European Commission to create new guidelines for asbestos

The Commission is inviting asbestos specialists to participate in developing new best practice guidelines following the revision of the Asbestos at Work Directive.

The guidelines aim to support reduced occupational exposure to asbestos by covering areas such as asbestos in buildings, air quality monitoring, and worker health surveillance.

Experts will contribute through a series of workshops in late 2024, providing essential input for employers, workers, and safety professionals.

They will be developed through a series of online workshops in late 2024, which are open to experts and stakeholders, with a focus on various aspects such as identification, removal, and health surveillance.

The initiative is being driven by the recent revision of the Asbestos at Work Directive, which lowered the permissible exposure limit and necessitates further guidance to facilitate implementation.

According to the European Commission, the most recent asbestos legislation (Asbestos at Work Directive 2009/148/EC), which was revised in 2023, “has significantly lowered the binding occupational exposure limit for asbestos”.

It organisation said: “This is the reason why the Commission will develop until December 2025 guidelines to facilitate the implementation of the revised Directive. The European Commission’s Directorate-General for Employment, Social Affairs & Inclusion (DG EMPL) will be assisted by the external service provider RPA Europe Prague s.r.o. in implementing this project.”

For further information or to participate, visit the European Commission website.

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