Insert your logo Prevention of Respirable Crystalline Silica

Insert your logo Prevention of Respirable Crystalline Silica at the workplace Social Dialogue

Crystalline Silica in Foundries Insert your logo Ø Crystalline silica is ubiquitous Ø Crystalline silica is the base material of cores and moulds Ø Crystalline silica flour is the base material of refractory materials Ø Where there is crystalline silica, there is often also respirable crystalline silica

Insert your logo Definition of Respirable Crystalline Silica Dust (RCS) Matter % alveolar fraction (A) thoracic fraction respirable fraction (R) Aerodynamic diameter (µm)

RCS at workplaces in foundries Insert your logo Red line: Current limit value in A and inofficial limit value in D: 0. 15 mg/m 3 Grey line: Suggestion from SCOEL for EU: < 0. 05 mg/m 3 Insert a chart that informs about the measured values in your country The blue curve reflects the 90%-value in mg/m 3 (Main association of commercial Employers' Liability Insurance Association)

European limit values for crystalline silica Insert your logo (1) Other limits are applied for dust containing quartz (2) Since 1 October 2006 (3) No OELs for crystalline silica since 2005, instead there is a workers health protection system.

Insert your logo IARC 1 Classification 1997 Ø Crystalline silica inhaled in the form of quartz or cristobalite from occupational sources is carcinogenic to humans, group 1 Ø In making the overall evaluation, the Working Group noted that carcinogenicity was not detected in all industrial circumstances studied 2 1: IARC: International Agency for Research on Cancer, Lyon 2: IARC Monographs 68, “Silica, silicates, dusts and organic dusts” (1997)

Insert your logo SCOEL 1 Statement 2003 Ø The main effect in humans of the inhalation of respirable silica dust is silicosis. There is sufficient information to conclude that the relative risk of lung cancer is increased in persons with silicosis. Ø Therefore preventing the onset of silicosis will also reduce the cancer risk. Since a clear threshold for silicosis development cannot be identified, any reduction of exposure will reduce the risk of silicosis. Ø It arises that an OEL should lie below 0. 05 mg/m 3. 1: SCOEL: European Commission DG EMPL, Scientific Committee for Occupational Exposure Limits

New cases of silicosis excl. coal workers Belgium: Fonds des Maladies Professionnelles France: Statistiques Financières et Technologiques des Accidents du Travail, CNAM UK: Health & Safety Statistics, HSE Germany: Berufgenossenschaften Statistiken Insert your logo

Insert your logo Consequences of an EU classification Ø Substitution Ø Use in closed systems whenever technically possible (Minimisation down to zero) Ø Labeling as carcinogen Appropriate reply: Ø Environmental regulatory concerns (e. g. Action emissions, waste, not etc. )legislation Ø Critical public attention Ø OEL: below 0, 05 mg Ø Not feasible in most foundry shops

Insert your logo What is a Social Dialogue? Ø Agreement between social partners on EU level Ø Ø Ø Ø Ø Social Dialogue Agreement (SDA) instead of legal regulations Preparation of „Good Practices Documents“ Employers strive for implementation Monitoring in companies (employer/employee) Several industries concerned Formalised procedure of the EU-Treaty Strong support through the EU Commission!! Signature on April 25, 2006 Entry into force October 25, 2006

Social Dialogue on crystalline silica in the EU – Panels at the negotiations Insert your logo Ne. PSi Office Employers CAEF DGV GDM VDG Negotiation Platform on Silica (Ne. PSi) Plenary CEEMET Gesamtmetall Steering. Working Group: Rules etc. Technical Working Group: Measures etc. Employees EMF IG-Metall

Insert your logo Agreement text Ø Objectives Ø Health protection of employees Ø Minimisation of exposure through application of Good Practices (no European limit values) Ø Increase of knowledge Ø „Non application“: Ø Non compliance with the treaty and the Good Practices that leads to an increased exposure and thereby to health risks Ø Principles Ø Increase of knowledge, necessity of a strategy of prevention Ø Silica is indispensable for many industrial processes

Insert your logo Agreement text (2) Ø Good Practices Ø Obligation to comply with described technical solutions or comparable effective protective measures Ø Documentation within the scope of a risk assessment (that needs to be created anyway) Ø Monitoring and Reporting Ø Double verification principle for monitoring the Good Practices Ø Monitoring format considerably adapted and easy to handle Ø Time and effort for monitoring within reason (0. 5 to 2 days every 2 years) Ø Implementation and updating may require extra time, depending on the status of the respective occupational safety and health organization Ø Monitoring is added value from point of view of the workers‘ unions

Insert your logo Annex 3 Reporting In foundries the employer has to prepare a report every 2 years in coordination with the employees’ representative on the situation regarding crystalline silica dust, there are the following tasks: Number of … • employees exposed to crystalline silica • employees included in risk management • employees included in health monitoring • employees trained and informed on crystalline silica • technical occupational health and safety measures Just yes/no • organisational occupational health and safety measures no figures • personal protective measures • Free area for your comments

Insert your logo Agreement text (3) Ø Training of employees Ø Establishment of a council as single institution to supervise implementation and interpretation of the agreement Ø Equal representation, consensual decisions aspired Ø In repeated cases of unjustified non-application of the Good Practices by a company: Resolution on „appropriate measures“ Ø Reimbursement through European Union Ø Confidentiality stipulation Ø Duration Ø Right for termination at any time at one-year period Ø If EU law is suggested regarding crystalline silica, parties convene to consult consequences Ø Entry into force Ø Since October 2006

Insert your logo More on the Social Dialogue Ø Negotiations have been concluded with a result that has been accepted by all negotiating parties Ø Concrete occupational health and safety measures have been agreed upon Ø The agreed health and safety measures as well as their monitoring and reporting are demanding Ø The agreements (especially the Good Practices) are geared to circumstances in modern central. European foundries

Insert your logo Good Practice Guide on Workers’ Health Protection through the Good Handling and Use of Crystalline Silica and Products containing it

Insert your logo Annex 1: Good Practices Part 1: Respirable crystalline silica essentials 1. Introduction 1. 1 What is silica? 1. 2 Respirable crystalline silica 1. 3 Occupational exposure to respirable crystalline silica 2. Silica and the silica industry 2. 1 Where silica occurs 3. Respirable crystalline silica and its health effects 4. Risk Management – What do I need to do? Annex 1: Table of Occupational Exposure Limit Values 2 Annex 2: Tables of processes generating fine particles Part 2: Task Manual 56 Task Guidance Sheets, of which 28 are of relevance for foundries

Insert your logo Annex 1 Risk Management

Title and (repeated) sub-titles Insert your logo Employee checklist Definition of objective Picture or illustration

Individual task sheets: General Insert your logo

Individual task sheets: Foundries Insert your logo

Insert your logo Time Line The Agreement will enter into effect 6 months after its implementation, provided it has been translated into the 20 official EU languages. In 2007, a preliminary reporting on the status of implementation will be organized. Ø Official reporting for the first time in 2008, and every 2 years from then on. Translation Entry into effect 25/10/06 Signature 25/04/06 Preliminary reporting May 2007 reporting May 2008

Action plan for companies Insert your logo Ø Implement checklist ØNominate responsibles Ø Organize training sessions Ø Determine exposure (risk assessment) Ø Prepare reporting ØFurther information: Øwww. dgv. de Øwww. nepsi. eu Insert address of your national homepage here