Activities of Georgios TOUSSAS related to 2011/0152(COD)
Plenary speeches (1)
Health and safety requirements regarding the exposure of workers to the risks arising from physical agents (electromagnetic fields) (debate)
Shadow reports (1)
REPORT on the proposal for a directive of the European Parliament and of the Council on the minimum health and safety requirements regarding the exposure of workers to the risks arising from physical agents (electromagnetic fields) (XXth individual Directive within the meaning of Article 16(1) of Directive 89/391/EEC) PDF (455 KB) DOC (754 KB)
Amendments (9)
Amendment 20 #
Proposal for a directive
Recital 6
Recital 6
(6) Directive 2004/40/EC should be repealed and more appropriate and proportionate measures protecting workers from the risks associated with electromagnetic fields should be introduced. However, presently it does not address the long-term effects, including possible carcinogenic effects of exposure to time- varying electric, magnetic and electromagnetic fields, for which there is currently no conclusive scientific evidence establishing a causal relationship. The present measures should be intended not only to ensure the health and safety of each worker on an individual basis, but also to create a minimum basis of protection for all Union workers, while reducing possible distortions of competition. The Commission and the Member States should step up research and the collection of data on the long-term effects of exposure to time-varying electric, magnetic and electromagnetic fields. The Commission should assess the scientific evidence for long-term effects within 5 years after publication of this Directive in the Official Journal of the European Union and present a proposal for its review in order to include the protection of workers health and safety against such long-term effects.
Amendment 28 #
Proposal for a directive
Recital 16
Recital 16
(16) A system including exposure limit values, orientation values and action values, wherever applicable, should be seen as a means to facilitate the provision of a high level of protection against the established adverse health effects that may result from exposure to electromagnetic fields. But such a system may conflict with specific conditions in certain activities, such as medical procedures using magnetic resonance techniques or military operations where interoperability is required and where internationally accepted standards providing an equivalent protection of workers subject to specific exposure situations are already in place. It is therefore necessary to take these particular conditions into account.
Amendment 34 #
Proposal for a directive
Article 1 – paragraph 3
Article 1 – paragraph 3
Amendment 70 #
Proposal for a directive
Article 3 – paragraph 4
Article 3 – paragraph 4
Amendment 81 #
Proposal for a directive
Article 3 – paragraph 5
Article 3 – paragraph 5
5. By way of derogation, paragraphs 1 and 2 shall not apply to the armed forces in Member States where an equivalent and more specific protection system such as NATO standard STANAG 2345 is already in place and implemented. However, Member States shall ensure that health surveillance in accordance with Article 14 of Directive 89/391/EEC and Article 8 of this Directive is effectively implemented. Member States shall inform the Commission of the existence and effective implementation of such protection systems when notifying the transposition of the provisions of this Directive into national legislation in accordance with Article 14.
Amendment 86 #
Proposal for a directive
Article 3 – paragraph 6
Article 3 – paragraph 6
6. Without prejudice to paragraphs 4 and 5, workers may not be exposed above the exposure limit values for health effects. For specific situations where these values may temporarily be exceeded, Member States may put in place a system authorising work under controlled conditions and on the basis of a comprehensive risk assessment setting out the actual exposure levels and their likelihood and comparing them to the exposure limit values defined in Annexes II and III. Such specific situations shall be reported to the Commission in the report referred to in Article 17a of Directive 89/391/EEC.
Amendment 101 #
Proposal for a directive
Article 4 – paragraph 3
Article 4 – paragraph 3
Amendment 149 #
Proposal for a directive
Article 5 – paragraph 4
Article 5 – paragraph 4
4. In any event, workers shall not be exposed above the exposure limit values for health effects unless the conditions under Article 3(6) are fulfilled. If, despite the measures taken by the employer to comply with this Directive, the exposure limit values for health effects are exceeded, the employer shall take immediate action to reduce exposure below these exposure limit values. The employer shall identify the reasons why the exposure limit values for health effects have been exceeded, and shall amend the protection and prevention measures accordingly in order to prevent them being exceeded again.
Amendment 185 #
Proposal for a directive
Article 14
Article 14
The report to be established in accordance to Article 17(a) of Directive 89/391/EEC shall notably report on the effectiveness of the Directive in reducing exposure to electromagnetic fields and the percentage of workplaces that required corrective action. The Commission shall assess the scientific evidence for long-term effects of exposure to electromagnetic fields within 5 years after the publication of this Directive in the Official Journal of the European Union and submit a proposal for its review in order to include the protection of workers health and safety against such long-term effects.