Local view for "http://purl.org/linkedpolitics/eu/plenary/2002-12-16-Speech-1-079"
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"en.20021216.7.1-079"2
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"Mr President, Commissioner, ladies and gentlemen, I must firstly congratulate Mrs Damião. Furthermore, and not just because of the traditional closeness of the Galician and the Portuguese people, but also out of personal affection, I hope that she gets better soon.
Since work means risk, the issue of risk at work could probably be simplified into a simple formula: what percentage of risk has to be accepted? But it is also the case that certain risk agents are characterised by their almost imperceptible, hidden and silent, and therefore more dangerous, action.
Exposure to asbestos can cause serious illnesses, such as pleural and lung fibrosis and cancer of the lung, pleura or peritoneum. It can also cause other types of tumour, such as cancer of the larynx, of the rectum or of the urogenital system, regardless of the type of asbestos: amphibole or chrysotile.
Periods of incubation vary, according to the academics, from 20 to 50 years. Furthermore, there are still doubts and uncertainties about the effect of small inhaled doses and the limit and percentage of risk beneath which it is certain that cancer will not be caused, and the difference in risk between chrysotile asbestos – which seems to be less harmful – and amphibole asbestos, as well as the concern to prohibit the use of asbestos in work relating to the repair, refurbishment and restoration of buildings. In cases of demolition, workers can and must come into contact with asbestos despite the fact that this is prohibited globally.
I believe that, given the imminent enlargement of the European Union already agreed upon, it is extremely important that we modify Directive 83/477 on the protection of workers from the risks related to exposure to asbestos at work owing to the use of products and materials containing asbestos in the future Member States. While it is mainly used in activities connected to construction, its use is not exclusive to that economic activity. In fact, it has been used in marine, aeronautical and industrial equipment construction and these can therefore be considered to be risk activities.
Given this situation, reorienting the protection measures for the people suffering most exposure, studying the different risks arising from activities during which exposure is necessary, intensifying measures for preventing exposure or reducing it to a minimum and reviewing exposure levels, are objectives which justify the modification of the Directive.
I support the rapporteur’s three amendments. Requesting practical orientation on the basis of social dialogue to prevent the consequences of sporadic or low intensity exposure. Calling for the provision of suitable breaks in situations of physical or climatic burden, which should also be established on the basis of social agreement. To ask the Member States to lay down sanctions which are effective, dissuasive and proportional – I believe that in the Spanish translation it should say ‘
’, since it is not a question of establishing a particular proportion, but rather of taking account of the seriousness of the violation, time of exposure, risk, etc. The three requests express a will to comply with the Lisbon strategy. That strategy spoke of better jobs and better jobs undoubtedly means safer jobs. I am therefore particularly pleased to hear that the Commissioner is in favour of these amendments.
Mr President, in order to be effective, all of this legislation, this modification, this updating of the legislation, requires other measures. As indicated by the health at work strategy 2002-2006, it is necessary to promote a culture of prevention. That prevention is the objective of the amendments I am referring to. Of course, the use of social dialogue will be the best method for spreading the culture of prevention of risks at work, in general, and of the risks resulting from the use of asbestos in particular. It will therefore be the best method for horizontalising policies, for research, compliance with the law and establishing health and safety conditions or, to put it another way, for respecting human dignity.
Finally, I would urge that the timetable be complied with, because by complying with the timetable mentioned by Mr Hughes we will immediately improve the protection of the workers in question. We will therefore be complying with the provisions of Article 31 of the European Union’s Charter of Fundamental Rights."@en1
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