Safety and security at work: protection from the risks related to exposure to asbestos (amend. Directive 83/477/EEC)

The European Parliament adopted a resolution drafted by its rapporteur Elisa Maria DAMIAO (PES, Portugal) on better protection for workers from asbestos exposure. (Please refer to the document dated 19/03/02). The amendments to the resolution also reflect Parliament's concern that the Commission does not have sufficient human resources to meet the needs of technical scientific updating, assessment of whether legislation is enforced and exchange of good practices among Member States, for example in connection with the activities of the European Foundation for the Improvement of Living and Working Conditions and the European Agency for Safety and Health at Work. It went on to point out that enlargement increases the need to deal effectively with asbestos exposure. Asbestos was more widely used in Central and Eastern Europe than in the existing Member States and can be found in high concentrations. In many cases it requires a more systematic programme of removal than that laid down for the current Member States.�