Beyond Limits?: Dealing with Chemical Risks at Work in Europe

Cover......Page 1
copyright......Page 5
Acknowledgements......Page 6
TABLE OF CONTENTS......Page 8
INTRODUCTION: HAZARDS, RISKS AND LIMITS......Page 16
Hazardous Substances - A Defining Concern of Occupational Health and Safety......Page 17
Why Focus on OELs?......Page 20
The Countries......Page 24
The Structure of the Book......Page 26
Chemicals at Work in the EU......Page 28
Mortality, Morbidity and Occupational Exposure to Hazardous Substances in Europe......Page 30
Issues for the Role of OELs in Managing Work With Chemical Risks......Page 34
What are Occupational Exposure Limits and How Have They Developed?......Page 36
The Meaning and Use of Exposure limits......Page 40
New Directions in Regulating Risk Management of Hazardous Substances and the Role of OELs......Page 45
Conclusions: But What About Using OELs?......Page 50
Introduction......Page 52
EU Legislative Frameworks for Minimising Health and Safety Risks of Dangerous Substances......Page 53
Requirements Regulating Chemical Risks Generally in the EU......Page 55
European Legislation With A Special Focus On Protecting Workers from the Risks Arising from Hazardous Chemicals......Page 62
OEL Setting at the European Level......Page 68
Effectiveness of the Existing Legislation and the Future Approach at Community Level......Page 71
REACH and Worker Protection......Page 75
Conclusion......Page 77
Introduction......Page 80
Regulatory Systems and Responsible Bodies......Page 82
Implementing EU Requirements in EU 15 Member States......Page 87
Occupational Exposure Limit Values in the EU 15 Countries......Page 88
Procedures for Setting OELs......Page 99
Austria......Page 109
Belgium......Page 110
Denmark......Page 111
Finland......Page 112
France......Page 114
Germany......Page 117
Greece......Page 118
Ireland......Page 119
Italy......Page 120
Luxembourg......Page 121
Portugal......Page 122
Spain......Page 123
Sweden......Page 124
The Netherlands......Page 125
United Kingdom......Page 126
Conclusions......Page 127
Introduction......Page 134
Background: Legislative Reforms from the 1970s......Page 135
Regulating Risk Management of Hazardous Chemicals......Page 138
Using OELs at the Workplace......Page 150
New Approaches to Chemical Controls: A New Role for OELs?......Page 162
OELs and COSHH Essentials in Practice......Page 167
Summary of WEL Setting Procedures (After HSC 2003)......Page 174
Conclusions: Applying the New Framework in Practice......Page 176
Introduction......Page 186
The Extent of the Problem of Chemical Exposure in Germany......Page 188
Regulating Chemical Risks - The Germany Health and Safety System in Outline......Page 190
The Legislative Framework for OELs......Page 197
Wood Dust......Page 208
Toluene......Page 220
Discussion: The role of OELs in Monitoring Compliance with Requirements to Manage the Use of Chemicals Safely......Page 232
Introduction......Page 242
The Regulatory Infrastructure......Page 244
Setting Exposure Limits......Page 248
The Role of OELs in Achieving Compliance - in Theory......Page 250
The Role of OELs in Regulating the Management of Risk in Practice......Page 252
Challenges for Regulating the Management of Chemical Risks in Greece......Page 255
Enhancing Competence in Relation to Hazardous Substances......Page 256
Qualifications of Safety Engineer......Page 259
Sector Specific Experience of Wood Dust and Toluene......Page 260
Conclusions: The Limited Role of OELs in Controlling Risks of Hazardous Chemicals in the Workplace......Page 269
Introduction......Page 276
The Italian Model for Regulating Health and Safety at Work......Page 279
Legislative Background......Page 280
Measures Regulating Chemical Risks......Page 283
Application in Practice......Page 291
Conclusions......Page 301
Introduction......Page 304
The Infrastructure and Processes Involved in Setting OELs......Page 306
Political and Legislative Contexts......Page 311
Operating the Dutch Approach to OELs......Page 318
Conclusions......Page 330
Introduction......Page 334
The Use of Chemical Substances at Work in Sweden......Page 335
Economic and Legislative Background......Page 336
The Swedish Approach to Regulating the Work Environment......Page 337
Setting OELs......Page 339
Achieving Compliance with OELs......Page 342
Conclusions......Page 350
Introduction......Page 356
What are OELs for?......Page 358
The Changing Role of OELs in Regulatory Approaches to Achieving Chemical Risk Management......Page 362
The Way Forward?......Page 372
REFERENCES......Page 382
INDEX......Page 422