2012/2065(INI) | [ParlTrack]

Draft opinion
Paragraph 3

3. Points out that asbestos is still present in many open asbestos mines, water supply systems, wrecks close to shore, ships and buildings, and in some refurbishment, demolition and waste treatment activities where its exact location is often unknown and where, as a consequence, it would have an impact on the exposed workers, possibly also affecting the general public; notes also that, in addressing the problem, account should be taken both of the allocation of funds for prevention and treatment and the increased benefits in terms of jobs, environmental rehabilitation and a reduction in healthcare costs;

Amendment 11 #

Vittorio PRODI

Draft opinion
Paragraph 3

3. Points out that asbestos is still present in many ships and buildings, and in some refurbishment, demolition and waste treatment activities ~~where i~~, that may imply single fibres re-suspension. Its exact location is often unknown and ~~where,~~ as a consequence, it would have an impact on the exposed workers, ~~possibly also affecting~~as well as the general public;

Amendment 12 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 3

3. Points out that asbestos is still present in ~~many ships and buildings, and~~both indoor and outdoor spaces, in close contact with people, including in public and private buildings (in particular in roofs, floors, linoleum and vinyl tiles), ships, trains, bunkers, tunnels and galleries and public and private water supply pipes, as well as in some refurbishment, demolition and waste treatment activities ~~where its~~and in various landfills whose exact location is often unknown, and ~~where~~, as a consequence, ~~it would~~can have an impact on ~~the~~not only exposed workers, ~~possibly also affecting~~but also the general public;.

Amendment 13 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 3

3. Points out that asbestos is still present in many ships and buildings, and in some refurbishment, demolition and waste treatment activities where its exact location is often unknown and where, as a consequence, it would have an impact on the exposed workers, possibly also affecting the general public; draws the attention of Member States to the dangerous practice of disposing of asbestos in landfills;

Amendment 14 #

Vittorio PRODI

Draft opinion
Paragraph 3 a (new)

3a. Calls on the Commission to promote research and remediation activities aimed at hindering re-suspension of single fibres, and/or at destroying the fibre-like crystal lattice of asbestos;

Amendment 15 #

Esther DE LANGE

Draft opinion
Paragraph 3 a (new)

3a. Welcomes initiatives in some regions and Member States aimed at the replacement of asbestos from barn roofs and rural buildings by solar panels, thus creating a win-win situation; calls on the Commission and Member States to further develop this approach within the framework of EU rural development policy.

Amendment 16 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 4

4. Urges the Member States to ensure that all cases of asbestosis and mesothelioma are registered by means of systematic data collection on occupational asbestos diseases, to categorise and officially register pleural plaques as an asbestos- related disease, and to provide reliable mapping of the presence of asbestos and thereby contribute to prevention and remedial actions;

Amendment 17 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 4

4. Urges the Member States to ensure mechanisms of identification and research so that all cases of asbestosis and mesothelioma are registered by means of systematic data collection on occupational asbestos diseases, and to provide, with the assistance of mapping observatories, reliable mapping of the presence of asbestos and thereby contribute to prevention and remedial actions·;

Amendment 18 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 4

4. Urges the Member States to ensure that all cases of asbestosis and mesothelioma are registered by means of systematic data collection on occupational asbestos diseases, and to provide reliable mapping of the presence of asbestos ~~and thereby~~by setting up a compulsory register of all asbestos in public and private buildings, ships, trains, bunkers, tunnels, galleries and public and private water supply pipes and making sure that the register includes clear details of landfills containing asbestos waste, so as to prevent ground in which such materials are buried from being disturbed unwittingly and to contribute to prevention and remedial actions;

Amendment 19 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 4

4. Urges the Member States to ensure that all cases of asbestosis and mesothelioma are registered by means of systematic data collection on occupational asbestos diseases, and to provide reliable mapping of the presence of asbestos and thereby contribute to prevention and remedial actions·; urges the Commission to encourage the safe removal of asbestos from public buildings;

Amendment 2 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 1

1. Deplores the lack of information from several Member States that impedes a reliable prediction of mesothelioma mortality in Europe, noting that, according to the available partial epidemiological data, in the EU more than 250 000 citizens are expected to die from mesothelioma by 2030; emphasizes the importance of informing and training citizens;

Amendment 20 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 4

4. Urges the Member States to ensure that all cases of asbestosis ~~and~~, mesothelioma and related diseases are registered by means of systematic data collection on occupational a~~sbestos diseases, and~~nd non-occupational asbestos diseases at European level to provide reliable mapping of the presence of asbestos, and thereby contribute to prevention and remedial actions;

Amendment 21 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 4 a (new)

4a. Proposes that the Commission draw up a study (report) to record the problems presented by the use of asbestos in each Member State and to replace it where it is used and needed, specifying the funds that will be needed this purpose.

Amendment 22 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 5

5. Underlines that regardless of the source of exposure or the employment status of the person exposed, all EU asbestos victims and their relatives deserve the right to receive swift and appropriate medical treatment and adequate financial support from their national health schemes;

Amendment 23 #

Daciana Octavia SÂRBU

Draft opinion
Paragraph 6

6. Recognises the key role of asbestos victims' groups and civil society associations, and recommends that the Member States and the EU provide funding for their work and collaborate with them in the establishment of a comprehensive plan to eliminate all remaining asbestos in Europe; calls on the Commission to collate data from Member States on asbestos diseases and presence and to produce asbestos mapping at EU level in order to help target actions where they are needed most;

Amendment 24 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 6

6. Recognises the key role of asbestos victims’ associations and groups and civil society associations, and recommends that the Member States and the EU provide funding for their work and collaborate with them in the establishment of a comprehensive plan to eliminate all remaining asbestos in Europe;

Amendment 25 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 6

6. Recognises the key role of asbestos victims’ groups and civil society associations, and recommends that the Member States and the EU provide funding for their work and collaborate with them in the establishment of a comprehensive plan to eliminate all remaining asbestos in Europe; stresses, in this context, the importance of informing the public and the importance of the special training of medical personnel;

Amendment 26 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 6

6. Recognises the key role of asbestos victims' groups and civil society associations, and recommends that the Member States and the EU provide ~~funding f~~an appropriate fund to support their work and collaborate with them in the establishment of a comprehensive plan to eliminate all remaining asbestos in Europe;

Amendment 27 #

Oreste ROSSI

Draft opinion
Paragraph 6 a (new)

6a. Calls on the Commission and the Member States to carry out action research into the scale and severity of clinically measurable psychological impacts in communities around the EU that have been hit by diseases solely attributable to exposure to asbestos; (For both victims and their families, mesothelioma is extremely difficult to cope with, not least from a psychological point of view. Research carried out in Casale Monferrato by the University of Turin (Professor A. Granieri) has found that mesothelioma sufferers and their families show various psychological symptoms that come within the scientifically accepted definition of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)).

Amendment 28 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 7

7. Calls on the Commission and the Member States to ~~accept~~commit to the 2023 deadline proposed by trade unions for a complete ban on asbestos within the EU, ~~including~~ending all exemptions for chrysotile asbestos diaphragms, and ensuring appropriate remediation of all concerned sites, including unsecure landfills.

Amendment 29 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 7

7. Calls on the Commission and the Member States to accept the 2023 deadline proposed by trade unions for a complete ban on asbestos within the EU, including chrysotile asbestos diaphragms, and ensuring appropriate remediation of all concerned sites, including unsecure landfills; as regards the management of asbestos waste, political and economic measures must be taken to promote and support research and those technologies that not only aim simply to remove and bury asbestos waste but also examine the potential for deactivating active asbestos fibres and converting them into material which does not pose a public health risk.

Amendment 3 #

Vittorio PRODI

Draft opinion
Paragraph 1

1. Deplores the lack of information from several Member States that impedes a reliable prediction of mesothelioma mortality in Europe, noting that, according to the available partial epidemiological data, in the EU more than 250 000 citizens are expected to die from mesothelioma by 2030 due to the inhalation of asbestos suspended fibres, thin enough to reach the alveoli and long enough to exceed the size of macrophages;

Amendment 30 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 7

7. Calls on the Commission and the Member States to accept the 2023 deadline proposed by trade unions for a complete ban on asbestos within the EU~~, including chrysotile asbestos diaphragms, and ensuring appropriate remediation of all concerned sites, including unsecure landfills.~~ and to bring the threshold for worker exposure to asbestos fibre set in Directive 2009/148/EC down to the lowest possible level;

Amendment 31 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 7

7. Calls on the Commission and the Member States to accept the 2023 deadline proposed by trade unions for a complete ban on asbestos within the EU, ~~includ~~to anticipate the end of the existing derogation in using chrysotile asbestos diaphragms, ~~and~~to ensur~~ing~~e appropriate remediation of all concerned sites, including unsecure landfills, by respecting provisions to safeguard workers' health and exposure to asbestos.

Amendment 32 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 7 a (new)

7a. Calls on the Commission and Member States to track and register asbestos disposal and hazardous sites, and to phase out unsecure sites across the EU;

Amendment 33 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 7 a (new)

7a. Calls on the Commission and the Member States to revise the provisions on exemptions for chrysotile asbestos in Annex XVII to the REACH Regulation, and to ensure that substitution takes place before the end of the 10-year exemption granted in 2009;

Amendment 34 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 7 a (new)

7a. Calls on the Commission and all Member States to improve controls in order to oblige all concerned stakeholders, in particular those involved in asbestos waste treatment in landfills, to respect all health provisions as required by directive 2009/148/EC and by considering asbestos as a dangerous and harmful material, as provided for in directive 1999/31/EC and the updated decision 2000/532/EC;

Amendment 35 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 7 b (new)

7b. Calls on the Commission and the Member States to take steps to ensure the remediation of all public and private sites affected, including non-secure landfill sites containing asbestos waste, and to promote the use of alternative eco- compatible, secure processes such as inertisation for the processing of waste containing asbestos and the subsequent recycling of the resulting usable materials in the construction industry;

Amendment 36 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 7 c (new)

7c. Calls on the Commission, in view of the continuing shortcomings in Member State controls, to see to it that Directive 1999/31/EC on the landfill of waste is properly implemented, so as to ensure that all waste containing asbestos, irrespective of its fibre content, is classified as hazardous waste and, as a result, disposed of solely in dedicated hazardous-waste landfills, in order to avoid any accidental release of fibres which could pollute the surrounding air and the underlying groundwater; believes that waste containing asbestos should anyway be processed in dedicated treatment and inertisation plants, rather than disposed of in hazardous-waste landfills.

Amendment 4 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 1

1. Deplores the lack of information from several Member States that impedes a reliable prediction of mesothelioma mortality in Europe, noting that, according to the available partial epidemiological data, in the EU more than 250 000 citizens are expected to die from mesothelioma by 2030 and that, according to World Health Organisation (WHO) estimates, between 20 000 and 30 000 cases of asbestos- related disease are recorded every year in the European Union alone;

Amendment 5 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 1

1. Deplores the lack of information from several Member States that impedes a reliable prediction of mesothelioma mortality in Europe, noting that, according to the available partial epidemiological data, in the EU more than 250 000 citizens are expected to die from mesothelioma by 2030; in this context attaches the greatest importance to exchanges of best practices between Member States for the diagnosis of asbestos-related diseases;

Amendment 6 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 1 a (new)

1a. Stresses that all types of asbestos have been recognised as a health hazard and that the harmful effects of inhaling asbestos fibres, such as lung cancer and pleural mesothelioma, can take as long as several decades (in some cases, more than 40 years) to become apparent;

Amendment 7 #

Oreste ROSSI

Draft opinion
Paragraph 1 a (new)

1a. Draws attention to the recent studies showing that many different types of cancer can develop as a result of not only the inhalation of airborne fibres but also the ingestion of water containing such fibres (for example, from asbestos pipes);

Amendment 8 #

Oreste ROSSI

Draft opinion
Paragraph 1 b (new)

1b. Points out that the ballast used on railway tracks often contains large quantities of asbestos, which breaks up as a result of vibration caused by trains and is released into the surrounding air;

Amendment 9 #

Stephen HUGHES, Georges BACH, Elisabeth MORIN-CHARTIER, Karima DELLI

Draft opinion
Paragraph 2

2. Welcomes the verdict, delivered on 13 February 2012 by a court in Turin, on the deadly consequences of asbestos whereby the former owner and the former director of the Italian branch of the Eternit company were indicted as responsible for about 3 000 asbestos-related deaths, and were ordered to pay damages to the victims and their relatives and to civil society associations;

source: PE-497.962

2012/10/18 EMPL 120 amendments...

Amendment 1 #

Motion for a resolution
Citation 3 a (new)

- having regard to the Council Resolution of 29 June 1978 on an action programme of the European Communities on safety and health at work, in particular article 41 __________________ 1 4. Develop a preventive and protective action for substances recognized as being carcinogenic, by fixing exposure limits, sampling requirements and measuring methods, and satisfactory conditions of hygiene at the work place, and by specifying prohibitions where necessary.

Amendment 10 #

Radvilė MORKŪNAITĖ-MIKULĖNIENĖ

Motion for a resolution
Recital C

C. whereas, despite the ban on the use of asbestos, it is still found in many ships, trains and especially in buildings, including many public and private buildings;

Amendment 100 #

Stephen HUGHES, Elisabeth MORIN-CHARTIER, Georges BACH, Karima DELLI

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 21 a (new)

21a. Calls on the Commission to urgently put forward a proposal to amend Directive 2004/37/EC on the protection of workers from the risks related to carcinogens and mutagens at work, ensuring that the health of workers at risk of being exposed to carcinogens be protected and safeguarded through the promotion and exchange of best practices in prevention and diagnosis;

Amendment 101 #

Elisabeth MORIN-CHARTIER, Georges BACH, Stephen HUGHES

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 21 a (new)

21a. Calls for recognition procedures to be simplified and facilitated;

Amendment 102 #

Stephen HUGHES, Elisabeth MORIN-CHARTIER, Karima DELLI

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 23

23. Calls on the EU to ensure that all asbestos-related occupational diseases are recognised a~~nd compensated for~~s an occupational disease;

Amendment 103 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 23

23. Calls on the EU to ensure that all asbestos-related ~~occupational diseas~~diseases, including pleural plaques, are recognised and compensated for;

Amendment 104 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 25

~~25. Calls on the EU to propose regulation to ensure that all cases of asbestos-related occupational disease are identified, reported to the competent authority and examined by experts;~~deleted

Amendment 105 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 25

25. Calls on the EU to ~~propose regulation~~recommend Member States to take steps to ensure that all cases of asbestos-related occupational disease are identified, reported to the competent authority and examined by experts;

Amendment 106 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 26

26. Calls on the Commission ~~to create binding minimum guideline~~, in cooperation with the Member States, to propose recommendations for national procedures for the recognition and compensation of asbestos-related diseases;

Amendment 107 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 26

26. Calls on the Commission to ~~create binding minimum guidelin~~disseminate best practices on national guidelines and practices for national procedures for the recognition and compensation of asbestos-related diseases;

Amendment 108 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 26

26. Calls on the Commission to create binding minimum guidelines for national procedures for the recognition ~~and compensation~~ of asbestos- related diseases;

Amendment 109 #

Stephen HUGHES

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 28

28. Ccalls on the ~~EU to establish independent advisory boards of~~relevant agencies of the EU - with the help of independent medical and technical experts - to delineate the scientific proof required to prove that certain working conditions induced asbestos-related disease;

Amendment 11 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital F

F. ~~whereas many workers are~~Takes note of the UK government report "A comparison of the risks from different materials containing asbestos" that clearly shows there is zero risk from exposured to ~~asbestos during their work activities~~chrysotile (white asbestos), and takes notes of the UK Health and Safety Executive's Meldrum Report "Review of Toxicology" published in 1996 that reaches the same conclusion;

Amendment 110 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 29

29. Calls on the Commission to ~~assist~~support conferences which provide asbestos victims' groups in access~~ing~~ to professional advice ~~and providing practical support for their members~~;

Amendment 111 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 30

30. Calls on the Commission to ~~establish and~~ support an EU network of asbestos victims; ~~takes the view that victims' groups should play a major role in devising responsive, appropriate and cost- effective ways of addressing victims' needs;~~

Amendment 112 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 31

~~31. Calls on the Commission to establish a Charter for Asbestos Victims specifying the rights EU asbestos victims can expect;~~deleted

Amendment 113 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 31

~~31. Calls on the Commission to establish a Charter for Asbestos Victims specifying the rights EU asbestos victims can expect;~~deleted

Amendment 114 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 31

~~31. Calls on the Commission to establish a Charter for Asbestos Victims specifying the rights EU asbestos victims can expect;~~deleted

Amendment 115 #

Elisabeth MORIN-CHARTIER, Georges BACH, Stephen HUGHES

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 31

31. Calls on the Commission to establish a Charter for Asbestos Victims specifying the rights EU asbestos victims and members of their families can expect;

Amendment 116 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 32 a (new)

32a. Calls, more generally, for the concept of health and safety of employees to be taken into account by national law and to constitute a performance obligation for employers with reference to Framework Directive 89/931/EC;

Amendment 117 #

Stephen HUGHES, Karima DELLI, Elisabeth MORIN-CHARTIER, Georges BACH

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 34

34. Calls on the EU to address the unacceptable dumping of asbestos on developing countries at forums where trade agreements are being discussed, in particular at the WTO, and to exert diplomatic and financial pressure on asbestos-exporting countries to shut down asbestos mining industries and to stop the illegal and unethical practice of exporting end-of-life ships containing asbestos;

Amendment 118 #

Stephen HUGHES, Georges BACH, Elisabeth MORIN-CHARTIER, Karima DELLI

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 34 a (new)

34a. Calls on the EU, in cooperation with the World Health Organisation, third countries and other international bodies, to promote worldwide high levels of health and safety at the workplace, for example by identifying asbestos-related problems and promoting solutions conducive to health protection;

Amendment 119 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 35 a (new)

35a. Condemns European financial investment in global asbestos industries;

Amendment 12 #

Stephen HUGHES, Elisabeth MORIN-CHARTIER, Georges BACH, Karima DELLI

Motion for a resolution
Recital F

F. whereas many workers are exposed to asbestos during their work activities, particularly in the maintenance and decontamination sectors;

Amendment 120 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 35 b (new)

35b. Calls on the Commission to ensure that vessels carrying asbestos as cargo in transit can neither dock nor use port facilities or temporary storage within the EU;

Amendment 13 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital F a (new)

Fa. whereas the aim should be job creation and the provision of workplace conditions which promote the health and wellbeing of individuals and, by extension, social progress as a result of their work;

Amendment 14 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital F b (new)

Fb. whereas, in addition to the human dimension of inadequate health and safety at the workplace, this problem is also detrimental to the economy; more specifically, problems relating to health and safety at the workplace are an obstacle to growth and competitiveness while at the same time causing a disproportionate increase in social security costs;

Amendment 15 #

Radvilė MORKŪNAITĖ-MIKULĖNIENĖ

Motion for a resolution
Recital G

G. whereas ~~in many Member States which have long-standing asbestos bans,~~ younger workers and construction workers do not necessarily recognise asbestos in buildings when performing refurbishment or demolition work;

Amendment 16 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital H a (new)

Ha. whereas the removal of ACMs from buildings, especially in less economically developed Member States and rural areas, places a financial burden on building owners, and it should therefore continue to receive active support at national and EU level;

Amendment 17 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital J

J. whereas the success of asbestos regulations in the Member States is limited by a lack of knowledge of the existing of ACMs and the associated risks;

Amendment 18 #

Stephen HUGHES, Georges BACH, Elisabeth MORIN-CHARTIER, Karima DELLI

Motion for a resolution
Recital J

J. whereas the success of asbestos regulations in the Member States is limited by a lack of knowledge of the existing of ACMs and a lack of vocational training and qualification of construction and maintenance workers, including construction professionals who are working incidentally with asbestos;

Amendment 19 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital J a (new)

Ja. whereas local communities lack expertise and have serious shortcomings in the execution of prevention, surveillance and enforcement tasks, which are often too fragmented;

Amendment 2 #

Stephen HUGHES, Karima DELLI

Motion for a resolution
Recital A a (new)

Aa. whereas as early as 1977 a group of experts commissioned by the European Commission concluded: 'There is no theoretical evidence for an exposure threshold below which cancers will not occur. A safe exposure level to asbestos has not been established', whereas this opinion has been affirmed over the years by all relevant scientific advisory bodies, whereas it is generally accepted by courts that there is no known threshold exposure to asbestos below which there is no risk,

Amendment 20 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital K

K. whereas the location of ACMs is often ~~hidde~~unknown and knowledge about these locations is sharply decreasing over time;

Amendment 21 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital L

~~L. whereas a mandatory asbestos audit of buildings would provide a solid and informed basis for national, regional and European removal programmes;~~deleted

Amendment 22 #

Stephen HUGHES, Georges BACH, Karima DELLI

Motion for a resolution
Recital L

L. whereas a mandatory asbestos audit of buildings, ships, trains, bunkers, tunnels, galleries, pipes in public and private water distribution networks and landfills would provide a solid and informed basis for national, regional and European removal programmes;

Amendment 23 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital N a (new)

Na. whereas, in line with Directive 92/57/EEC1, in dangerous situations facilities must be provided to enable working clothes to be kept in a place separate from workers' own clothes and personal effects __________________ 1 Directive 92/57/EEC: Annex IV PART A GENERAL MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS FOR ON-SITE WORKPLACES 14.1.2 If circumstances so require (e.g. ►C1 dangerous substances ◄, humidity, dirt), facilities must be provided to enable working clothes to be kept in a place separate from workers' own clothes and personal effects.

Amendment 24 #

Stephen HUGHES, Georges BACH, Elisabeth MORIN-CHARTIER, Karima DELLI

Motion for a resolution
Recital T

T. whereas asbestos exposure is a threat to the general population and causes diseases to a recognised extent1; __________________ 1 A parliamentary committee concluded in 1978 after an 18-month investigatory period that asbestos presented ‘a danger both to workers in the asbestos industry and to those exposed in other situations’ (European Parliament 1978)

Amendment 25 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital V

V. whereas due to the very long latency period and due to the lack of knowledge among medical staff, victims often do not receive timely and proper support by healthcare providers;

Amendment 26 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital Z a (new)

Za. whereas any new legislative proposal must take account of existing legislation at national and European level and must be preceded by a detailed assessment of its possible impact as well as by an analysis of its costs and benefits;

Amendment 27 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1

~~1. Urges the EU to make asbestos screening and registration obligatory;~~deleted

Amendment 28 #

Phil BENNION, George LYON, Jan MULDER, Philippe DE BACKER

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1

1. ~~Urges~~Calls on the EU to ~~make asbestos screening and registration obligatory~~develop and implement proposals for obligatory screening of commercial/public buildings to identify the presence of asbestos containing materials, prepare plans to manage the risks they present and make that information available to workers who may disturb them in accordance with Article 11 Directive 2009/148/EC;

Amendment 29 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1

1. ~~Urges~~Calls on the EU to ~~make asbestos screening and registration obligatory;~~ consider developing a model for asbestos screening and to request owners of public or commercial buildings to: 1. screen buildings for the presence of asbestos containing materials; 2. prepare plans to manage the risks they present; 3. ensure that such information is available to workers who may disturb such materials;

Amendment 3 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital A a (new)

Aa. whereas the directive 1999/77/EC states that "no threshold level of exposure has yet been identified below which chrysotile asbestos does not pose carcinogenic risks" and that "an effective way of protecting human health is to prohibit the use of chrysotile asbestos fibres and products containing them";

Amendment 30 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1

1. Urges the EU to ~~make~~support asbestos screening and registration ~~obligatory~~;

Amendment 31 #

Stephen HUGHES, Georges BACH, Elisabeth MORIN-CHARTIER, Karima DELLI

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1

1. Urges the EU to make asbestos screening and registration obligatory; urges member states who already implement such compulsory schemes to increase efficiency of screening;

Amendment 32 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2

2. Urges the EU to develop models for monitoring existing asbestos in private and public buildings including residential and non-residential housing, land, infrastructure, logistics and piping;

Amendment 33 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2 a (new)

2a. Calls on the EU to devise models for monitoring asbestos fibres in the air in the workplace, built-up areas and landfills and fibres present in drinking water supplied through asbestos cement pipes;

Amendment 34 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3

3. ~~Urges the EU to establish action plans for owners of public buildings for the safe removal~~Calls on the Commission together with Member States to provide information and guidelines ofn asbestos ~~and to encourage~~risk for private house owners ~~to audit their premises for ACMs~~;

Amendment 35 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3

3. Urges the EU to ~~establish action plans f~~support owners of public buildings ~~for~~in undertaking the safe removal of asbestos and to encourage private house owners to audit their premises for ACMs;

Amendment 36 #

Phil BENNION, George LYON, Jan MULDER, Philippe DE BACKER

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3

3. Urges the EU to establish action plans for owners of public buildings for the safe management and where necessary, removal of asbestos, and to provide information and guidelines to encourage private house owners to ~~audit~~effectively audit and risk assess their premises for ACMs;

Amendment 37 #

Stephen HUGHES, Elisabeth MORIN-CHARTIER

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3

3. Urges the EU to establish action plans for owners of public buildings for the safe removal of asbestos by 2025 and to encourage private house owners to audit their premises for ACMs;

Amendment 38 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3

3. Urges the EU to establish action plans for owners of public buildings for the safe removal of asbestos by 2032 and to encourage private house owners to audit their premises for ACMs;

Amendment 39 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4

~~4. Urges the Commission to integrate the asbestos issue into other policies such as the EU policy on energy efficiency;~~deleted

Amendment 4 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital A a (new)

Aa. whereas delivering asbestos waste to landfills would not appear to be the safest way of definitively eliminating the release of asbestos fibres into the environment (particularly into air and groundwater) and whereas therefore it would be far preferable to opt for asbestos inertisation plants;

Amendment 40 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4

4. Urges the Commission to integrate the asbestos issue into other policies such as the EU policy on energy efficiency and on waste;

Amendment 41 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5

~~5. Proposes the combination of a strategy for the renovation of buildings to make them more energy-efficient in parallel with removal of all asbestos;~~deleted

Amendment 42 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5

5. ~~Proposes the combination of a strategy for the renovation of~~Recognises that credible estimates of the costs to the UK of dealing unnecessarily with white asbestos amount to £4 buil~~dings to make them more energy-efficien~~lion per annum, with proportionately higher costs across the EU; and is concerned at the particular impact ion ~~parallel with removal of all asbestos~~the agricultural sector, given the widespread use of corrugated asbestos roofing in farm building (an important protection against fire);

Amendment 43 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5

5. Proposes the combination of a strategy for the renovation of buildings to make them more energy-efficient in parallel with the gradual removal of all asbestos;

Amendment 44 #

Anthea McINTYRE

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6

~~6. Urges the Commission to make mandatory the establishment of public asbestos registers by Member States;~~deleted

Amendment 45 #

Phil BENNION, George LYON, Jan MULDER, Philippe DE BACKER

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6

6. Urges the Commission to ~~make mandatory the establishment of public asbestos registers by Member States;~~ work with Member States and Public Administrations to develop effective information sharing systems which would serve to provide relevant information on asbestos risks to workers and employers prior to renovation works being undertaken, and complement existing health and safety protections required under EU law;

Amendment 46 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6

6. Urges the Commission to ~~make mandatory~~recommend the establishment of public asbestos registers by Member States;

Amendment 47 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6 a (new)

6a. Urges the Commission, in cooperation with the Member States, to ensure the effective and unhindered implementation of European asbestos legislation and step up official inspections;

Amendment 48 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6 b (new)

6b. Calls on the Commission, in view of the lack of information for employers and staff regarding asbestos, to cooperate with the Member States and the relevant stakeholders, including the social partners, in creating and developing services providing advice and ongoing information;

Amendment 49 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6 c (new)

6c. Calls on the Commission, in cooperation with the national authorities, to provide the necessary support to ensure protection for the entire EU workforce, given that small and medium-sized enterprises, which employ most of the European workforce, are particularly exposed when it comes to the implementation of health and safety legislation;

Amendment 5 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital B

B. whereas increased cancer risks have been observed in populations exposed to very low levels of asbestos fibres, ~~including chrysotile fibres;~~

Amendment 50 #

Anthea McINTYRE

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7

~~7. Urges the EU to make it mandatory for building owners to inform the Labour Inspectorate about intended plans for work with ACMs;~~deleted

Amendment 51 #

Phil BENNION, George LYON, Jan MULDER, Philippe DE BACKER

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7

7. Urges the EU to ma~~ke it mandatory for building owners to inform the Labour Inspectorate~~intain requirements set out in Art 4 Directive 2009/148/EC for employers to inform the Responsible Authorities about intended plans for work with ACMs;

Amendment 52 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7

7. Urges the EU to ~~make it mandatory for~~recommend building owners to inform the Labour Inspectorate about intended plans for work with ACMs;

Amendment 53 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8

8. Calls on the Secretaries General of the EU institutions to provide a complete register – which should be open to the public – of ACMs in EU buildings, bunkers, tunnels, galleries and pipes in public and private water distribution networks;

Amendment 54 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8

8. Calls on the Secretaries General of the EU institutions to provide a complete register – which should be open to the public – of ACMs in EU buildings; Calls on the EU institutions to lead by example by establishing public asbestos registers;

Amendment 55 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8 a (new)

8a. Urges the EU to make the differentiation between friable and non- friable asbestos compulsory;

Amendment 56 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8 a (new)

8a. Calls on the Commission to promote the establishment of centres for the treatment and inertisation of waste containing asbestos throughout Union territory, combined with phasing out all delivery of such waste to landfills;

Amendment 57 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9

Amendment 58 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9

9. Calls on the EU to set up minimum requirements for mandatory asbestos- specific qualifications for civil engineers, architects and, employees of registered asbestos removal companies and to provide asbestos-specific qualifications for the training of other workers likely to be exposed to asbestoestablish a working group together with the Member States to consider the benefits of developing minimum asbestos-specific qualifications for civil engineers and architects;

Amendment 59 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9

9. Calls on the EU ~~to set up~~, in cooperation with the Member States, to propose minimum requirements for mandatory asbestos- specific qualifications for civil engineers, architects and, employees of registered asbestos removal companies and to provide asbestos-specific qualifications for the training of other workers likely to be exposed to asbestos;

Amendment 6 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital B a (new)

Ba. whereas creating landfills for asbestos waste is only a temporary solution to the problem, which in this way is left to be dealt with by future generations, as asbestos fibres are virtually indestructible over time;

Amendment 60 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9

9. Calls on the EU to set up ~~minimum~~the necessary requirements for mandatory asbestos- specific qualifications for civil engineers, architects and, employees of registered asbestos removal companies and to provide asbestos-specific qualifications for the training of other workers likely to be exposed to asbestos;

Amendment 61 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9

9. Calls on the EU to set up minimum requirements for mandatory asbestos- specific qualifications for civil engineers, architects and, employees of registered asbestos removal companies and to provide asbestos-specific qualifications for the training of other workers likely to be exposed to asbestos such as employees of the shipbuilding industry or farmers, with a strong focus on people effectively in charge of removing asbestos on the ground, by strengthening their training, their protective equipment, the control of their activity by the Labour Inspectorate;

Amendment 62 #

Phil BENNION, George LYON, Jan MULDER, Philippe DE BACKER

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9

9. Calls on the EU to set up minimum requirements for mandatory asbestos- specific qualifications for civil engineers, architects and, employees of registered asbestos removal companies and to provide asbestos-specific qualifications for the training of other workers likely to be exposed to asbestos in accordance with Art 14 (1) Directive 2009/148/EC, as well as working with and supporting the social partners and other stakeholders to organise and run awareness raising activities for workers on the risks arising from asbestos and the need for appropriate training of all staff in the relevant sectors;

Amendment 63 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9 a (new)

9a. Calls on the EU to draw up programmes to raise general awareness of asbestos-related risks and to improve information about existing asbestos legislation and provide practical guides as to how comply with it;

Amendment 64 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9 a (new)

9a. Calls on the EU to work with and support relevant stakeholders to organise and support relevant stakeholders to organise and develop awareness raising activities for workers on the risks of asbestos and the need for appropriate training;

Amendment 65 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9 a (new)

9a. Underlines that the training for anyone involved (employer, supervisor, worker) in work that may involve (or does involve) asbestos, the training should cover: the properties of asbestos and its effects on health, including the synergistic effect of smoking; the types of materials or products that may contain asbestos and where they are likely to occur; how the condition of the material or products affects the ease of release of fibres and what to do if materials suspected of containing asbestos are encountered;

Amendment 66 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9 b (new)

9b. Calls for such action plans and information campaigns to be aimed at specific target groups and to include both employers and employees and their representatives, as well as other stakeholders;

Amendment 67 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10

10. Calls on the Commission ~~to propose a specific directive with~~, in cooperation with the Member States, to propose minimum requirements for the vocational training of construction and maintenance workers, including construction professionals who are working incidentally with asbestos;

Amendment 68 #

Phil BENNION, George LYON, Jan MULDER, Philippe DE BACKER

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10

10. Calls on the Commission to ~~propose a specific directive with minimum requirements for the~~work with and support the social partners and others stakeholders to improve implementation of Art 14(2) Directive 2009/148/EC through raising awareness of the need for appropriate training, such as vocational training, of construction and maintenance workers, including construction professionals who are working incidentally with asbestos and to develop information and materials to provide this;

Amendment 69 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10

10. Calls on the Commission t~~o propose a specific directive with minimum requirements for the~~aking into account provisions already contained in Article 14(2) of Directive 2009/148/EC to build on these provisions and work with relevant stakeholders to raise awareness of the need for appropriate training, such as vocational training of construction and maintenance workers, including construction professionals who are working incidentally with asbestos;

Amendment 7 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital C

C. ~~whereas, despite the ban on the use of asbestos,~~Considers that in the light of these reports it is sessentilal ~~found in many ships, trains and especially in buildings, including many public buildings;~~ to exclude chrysotile (white asbestos) from safety provisions considered appropriate for blue and brown asbestos, and concludes that cement containing chrysotile poses no measurable risk to human health;

Amendment 70 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10

10. Calls on the Commission to ~~propose a specific directive with~~map the Member States' provisions on minimum requirements for the vocational training of construction and maintenance workers, including construction professionals who are working incidentally with asbestos;

Amendment 71 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10

10. Calls on the Commission to propose a specific directive with ~~minimum~~the necessary requirements for the vocational training of construction and maintenance workers, including construction professionals who are working incidentally with asbestos. Such training must be provided at regular intervals and at no cost to the workers;

Amendment 72 #

Stephen HUGHES, Georges BACH, Elisabeth MORIN-CHARTIER, Karima DELLI

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10

10. Calls on the Commission to propose a specific directive with minimum requirements for the vocational training of construction and maintenance workers, including construction professionals who are working incidentally with asbestos, as well as employees at landfills disposing of waste containing asbestos or centres specialising in treatment and inertisation of asbestos waste;

Amendment 73 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10

10. Calls on the Commission to propose a specific directive with minimum requirements for the vocational training of construction and maintenance workers and management, including construction professionals who are working incidentally with asbestos;

Amendment 74 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11

11. Calls on the EU through SLIC and national labour inspectorates to ensure that labour inspectors receive ACM training, and that labour inspectors in the field should receive proper protection equipment;

Amendment 75 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11 a (new)

11a. Calls on the Member States to ensure that occupational physicians are properly trained so as to ensure that they know about asbestos and are hence able to provide the necessary information to the workforce under their supervision;

Amendment 76 #

Phil BENNION, George LYON, Jan MULDER, Philippe DE BACKER

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12

12. ~~Urges~~Calls on the EU to ~~start action plans for asbestos removal at European, national and regional levels, which are to include: legislation;~~work with social partners and other stakeholders at European, national and regional levels to develop and share action plans for asbestos management and removal where necessary in the interest of improved safety. These plans should include: education and information; training for ~~public~~ employees~~; national and international training;~~ and awareness- raising activities related to ~~the removal of~~risk from asbestos and products containing asbestos from buildings, public amenities and sites of former asbestos factories; cleaning premises, building landfills and installations for the destruction of asbestos and asbestos-containing debris; monitoring of the implementation of regulation(including during removal from buildings); monitoring of the effectiveness of existing legal requirements, exposure assessments of at- risk personnel, and health protection;

Amendment 77 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12

12. ~~Urges~~Calls on the EU to ~~start action plans for asbestos removal~~work with relevant stakeholders at European, national and regional level~~s, which are to include: legislation; education and information;~~ to develop and exchange action plans for asbestos management which will include: training for ~~public~~ employees~~; national and international training;~~, awareness- raising activities related to the r~~emoval~~isk of asbestos and products containing asbestos ~~from buildings, public amenities and sites of former asbestos factories; cleaning premises, building landfills and installations for the destruction of asbestos and asbestos-containing debris;~~(including during removal from buildings), monitoring of the implementation of existing regulations, exposure assessments of at- risk personnel, and health protection;

Amendment 78 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12

12. Urges the ~~EU to start~~Member States to consider drafting action plans for asbestos removal at ~~European, national and reg~~national levels, which ~~are to~~could for instance include: legislation; education and information; training for public employees; ~~national and international~~ training; awareness- raising activities related to the removal of asbestos and products containing asbestos from buildings, public amenities and sites of former asbestos factories; cleaning premises, building landfills and installations for the destruction of asbestos and asbestos-containing debris; monitoring of the implementation of regulations, exposure assessments of at-risk personnel, and health protection;

Amendment 79 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12

12. UrEncourages the EU to start action plans for asbestos removal at European, national and regional levels, which are to include: legislation; education and information; training for public employees; national and international training; awareness-raising activities related to the removal of asbestos and products containing asbestos from buildings, public amenities and sites of former asbestos factories; cleaning premises, building landfills and installations for the destruction of asbestos and asbestos- containing debris; monitoring of the implementation of regulations, exposure assessments of at-risk personnel, and health protection;

Amendment 8 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital C

C. whereas, despite the ban on the use of asbestos, it is still found in many ships, trains, bunkers, tunnels, galleries, pipes in public and private water distribution networks and especially in buildings, including many public buildings;

Amendment 80 #

Radvilė MORKŪNAITĖ-MIKULĖNIENĖ

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12

12. Urges the EU to start action plans for asbestos removal at European, national and regional levels, which are to include: legislation; education and information; training for public employees; national and international training; awareness-raising activities related to the removal of asbestos and products containing asbestos from buildings, public amenities and sites of former asbestos factories; cleaning premises, building ~~landfills and~~ installations for the destruction of asbestos and asbestos- containing debris; monitoring of the implementation of regulations, exposure assessments of at-risk personnel, and health protection;

Amendment 81 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12

12. Urges the EU to start action plans for asbestos removal at European, national and regional levels, which are to include: legislation; education and information; training for public employees; national and international training; awareness-raising activities related to the removal of asbestos and products containing asbestos from buildings, public amenities and sites of former asbestos factories; programmes to fund asbestos removal; cleaning premises, building landfills and installations for the destruction of asbestos and asbestos- containing debris; monitoring of the implementation of regulations, exposure assessments of at-risk personnel, and health protection;

Amendment 82 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12

12. Urges the EU to start action plans for asbestos removal at European, national and regional levels, which are to include: legislation; education and information; training for public employees; national and international training; awareness-raising activities related to the removal of asbestos and products containing asbestos from buildings, public amenities and sites of former asbestos factories; cleaning premises, building landfills and installations for the destruction of asbestos and asbestos-containing debris; monitoring of the implementation of regulations, exposure assessments of at-risk personnel, and health protection; in the case of global withdrawal actions plans, national Labour ministers should coordinate the action while Labour inspectorates should control the conformity of local withdrawal plans;

Amendment 83 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12 a (new)

12a. Calls on Member States to move forward with phasing out asbestos in the shortest possible timeframe;

Amendment 84 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12 a (new)

12a. Underlines the necessity to develop safe work procedures, including the correct use of personal protective equipment, for workers who may work near asbestos-containing materials;

Amendment 85 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13

~~13. Urges the Commission to lower the limit value for asbestos fibres;~~deleted

Amendment 86 #

Phil BENNION, George LYON, Jan MULDER, Philippe DE BACKER

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13

13. ~~Urges~~Calls on the Commission to ~~lower the limit value for asbestos fibres~~undertake research to review the existing limit value for asbestos fibres, and if necessary lower it to an acceptable safety level based on the best available scientific evidence;

Amendment 87 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13

13. ~~Urges~~Calls on the Commission to ~~lower the limit value for asbestos fibres~~review, using the most recent scientific evidence, the current limit value for asbestos fibres, and to ensure any proposed revisions are based on robust scientific evidence;

Amendment 88 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13

13. Urges the Commission to lower the limit value for asbestos fibres; any lowering of the value, and the actual value set, must be scientifically based and combined with a detailed assessment of the impact of such a measure;

Amendment 89 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13 a (new)

13a. Urges the EU to replace the phase- contrast optical microscopy (PCOM) method by the Accuracy of Transmission Electron Microscopy (ATEM) which is more accurate and provides for a better detection of thin particles;

Amendment 9 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital C

C. whereas, despite the ban on the use of asbestos, it is still found in many ships, trains, machinery and especially in buildings, including many public buildings;

Amendment 90 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15

~~15. Calls on the EU to establish a roadmap for asbestos-free workplaces and an asbestos-free environment, based on the principles laid out by the WHO;~~deleted

Amendment 91 #

Stephen HUGHES

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15

15. Calls on the EU to establish a roadmap for asbestos-free workplaces and an asbestos-free environment, based on the principles laid out by the WHO1; __________________ 1 WHO - 'Global Health Risks: Mortality and burden of disease attributable to selected major risks' - http://www.who.int/healthinfo/global_bur den_disease/GlobalHealthRisks_report_fu ll.pdf and http://www.who.int/ipcs/assessment/public _health/asbestos/en/

Amendment 92 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16

16. Calls on the Commission to include ~~a coordinated strategy on~~ asbestos in the upcoming Community Strategy for Health and Safety 2014-20;

Amendment 93 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16

16. Calls on the Commission to include a coordinated strategy on asbestos in the upcoming Community Strategy for Health and Safety 2014-20 and to supply the European Agency for Safety and Health at Work with effective tools to improve the collection and dissemination of technical, scientific and economic information in the Member States and to facilitate the formulation and the implementation of national policies designed to protect the safety and health of workers;

Amendment 94 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17

~~17. Calls on the Commission to immediately revise the provisions on exemptions for chrysotile asbestos in annex XVII of REACH;~~deleted

Amendment 95 #

Phil BENNION, George LYON, Jan MULDER, Philippe DE BACKER

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17

17. Calls on the Ccommission to ~~immediately revise the provisions on exemptions for chrysotile asbestos in annex XVII of REACH~~review progress on the development of chrysotile- free diaphragms used in electrolysis installations, in accordance with REACH, Annex XVII, Part 6;

Amendment 96 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17

17. Calls on the Commission to ~~immediately revise the provisions on exemptions for chrysotile asbestos in~~review progress on the development of chrysotile- free diaphragms used in electrolysis installations, in accordance with annex XVII of REACH;

Amendment 97 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 18 a (new)

18a. Calls on the EU to strengthen ex ante evaluations of substitution products for asbestos;

Amendment 98 #