Directive 1983/477 - Protection of workers from the risks related to exposure to asbestos at work (second individual Directive within the meaning of Article 8 of Directive 80/1107/EEC) - Main contents

official title

 

Legal instrument	Directive
Number legal act	Directive 1983/477
Original proposal	COM(1980)518
CELEX number i	31983L0477

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Council Directive 83/477/EEC of 19 September 1983 on the protection of workers from the risks related to exposure to asbestos at work (second individual Directive within the meaning of Article 8 of Directive 80/1107/EEC)

Official Journal L 263 , 24/09/1983 P. 0025 - 0032

Finnish special edition: Chapter 5 Volume 4 P. 0003

Spanish special edition: Chapter 05 Volume 4 P. 0014

Swedish special edition: Chapter 5 Volume 4 P. 0003

Portuguese special edition Chapter 05 Volume 4 P. 0014

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COUNCIL DIRECTIVE

of 19 September 1983

on the protection of workers from the risks related to exposure to asbestos at work (second individual Directive within the meaning of Article 8 of Directive 80/1107/EEC)

(83/477/EEC)

THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN

COMMUNITIES,

Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Economic Community, and in particular Article 100 thereof,

Having regard to the proposal from the Commission (1),

Having regard to the opinion of the European Parliament (2),

Having regard to the opinion of the Economic and Social Committee (3),

Whereas the Council resolution of 29 June 1978 on an action programme of the European Communities on safety and health at work (4) provides for the establishment of specific harmonized procedures regarding the protection of workers with respect to asbestos;

Whereas Council Directive 80/1107/EEC of 27 November 1980 on the protection of workers from the risks related to exposure to chemical, physical and biological agents at work (5) laid down certain provisions which have to be taken into account for this protection; whereas that Directive provides for the laying down in individual Directives of limit values and specific requirements for those agents listed in Annex I, which include asbestos;

Whereas asbestos is a harmful agent found in a large number of circumstances at work; whereas many workers are therefore exposed to a potential health risk; whereas crocidolite is considered to be a particularly dangerous type of asbestos;

Whereas, although current scientific knowledge is not such that a level can be established below which risks to health cease to exist, a reduction in exposure to asbestos will nonetheless reduce the risk of developing asbestos-related disease; whereas this Directive includes minimum requirements which will be reviewed on the basis of experience acquired and of developments in technology in this area;

Whereas optical microscopy, although it does not allow a counting of the smallest fibres detrimental to health, is the most currently used method for the regular measuring of asbestos;

Whereas, therefore, preventive measures for the protection of the health of workers exposed to asbestos and the commitment envisaged for Member States with regard to the surveillance of their health are important,

HAS ADOPTED THIS DIRECTIVE:

Article 1

• 1. 

  This Directive, which is the second individual Directive within the meaning of Article 8 of Directive 80/1107/EEC, has as its aim the protection of workers against risks to their health, including the prevention of such risks, arising or likely to arise from exposure to asbestos at work. It lays down limit values and other specific requirements.

• 2. 

  This Decision shall not apply to:

• - 

  sea transport,

• - 

  air transport.

• 3. 

  This Directive shall not prejudice the right of Member States to apply or introduce laws, regulations or administrative provisions ensuring greater protection for workers, in particular as regards the replacement of asbestos by less-dangerous substitutes.

Article 2

For the purposes of this Directive, 'asbestos' means the following fibrous silicates:

• - 

  Actinolite, CAS No 77536-66-4 (*) (1),

• - 

  Asbestos gruenerite (amosite) CAS No 12172-73-5 (*) (1),

• - 

  Anthophyllite, CAS No 77536-67-5 (*) (1),

• - 

  Chrysotile, CAS No...

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