Under the Cyprus EU Presidency, a landmark political agreement with the European Parliament expands protections for millions of workers, setting strict exposure limits on highly toxic compounds like welding fumes and cobalt.

A Landmark Trilogue Agreement

The Cyprus Presidency of the Council of the EU reached a provisional political agreement with the European Parliament on Tuesday evening on rules to protect workers in the EU from exposure to hazardous substances that can cause illnesses such as cancer or asthma.

The sixth revision of the carcinogens, mutagens and reprotoxic substances directive (CMRD) updates the EU’s health and safety legislation, with the aim of strengthening protection against exposure to hazardous substances in the workplace.

Cyprus’s Minister for Labour and Social Insurance, Marinos Moushouttas, said following the conclusion of the trilogue that the agreement reflects “our shared commitment to ensuring a high level of protection for workers against serious occupational health risks."

"By introducing new occupational exposure limit values, we are ensuring that the Union’s legislative framework keeps pace with the latest scientific evidence and technological developments," he noted.

This outcome, Marinos Moushouttas pointed out, "will help create safer working environments for millions of workers across Europe and further strengthen the prevention of work-related illnesses.”

Strict Limits and Broadened Scopes

The revision is expected to prevent around 1,700 lung cancer cases and 19,000 other illnesses over the next 40 years.

The text ensures full alignment of EU legislation with the latest scientific evidence, setting occupational exposure limit values (OELs) for cobalt and its inorganic compounds, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and 1,4-dioxane. It also includes a new recital pointing out that setting OELs does not completely eliminate risks to the health and safety of workers.

In addition, it adds welding fumes to the list of substances, mixtures and processes set out in Annex I of the directive.

Council and Parliament maintained the ambition and key objectives of the Commission’s proposal, while provisionally agreeing to expand the scope of the directive to include an OEL for isoprene, as well as to prolong the transitional period for the application of the new OEL for polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) to 7 years and broaden the scope of sectors benefitting from it to all carbon and graphite manufacturers.

New Rules and Next Steps for Adoption

In addition, an obligation of regular breaks is introduced for workers wearing personal protective equipment (PPE), clarifying the applicable rules on their use in relation to existing legislation. The institutions decided to update the definitions of “carcinogen,” “mutagen” and “reprotoxic substance” to reflect the first-time inclusion in Annex I of welding fumes with potentially reprotoxic effects, while highlighting the importance of developing further guidance on this substance.

The provisional agreement must now be formally endorsed by the Council and the Parliament. It will then be formally adopted by both institutions, following legal-linguistic revision.

Source: CNA(ΚΥΠΕ)