Safety and health of workers: protection against risk from explosive atmospheres

The Committee approves the Commission's proposal. It urges the Commission and the Council to confirm that explosion risks due to chemical substances containing oxygen and fuel will be covered by the chemical agents Directive, and to ensure that there is no uncertainty or overlap between the two proposals. It would also draw the Commission's attention to the importance and relevance of inserting a reference to Articles 8 (among employers' obligations) and 13 (workers' obligations) of the Framework Directive in the present proposal. As regards questions of work organization, workplaces and equipment already in use, the three-year deadline stipulated in Article 9(4) for compliance with the minimum requirements could be eventually extended to five with a view to facilitating application, particularly by SMEs and crafts. In connection with the technical adjustments to the Annexes, the Committee underlines the important role of the social partners. The Advisory Committee for Safety, Hygiene and Health Protection at Work should be given a more prominent role at the application stage of the Directive and in preparing the vademecum prior to submission to the Council.�