Council Directive 98/24/EC of 7 April 1998 on the protection of the health and safety of workers from the risks related to chemical agents at work (fourteenth individual Directive within the meaning of Article 16(1) of Directive 89/391/EEC)
Date: 1998-04-07

num: Article 1
paragraphs: Objective and scope
1. This Directive, which is the fourteenth individual Directive within the meaning of Article 16(1) of Directive 89/391/EEC, lays down minimum requirements for the protection of workers from risks to their safety and health arising, or likely to arise, from the effects of chemical agents that are present at the workplace or as a result of any work activity involving chemical agents.
2. The requirements of this Directive apply where hazardous chemical agents are present or may be present at the workplace, without prejudice to the provisions for chemical agents to which measures for radiation protection apply pursuant to Directives adopted under the Treaty establishing the European Atomic Energy Community.
3. For carcinogens at work the provisions of this Directive shall apply without prejudice to more stringent and/or specific provisions contained in Council Directive 90/394/EEC of 28 June 1990 on the protection of workers from the risks related to exposure to carcinogens (sixth individual Directive within the meaning of Article 16(1) of Directive 89/391/EEC) (15).
4. The provisions of Directive 89/391/EEC shall apply fully to the whole field referred to in this Article, without prejudice to more stringent and/or specific provisions contained in this Directive.
5. As far as the transport of hazardous chemical agents is concerned, the provisions of this Directive shall apply without prejudice to more stringent and/or specific provisions contained in Directive 94/55/EC (16), in Directive 96/49/EC (17), in the provisions of the IMDG Code, IBC Code and IGC Code as defined in Article 2 of Directive 93/75/EEC (18), in the provisions of the European Agreement concerning the International Carriage of Dangerous Goods by Inland Waterway and of the Regulation for the Carriage of Dangerous Substances on the Rhine as incorporated in Community law and in the technical instructions for the safe transport of dangerous goods issued, at the date of entry into force of this Directive, by the International Civil Aviation Organisation.
num: Article 2
paragraphs: Definitions
For the purpose of this Directive, the terms used shall have the following meanings:
(a) 'Chemical agent` means any chemical element or compound, on its own or admixed, as it occurs in the natural state or as produced, used or released, including release as waste, by any work activity, whether or not produced intentionally and whether or not placed on the market;
(b) 'Hazardous chemical agent` means:
(i) any chemical agent which meets the criteria for classification as a dangerous substance according to the criteria in Annex VI to Directive 67/548/EEC, whether or not that substance is classified under that Directive, other than those substances which only meet the criteria for classification as dangerous for the environment;
(ii) any chemical agent which meets the criteria for classification as a dangerous preparation within the meaning of Directive 88/379/EEC, whether or not that preparation is classified under that Directive, other than those preparations which only meet the criteria for classification as dangerous for the environment;
(iii) any chemical agent which, whilst not meeting the criteria for classification as dangerous in accordance with (i) and (ii), may, because of its physico-chemical, chemical or toxicological properties and the way it is used or is present in the workplace, present a risk to the safety and health of workers, including any chemical agent assigned an occupational exposure limit value under Article 3.
(c) 'Activity involving chemical agents` means any work in which chemical agents are used, or are intended to be used, in any process, including production, handling, storage, transport or disposal and treatment, or which result from such work;
(d) 'Occupational exposure limit value` means, unless otherwise specified, the limit of the time-weighted average of the concentration of a chemical agent in the air within the breathing zone of a worker in relation to a specified reference period;
(e) 'Biological limit value` means the limit of the concentration in the appropriate biological medium of the relevant agent, its metabolite, or an indicator of effect;
(f) 'Health surveillance` means the assessment of an individual worker to determine the state of health of that individual, as related to exposure to specific chemical agents at work;
(g) 'Hazard` means the intrinsic property of a chemical agent with the potential to cause harm;
(h) 'Risk` means the likelihood that the potential for harm will be attained under the conditions of use and/or exposure.
num: Article 3
paragraphs: Occupational exposure limit values and biological limit values
1. The Commission shall evaluate the relationship between the health effects of hazardous chemical agents and the level of occupational exposure by means of an independent scientific assessment of the latest available scientific data.
2. On the basis of the evaluation described in paragraph 1, the Commission, after first consulting the Advisory Committee on Safety, Hygiene and Health protection at Work, shall propose European objectives in the form of indicative occupational exposure limit values for the protection of workers from chemical risks, to be set at Community level.
These limit values shall be established or revised, taking into account the availability of measurement techniques, in accordance with the procedure laid down in Article 17 of Directive 89/391/EEC. Member States shall keep workers' and employers' organisations informed of indicative occupational exposure limit values set at Community level.
3. For any chemical agent for which an indicative occupational exposure limit value is established at Community level, Member States shall establish a national occupational exposure limit value, taking into account the Community limit value, determining its nature in accordance with national legislation and practice.
4. Binding occupational exposure limit values may be drawn up at Community level and, in addition to the factors considered when establishing indicative occupational exposure limit values, shall reflect feasibility factors while maintaining the aim of ensuring the health of workers at work. Such limit values shall be established in accordance with Article 118a of the Treaty and laid down in Annex I to this Directive.
5. For any chemical agent for which a binding occupational exposure limit value is established. Member States shall establish a corresponding national binding occupational exposure limit value based on, but not exceeding, the Community limit value.
6. Binding biological limit values may be drawn up at Community level on the basis of the evaluation described in paragraph 1 and of the availability of measurement techniques, and shall reflect feasibility factors while maintaining the aim of ensuring the health of workers at work. Such limit values shall be established in accordance with the procedure laid down in Article 118a of the Treaty and laid down in Annex II to this Directive, together with other relevant health surveillance information.
7. For any chemical agent for which a binding biological limit value is established, Member States shall establish a corresponding national binding biological limit value based on, but not exceeding, the Community limit value.
8. Where a Member State introduces or revises a national occupational exposure limit value or a national biological limit value for a chemical agent, it shall inform the Commission and other Member States thereof together with the relevant scientific and technical data. The Commission shall undertake the appropriate action.
9. On the basis of the reports provided by the Member States under Article 15, the Commission shall carry out an assessment of the way in which Member States have taken account of Community indicative limit values when establishing the corresponding national occupational exposure limit values.
10. Standardised methods for the measurement and evaluation of workplace air concentrations in relation to occupational exposure limit values shall be developed in accordance with Article 12(2).
num: Article 4
paragraphs: Determination and assessment of risk of hazardous chemical agents
1. In carrying out the obligations laid down in Articles 6(3) and 9(1) of Directive 89/391/EEC, the employer shall first determine whether any hazardous chemical agents are present at the workplace. If so, he shall then assess any risk to the safety and health of workers arising from the presence of those chemical agents, taking into consideration the following:
- their hazardous properties,
- information on safety and health that shall be provided by the supplier, (e.g. the relevant safety data sheet in accordance with the provisions of Directive 67/548/EEC or Directive 88/379/EEC),
- the level, type and duration of exposure,
- the circumstances of work involving such agents, including their amount,
- any occupational exposure limit values or biological limit values established on the territory of the Member State in question,
- the effect of preventive measures taken or to be taken,
- where available, the conclusions to be drawn from any health surveillance already undertaken.
The employer shall obtain additional information which is needed for the risk assessment from the supplier or from other readily available sources. Where appropriate, this information shall comprise the specific assessment concerning the risk to users established on the basis of Community legislation on chemical agents.
2. The employer must be in possession of an assessment of the risk in accordance with Article 9 of Directive 89/391/EEC, and shall identify which measures have been taken in accordance with Articles 5 and 6 of this Directive. The risk assessment shall be documented in a suitable form according to national law and practice, and may include a justification by the employer that the nature and extent of the risks related to chemical agents make a further detailed risk assessment unnecessary. The risk assessment shall be kept up-to-date, particularly if there have been significant changes which could render it out-of-date, or when the results of health surveillance show it to be necessary.
3. Certain activities within the undertaking or establishment, such as maintenance, in respect of which it is foreseeable that there is a potential for significant exposure, or which may result in deleterious effects to safety and health for other reasons, even after all technical measures have been taken, shall be included in the risk assessment.
4. In the case of activities involving exposure to several hazardous chemical agents, the risk shall be assessed on the basis of the risk presented by all such chemical agents in combination.
5. In the case of a new activity involving hazardous chemical agents, work shall only commence after an assessment of the risk of that activity has been made and any preventive measures identified have been implemented.
6. Practical guidelines for the determination and assessment of risk, and for their review and, if necessary, adjustment, shall be developed in accordance with Article 12(2).
num: Article 5
paragraphs: General principles for prevention of risks associated with hazardous chemical agents and application of this Directive in relation to assessment of risks
1. In carrying out his obligation to ensure the health and safety of workers in any activity involving hazardous chemical agents the employer shall take the necessary preventive measures set out in Article 6(1) and (2) of Directive 89/391/EEC and include the measures set out in this Directive.
2. Risks to the health and safety of workers at work involving hazardous chemical agents shall be eliminated or reduced to a minimum by:
- the design and organisation of systems of work at the workplace,
- the provision of suitable equipment for work with chemical agents and maintenance procedures which ensure the health and safety of workers at work,
- reducing to a minimum the number of workers exposed or likely to be exposed,
- reducing to a minimum the duration and intensity of exposure,
- appropriate hygiene measures,
- reducing the quantity of chemical agents present at the workplace to the minimum required for the type of work concerned,
- suitable working procedures including arrangements for the safe handling, storage and transport within the workplace of hazardous chemical agents and waste containing such chemical agents.
Practical guidelines for preventive measures to control risk shall be developed in accordance with Article 12(2).
3. Where the results of the assessment referred to in Article 4(1) reveal a risk to the safety and health of workers, the specific protection, prevention and monitoring measures laid down in Articles 6, 7 and 10 shall be applied.
4. Where the results of the risk assessment referred to in Article 4(1) show that, because of the quantities of a hazardous chemical agent present in the workplace, there is only a slight risk to the safety and health of workers, and the measures taken in accordance with paragraphs 1 and 2 of this Article are sufficient to reduce that risk, the provisions of Articles 6, 7 and 10 shall not apply.
num: Article 6
paragraphs: Specific protection and prevention measures
1. The employer shall ensure that the risk from a hazardous chemical agent to the safety and health of workers at work is eliminated or reduced to a minimum.
2. In applying paragraph 1, substitution shall by preference be undertaken, whereby the employer shall avoid the use of a hazardous chemical agent by replacing it with a chemical agent or process which, under its condition of use, is not hazardous or less hazardous to workers' safety and health, as the case may be.
Where the nature of the activity does not permit risk to be eliminated by substitution, having regard to the activity and risk assessment referred to in Article 4, the employer shall ensure that the risk is reduced to a minimum by application of protection and prevention measures, consistent with the assessment of the risk made pursuant to Article 4. These will include, in order of priority:
(a) design of appropriate work processes and engineering controls and use of adequate equipment and materials, so as to avoid or minimise the release of hazardous chemical agents which may present a risk to workers' safety and health at the place of work;
(b) application of collective protection measures at the source of the risk, such as adequate ventilation and appropriate organizational measures;
(c) where exposure cannot be prevented by other means, application of individual protection measures including personal protective equipment.
Practical guidelines for protection and prevention measures to control risk shall be developed in accordance with Article 12(2).
3. The measures referred to in paragraph 2 of this Article shall be accompanied by health surveillance in accordance with Article 10 if it is appropriate to the nature of the risk.
4. Unless the employer clearly demonstrates by other means of evaluation that, in accordance with paragraph 2, adequate prevention and protection have been achieved, the employer shall carry out on a regular basis, and when any change occurs in the conditions which may affect workers' exposure to chemical agents, such measurements of chemical agents which may present a risk to worker's health at the workplace as are necessary, in particular in relation to the occupational exposure limit values.
5. The employer shall take into account the results of the procedures referred to in paragraph 4 of this Article in carrying out the obligations laid down in or resulting as a consequence of Article 4.
In any event, where an occupational exposure limit value effectively established on the territory of a Member State has been exceeded, the employer shall immediately take steps, taking into account the nature of that limit, to remedy the situation by carrying out preventive and protective measures.
6. On the basis of the overall assessment of and general principles for the prevention of risks in Articles 4 and 5, the employer shall take technical and/or organisational measures appropriate to the nature of the operation, including storage, handling and segregation of incompatible chemical agents, providing protection of workers against hazards arising from the physico-chemical properties of chemical agents. In particular he shall take measures, in order of priority, to:
(a) prevent the presence at the workplace of hazardous concentrations of inflammable substances or hazardous quantities of chemically unstable substances or, where the nature of the work does not allow that,
(b) avoid the presence of ignition sources which could give rise to fires and explosions, or adverse conditions which could cause chemically unstable substances or mixtures of substances to give rise to harmful physical effects, and
(c) mitigate the detrimental effects to the health and safety of workers in the event of fire or explosion due to the ignition of inflammable substances, or harmful physical effects arising from chemically unstable substances or mixtures of substances.
Work equipment and protective systems provided by the employer for the protection of workers shall comply with the relevant Community provisions on design, manufacture and supply with respect to health and safety. Technical and/or organisational measures taken by the employer shall take account of and be consistent with the equipment group categorisation in Annex I to Directive 94/9/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 23 March 1994 on the approximation of the laws of the Member States concerning equipment and protective systems intended for use in potentially explosive atmospheres (19).
The employer shall take measures to provide sufficient control of plant, equipment and machinery or provision of explosion suppression equipment or explosion pressure relief arrangements.
num: Article 7
paragraphs: Arrangements to deal with accidents, incidents and emergencies
1. Without prejudice to the obligations laid down in Article 8 of Directive 89/391/EEC, the employer shall, in order to protect the safety and health of workers from an accident, incident or emergency related to the presence of hazardous chemical agents at the workplace, establish procedures (action plans) which can be put into effect when any such event occurs, so that appropriate action is taken. These arrangements shall include any relevant safety drills which are to be performed at regular intervals, and the provision of appropriate first aid facilities.
2. In the case of the occurrence of an event such as is mentioned in paragraph 1, the employer shall immediately take steps to mitigate the effects of the event and to inform the workers concerned thereof.
In order to restore the situation to normal:
- the employer shall implement appropriate measures to remedy the situation as soon as possible,
- only those workers who are essential to the carrying out of repairs and other necessary work shall be permitted to work in the affected area.
3. The workers who are permitted to work in the affected area shall be provided with appropriate protective clothing, personal protective equipment, specialised safety equipment and plant which they must use as long as the situation persists; that situation shall not be permanent.
Unprotected persons shall not be permitted to remain in the affected area.
4. Without prejudice to Article 8 of Directive 89/391/EEC the employer shall take the measures necessary to provide the warning and other communication systems required to signal an increased risk to safety and health, to enable an appropriate response and to launch remedial actions, assistance, escape and rescue operations immediately if the need arises.
5. The employer shall ensure that information on emergency arrangements involving hazardous chemical agents is available. The relevant internal and external accident and emergency services shall have access to this information. It shall include the following:
- advance notice of relevant work hazards, hazard identification arrangements, precautions and procedures, so that the emergency services can prepare their own response procedures and precautionary measures; and
- any available information concerning specific hazards arising, or likely to rise, at the time of an accident or emergency, including information on procedures prepared pursuant to this Article.
num: Article 8
paragraphs: Information and training for workers
1. Without prejudice to Articles 10 and 12 of Directive 89/391/EEC the employer shall ensure that workers and/or their representatives are provided with:
- the data obtained pursuant to Article 4 of this Directive, and further informed whenever a major alteration at the workplace leads to a change in these data,
- information on the hazardous chemical agents occurring in the workplace, such as the identity of those agents, the risks to safety and health, relevant occupational exposure limit values and other legislative provisions,
- training and information on appropriate precautions and actions to be taken in order to safeguard themselves and other workers at the workplace,
- access to any safety data sheet provided by the supplier in accordance with Article 10 of Directive 88/379/EEC and Article 27 of Directive 92/32/EEC (20);
and that the information is:
- provided in a manner appropriate to the outcome of the risk assessment pursuant to Article 4 of this Directive. This may vary from oral communication to individual instruction and training supported by information in writing, depending on the nature and degree of the risk revealed by the assessment required by the said Article,
- updated to take account of changing circumstances.
2. Where containers and pipes for hazardous chemical agents used at work are not marked in accordance with the relevant Community legislation on the labelling of chemical agents and on safety signs at the workplace, the employer shall, without prejudice to the derogations provided for in the abovementioned legislation, ensure that the contents of the containers and pipes, together with the nature of those contents and any associated hazards, are clearly identifiable.
3. Member States may take measures necessary to ensure that employers may, preferably from the producer or supplier, obtain on request all information on hazardous chemical agents needed to apply Article 4(1) of this Directive, insofar as Directives 67/548/EEC and 88/379/EEC do not include any obligation to provide information.
num: Article 9
paragraphs: Prohibitions
1. To prevent the exposure of workers to health risks from certain chemical agents and/or certain activities involving chemical agents, the production, manufacture or use at work of the chemical agents and the activities set out in Annex III shall be prohibited to the extent specified therein.
2. Member States may permit derogations from requirements of paragraph 1 in the following circumstances:
- for the sole purpose of scientific research and testing, including analysis,
- for activities intended to eliminate chemical agents that are present in the form of by-products or waste products,
- for the production of the chemical agents referred to in paragraph 1 for use as intermediates, and for such use.
The exposure of workers to chemical agents referred to in paragraph 1 must be prevented, in particular by providing that the production and earliest possible use of such chemical agents as intermediates must take place in a single closed system, from which the aforesaid chemical agents may be removed only to the extent necessary to monitor the process or service the system.
Member States may provide for systems of individual authorisations.
3. When derogations are permitted pursuant to paragraph 2, the competent authority shall request the employer to submit the following information:
- the reason for requesting the derogation,
- the quantity of the chemical agent to be used annually,
- the activities and/or reactions or processes involved,
- the number of workers liable to be involved,
- the precautions envisaged to protect the safety and health of workers concerned,
- the technical and organisational measures taken to prevent the exposure of workers.
4. The Council, in accordance with the procedure laid down in Article 118a of the Treaty, may amend the list of prohibitions under paragraph 1 of this Article, to include further chemical agents or activities.
num: Article 10
paragraphs: Health surveillance
1. Without prejudice to Article 14 of Directive 89/391/EEC, Member States shall introduce arrangements for carrying out appropriate health surveillance of workers for whom the results of the assessment referred to in Article 4 of this Directive reveal a risk to health. These arrangements, including the requirements specified for health and exposure records and their availability, shall be introduced in accordance with national laws and/or practice.
Health surveillance, the results of which shall be taken into account in applying preventive measures in the specific workplace, shall be appropriate where:
- the exposure of the worker to a hazardous chemical agent is such that an identifiable disease or adverse health effect may be related to the exposure, and
- there is a likelihood that the disease or effect may occur under the particular conditions of the worker's work, and
- the technique of investigation is of low risk to workers.
Furthermore, there shall be valid techniques for detecting indications of the disease or effect.
Where a binding biological limit value has been set as indicated in Annex II, health surveillance shall be a compulsory requirement for work with the hazardous chemical agent in question, in accordance with the procedures in that Annex. Workers shall be informed of this requirement before being assigned to the task involving risk of exposure to the hazardous chemical agent indicated.
2. Member States shall establish arrangements to ensure that for each worker who undergoes health surveillance in accordance with the requirements of paragraph 1, individual health and exposure records are made and kept up-to-date.
3. Health and exposure records shall contain a summary of the results of health surveillance carried out and of any monitoring data representative of the exposure of the individual. Biological monitoring and related requirements may form part of health surveillance.
Health and exposure records shall be kept in a suitable form so as to permit consultation at a later date, taking into account any confidentiality.
Copies of the appropriate records shall be supplied to the competent authority on request. The individual worker shall, at his request, have access to the health and exposure records relating to him personally.
Where an undertaking ceases to trade, the health and exposure records shall be made available to the competent authority.
4. Where, as a result of health surveillance:
- a worker is found to have an identifiable disease or adverse health effect which is considered by a doctor or occupational health-care professional to be the result of exposure at work to a hazardous chemical agent, or
- a binding biological limit value is found to have been exceeded,
the worker shall be informed by the doctor or other suitably qualified person of the result which relates to him personally, including information and advice regarding any health surveillance which he should undergo following the end of the exposure, and
the employer shall:
- review the risk assessment made pursuant to Article 4(1),
- review the measures provided to eliminate or reduce risks pursuant to Articles 5 and 6,
- take into account the advice of the occupational health-care professional or other suitably qualified person or the competent authority in implementing any measures required to eliminate or reduce risk in accordance with Article 6, including the possibility of assigning the worker to alternative work where there is no risk of further exposure, and
- arrange continued health surveillance and provide for a review of the health status of any other worker who has been similarly exposed. In such cases the competent doctor or occupational health-care professional or the competent authority may propose that exposed persons undergo a medical examination.
num: Article 11
paragraphs: Consultation and participation of workers
Consultation and participation of workers and/or their representatives shall take place in accordance with Article 11 of Directive 89/391/EEC on the matters covered by this Directive, including the Annexes hereto.
num: Article 12
paragraphs: Adaptation of the Annexes, preparation and adoption of technical guidance
1. Adjustments of a strictly technical nature to the Annexes in line with:
- the adoption of Directives in the field of technical harmonisation and standardisation concerning chemical agents, and/or
- technical progress, changes in international standards or specifications and new findings concerning chemical agents,
shall be adopted in accordance with the procedure laid down in Article 17 of Directive 89/391/EEC.
2. The Commission shall draw up practical guidelines of a non-binding nature. These guidelines shall address the topics referred to in Articles 3, 4, 5 and 6, and Annex II, section 1.
The Commission shall first consult the Advisory Committee on Safety, Hygiene and Health Protection at Work in accordance with Decision 74/325/EEC.
In the context of the application of this Directive, Member States shall take account as far as possible of these guidelines in drawing up their national policies for the protection of the health and safety of workers.
num: Article 13
paragraphs: Repeal and amendment of earlier Directives
1. Directives 80/1107/EEC, 82/605/EEC and 88/364/EEC shall be repealed on the date referred to in Article 14(1).
2. Council Directive 83/477/EEC of 19 September 1983 on the protection of workers from the risks related to exposure to asbestos at work (second individual Directive within the meaning of Article 8 of Directive 80/1107/EEC) (21), is amended as follows:
(a) in the first sentence of Article 1(1), the following words shall be deleted:
'which is the second individual Directive within the meaning of Article 8 of Directive 80/1107/EEC`;
(b) Article 9(2) shall be replaced by the following:
'2. The amendments necessary to adapt the Annexes to this Directive to technical progress shall be adopted in accordance with the procedure laid down in Article 17 of Council Directive 89/391/EEC of 12 June 1989 on the introduction of measures to encourage improvements in the safety and health of workers at the workplace (*).
(*) OJ L 183, 29. 6. 1989, p. 1.`;
(c) in the second subparagraph of Article 15(1) the words 'in accordance with the procedure set out in Article 10 of Directive 80/1107/EEC` shall be replaced by
'in accordance with the procedure laid down in Article 17 of Directive 89/391/EEC`.
3. Council Directive 86/188/EEC of 12 May 1986 on the protection of workers from the risks related to exposure to noise at work (22) is amended as follows:
(a) in Article 1(1), the following words shall be deleted:
'which is the third individual Directive within the meaning of Directive 80/1107/EEC`;
(b) in Article 12(2), the second subparagraph shall be replaced by the following:
'Annexes I and II shall be adapted to technical progress in accordance with the procedure laid down in Article 17 of Council Directive 89/391/EEC of 12 June 1989 on the introduction of measures to encourage improvements in the safety and health of workers at the workplace (*).
(*) OJ L 183, 29. 6. 1989, p. 1.`
4. Any other reference in Directive 83/477/EEC and Directive 86/188/EEC to Directive 80/1107/EEC shall be obsolete from the date of repeal of the said Directive.
5. Directives 91/322/EEC and 96/94/EC remain in force.
Final provisions
num: Article 14
paragraphs: 1. Member States shall bring into force the laws, regulations and administrative provisions necessary to comply with this Directive not later than 5 May 2001. They shall forthwith inform the Commission thereof.
When Member States adopt these measures, they shall contain a reference to this Directive or shall be accompanied by such reference on the occasion of their official publication. The methods for making such reference shall be laid down by Member States.
2. Member States shall communicate to the Commission the texts of the provisions of national law which they have already adopted or which they adopt in the field governed by this Directive.
num: Article 15
paragraphs: Member States shall report to the Commission every five years on the practical implementation of this Directive, indicating the views of employers and workers.
The Commission shall inform the European Parliament, the Council and the Economic and Social Committee thereof.
num: Article 16
paragraphs: This Directive shall enter into force on the twentieth day following that of its publication in the Official Journal of the European Communities.