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'A LONG OVERDUE' ban on white asbestos was welcomed by the TUC last month, after concerns that the Government was backtracking in its former hard stance on the subject. All forms of asbestos are banned in nine member states with France and Belgium the most recent countries to impose a ban. The UK Government backed proposals for a European-wide ban but appeared to get cold feet earlier this year. The Health & Safety Commission's reluctance to recommend a ban led to demonstrations in April. But now the Commission has decided to proceed with plans to ban the importation, marketing and use of white asbestos.
TUC general secretary John Monks said: 'A total ban on white asbestos is long overdue but this is a very welcome development. The death toll of asbestos victims will continue to rise well into the next century but at least we know now the plague of asbestos-related diseases is coming to an end'. The Health & Safety Commission's decision was made on the advice of the Government's committee on carcinogens in July.
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Article adopted |
Must be in force by |
Subject |
|
|
|
|
|
Article 75 |
31.12.1999 |
Transport of dangerous goods |
|
Article 100a |
5.12.1998 |
Laws relating to lifts |
|
Article118a |
to be decided |
Aspects of working time |
|
Article118a |
5.12.1998 |
Use of equipment at work |
|
Article 129(d) |
28.2.1999 |
European high speed rail system |
|
Article 130 |
3.2.1999 |
Management of chemical hazards |
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Euratom |
13.5.2000 |
Protection from ionising radiation |
Proof that some of Europe's civil servants are somewhat out of touch with the rest of us comes from a Commission communication which criticises member states for not splitting up and selling off their railway networks. The directive which has resulted in this mass apathy on the part of national governments, entitled 91/440/EEC, aims to create railways independent of the state and local authorities and managed on commercial lines. The Commission have criticised those railways that remain integrated, where transport services and infrastructure are managed by the same entity. If you think we're making this up. seek out Communication No. COM(98)202. It'll be on the Net.
According to EUR-OP News, 'Making photocopies in flesh and bones will soon be banned in the EU'. We think they mean cloning but you can never be sure.
What is 'environmentally driven growth' asked the European Parliament's environment committee recently. Further proof that some civil servants are somewhat out of touch comes with news that even MEPs don't understand them.
LATEST FIGURES from European researchers show that the construction industry is the most dangerous sector in which to work. Men are ten times more likely than women to be the victims of fatal accidents, and you are twice as likely to be killed in construction, agriculture or transport than in any other sector.
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Accidents at work by activity in 1994 per 100,000 persons in employment | ||
Sector |
Fatal accidents |
Accidents with more than 3 days absence |
|
|
|
|
|
Construction |
14.7 |
9,014 |
|
Agriculture |
14.0 |
6,694 |
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Transport |
13.7 |
6,139 |
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Manufacturing |
4,6 |
5,071 |
|
Wholesale & retail |
2.8 |
2,552 |
|
Finance, property |
2.2 |
1,638 |
|
Hotels & restaurants |
1.9 |
4,121 |
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