exposure to asbestos at work (OJ L 330, 16.12.2009, p. 28–36)
Amendment 56 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 5
Paragraph 5
5. Calls on the Commission to set out a European strategy for the complete elimination of asbestos; calls on all Member States to adopt national action plans to implement that strategy; considers that the Commission should coordinate the national action plans, in particular through the adoption of a framework directive on this matter; underlines in this context the need for a coherent methodology for risk assessment to ensure a Union level playing field and to avoid fragmentation of the single market;
Amendment 66 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 7
Paragraph 7
7. Stresses that unsafe working conditions for workers may expose society as a whole to risks of asbestos exposure, in particular the families of the workers concerned; therefore calls on the Member States to improve the number, frequency, and quality of their inspections. The EU and the Member States should go well beyond the International Labour Organisation’s (ILO) minimum objective of one inspector for every 10 000 workers;
Amendment 68 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 7
Paragraph 7
7. Stresses that unsafe working conditions for workers may expose society as a whole to risks of asbestos exposure, in particular the families of the workers concerned; In case of a fire, all existing information regarding the presence and location of asbestos should be shared with firefighters;
Amendment 71 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3 f (new)
Paragraph 3 f (new)
3f. Calls on the Member States to improve the number, frequency, and quality of the inspections; takes the view that the EU and the Member States should go well beyond the International Labour Organisation’s minimum objective of one inspector for every 10,000 workers;
Amendment 83 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 9 a (new)
Paragraph 9 a (new)
9a. Highlights the importance of ensuring sufficient and focused support to employers in transposing these protective measures, in particular SMEs and micro- enterprises, in order to avoid non- compliance; recalls the importance of adequate financial support from relevant existing EU funds to ensure proper support and to encourage correct and safe removal of any asbestos detected;
Amendment 90 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9
Paragraph 9
9. Calls on the Commission to update Directive 2009/148/EC with the purpose of clarifying that all varieties of asbestos are carcinogenic, andview to amend the existing binding occupational exposure limit value (OEL) for asbestos taking into account the latest scientific knowledge and technical developments, including an evaluation of different types of asbestos fibres and their adverse health effects, as well as to start the process for updating the list of fibrous silicates within the scope of the Directive by verifyingand, in this context, consider the inclusion of actinolite, anthophyllite, tremolite, grunerite and riebeckite as well as winchite, richterite, fluoro-edenite, and erionite, as well as an assessment of a differentiated limit value for different types of asbestos fibres;
Amendment 95 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12
Paragraph 12
12. Recalls the fundamental legal principle of health and safety at work that the state of the art in technology must always be applied to achieve the highest possible level of protection; calls for the strengthening of technical minimum requirements to lower the concentration of asbestos fibres in the air to the lowest level which is technically possible, including through dust suppression and the suction of dust at the source, continuous sedimentation, and means of decontamination; calls for minimum requirements for the pressure difference between asbestos enclosures and surroundings, fresh air supply and HEPA filters, ensuring sufficient and focused support to employers in transposing these protective measures, in particular SMEs and micro-enterprises, in order to avoid non-compliance;
Amendment 101 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13
Paragraph 13
13. Notes that the current Union minimum standard for the asbestos OELV is 100 000 fibres per m3 (0,1 fibres/cm3); highlights that some Member States apply much lower OELVs to protect the health of workers, for example an OELV of 2 000 fibres/m3 (0,002) in the Netherlands;, whereas most Member States apply the EU minimum OELV of 0,1 fibres/cm3, and some even above the minimum standard1a; __________________ 1aECHA Scientific report for evaluation of limit values for asbestos at the workplace, 1 February 2021, p. 16.
Amendment 105 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14
Paragraph 14
14. Underlines that leading medical researchers from the International Commission of Occupational Health (ICOH) conclude that exposure limits do not protect properly against cancer and propose an occupational limit value of 1 000 fibres/m3 (0,001 fibres/cm3); calls for an updated exposure limit to be set at 0,001 fibres/cm3 (1 000 fibres/m3)suggests that no later than 31 December 2022, the Commission presents a legislative proposal, taking into account the existing recommendations from different stakeholders and after consulting the Advisory Committee for Safety and Health at Work;
Amendment 109 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15
Paragraph 15
15. Emphasises that employers, but also main contractors, contracting authorities, and owners commissioning work should be required to carry out an asbestos diagnosis before the start of any work in buildings, ships, aircraft, on equipment, or products; underlines in this context the need for a coherent methodology for risk assessment to ensure a Union level playing field and avoid the fragmentation of the single market;
Amendment 146 #
Motion for a resolution
Annex I – paragraph 1 – point 3
Annex I – paragraph 1 – point 3
(3) A financial framework, including the possible use of Union fbased on the use of Union Structural and Investment Funds, for the support of building owners and linking the removal of asbestos to other public policies and programmes (such as energy efficiency, improvements of the living environment, social housing) for reasons of efficiency and the use of synergies;
Amendment 151 #
Motion for a resolution
Annex I – paragraph 1 – point 4 – point a
Annex I – paragraph 1 – point 4 – point a
(a) accessibility for workers and companies working in a building or infrastructure, owners, inhabitants, firefighters and users;
Amendment 160 #
Motion for a resolution
Annex II – paragraph 1 – point 2 – point b – paragraph 2 – point e
Annex II – paragraph 1 – point 2 – point b – paragraph 2 – point e
(e) the starting date and, duration of the work and planned working hours;
Amendment 170 #
Motion for a resolution
Annex II – paragraph 1 – point 9 – paragraph 1
Annex II – paragraph 1 – point 9 – paragraph 1
In the case of certain activities such as demolition or asbestos removal work, in respect of which it is foreseeable that the limit value set out in Article 8 will be exceeded despite the use of all possible technical preventive measures for limiting asbestos in air concentrations, the employer shall determine the measures intended to ensure protection of the workers while they are engaged in such activities, in particular the following:
Amendment 173 #
Motion for a resolution
Annex II – paragraph 1 – point 12 – paragraph 1
Annex II – paragraph 1 – point 12 – paragraph 1
1. Undertakings which intend to carry out demolition or asbestos removal work shall be required to obtain before the start of work a renewable permit from the competent authority. Competent authorities may grant such permits if the applicant undertaking offers proof of adequate state of the art technical equipment for emission-free or, where this is not technically possible yet, low- emission work procedures in line with the requirements of Article 6, and training certificates for their individual workers in accordance with Article 14 and Annex 1a.
Amendment 175 #
Motion for a resolution
Annex II – paragraph 1 – point 13 – paragraph 1 – point ca
Annex II – paragraph 1 – point 13 – paragraph 1 – point ca
(ca) regular compulsory breaks and with sufficient time for regeneration for must be foreseen for workers wearing strenuous respiratory equipment;
Amendment 181 #
Motion for a resolution
Annex II – paragraph 1 – point 17 b (new)
Annex II – paragraph 1 – point 17 b (new)
17b. Article 21b is inserted: ‘Article 21b In case of a fire, all existing information regarding the presence and location of asbestos shall be shared with firefighters.’
Amendment 202 #
Motion for a resolution
Annex V – paragraph 1 – point 3
Annex V – paragraph 1 – point 3
(3) the result of the screening should be reported to a competent national body (a one-stop shop), which should issue a certificate, keep a national registry of the certificates, and give advice to owners about applicable laws and regulation, the correct and safe removal of asbestos detected, and financial support available from relevant existing EU funds;