Why Asbestos Regulations Must Change to Protect European Workers

10 Jul 2023

In line with the EU's climate change targets, some 35 million buildings are set to be renovated in the next seven years. The net result of this will be the risk of many, many more workers becoming exposed to potentially deadly asbestos in the coming years.

Just a single exposure to airborne fibres can lead to deadly consequences decades later in the form of cancers like mesothelioma. At present, the current tolerance levels for asbestos surveys are seen by some as too high, with the European Commission proposing a 10-fold reduction in the professional exposure limit. 

"There's No Totally Safe Level of Exposure"

Speaking on the matter, Interim Director of the European Agency for Safety & Heath at Work, William Cockburn, had this to say, "Asbestos fibres are carcinogenic, and as such, there is no totally safe level of exposure. The more fibres are breathed in, the greater the risk of developing an illness. The legislation actually obliges employers to reduce the level of exposure to the lowest possible technical level.

So the exposure limit is not an acceptable limit. It is actually an upper threshold. By putting in place a limit that is ten times stricter, we should anticipate quite increased levels of protection for European workers, but that needs to go together with awareness raising, with guidance and tools, and with proper procedures and strategies."

Training is Fundamental to the Right Approach

Keeping workers safe from the dangers of asbestos requires an immense amount of technical know-how with specific high-performance asbestos monitoring equipment. In order to reach a point where the tolerances for asbestos fibres are as low as is proposed, it will take time, new technologies and lots more training. 

Training makes workers more aware of risks and how to properly protect themselves and companies have a responsibility to keep people safe. With 80 people per year in Ireland dying from preventable asbestos-related lung cancers, there's still much work that needs to be done.

Continuing to Help Support Irish Businesses Stay Safe From Asbestos

At OHSS, we offer a range of asbestos consultation and occupational hygiene services to businesses across Ireland. We also offer asbestos awareness training that can give your employees the knowledge they need to identify the deadly material and take the appropriate action when it's suspected. 

To find out more, visit us online at www.ohss.ie or to speak to a member of our expert team, call 01 6905907 and we’ll be glad to give you the guidance you need.

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