The European Union (EU) Council took a crucial step on 23rd October 2023 to safeguard workers against asbestos-related health risks. They adopted a new directive that enforces stricter protections and enhances early detection of asbestos fibres.
Under the new legislation, member states have been given two years to revise their national laws and include all provisions of the directive, except for the use of electron microscopy for measuring purposes, which has a six-year implementation period.
As part of the update, the occupational exposure limit has been reduced by ten times from 0.1 asbestos fibres per cubic centimetre (cm³) to 0.01 fibres of asbestos.
As part of the update, the occupational exposure limit has been reduced ten times in value from 0.1 asbestos fibres per cubic centimetre (cm³) to 0.01 fibres of asbestos. Currently, the measuring technology that detects asbestos fibres (phase-contrast microscopy) is not as sensitive as the newly introduced electron microscopy (EM). When the new technology is rolled out over the next six years, member states may either measure thin asbestos fibres, meaning the exposure limit will remain at 0.01 f/cm³, or not measure them, whereby the maximum exposure limit will be reduced to 0.002 f/cm³.
The directive was formally adopted on October 23, following the political agreement reached by the EU Parliament and member countries on June 27. The directive also includes more stringent requirements to protect workers, such as the provision of protective clothing, respiratory equipment, and safe clothing cleaning.
Read further information here.
Compensation Claims for Asbestos Related Diseases
Bridge McFarland LLP has expert teams of personal injury lawyers in Lincoln, Hull, Market Rasen, Grimsby and Scarborough, helping clients locally and across the UK with asbestos exposure claims.
With specialist accreditations from The Law Society, Legal 500, the Association of Personal Injury Lawyers and Lexcel, you can be confident that the Personal Injury team at Bridge McFarland LLP will represent your case to the highest possible standard.
For clear advice about asbestos compensation claims, our sensitive, approachable accident-at-work solicitors are on hand to discuss your potential claim.
To learn more about how our team can assist you, please call 0800 987 8800 or email info@bmcf.co.uk.
Read more about the work that we do on our dedicated Asbestos Awareness website.
