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Vol. 1985/0 212 
  
 
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COMMISSION O F TH E EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES
C0MC85) 584 f in a l 
B ru s s e ls , 30 October 1985
"S a fe ty  in  the Use o f Asbestos"
Amendments and comments to  the Proposed Texts fo r  a Convention 
and a Recommendation in  P re p a ra tio n  fo r  the 
72nd Session o f the In te rn a tio n a l Labour Conference 1986
(Communication from  the Commission to  the C o uncil)
C0MC85) 584 f in a l

Concern regarding safety in the use of asbestos has  
existed for the last few years both within the framework  
of the European Community and of the International Labour  
Organization.
At the 71st Session of the International Labour Conference  
in June 1985 a first discussion took place on the topic  
of "Safety in the use of asbestos" and proposed texts for  
a Convention and a Recommendation were elaborated.
In preparation of this 71st Session, a letter, signed  
jointly by the President of the Council and the President  
of the Commission, was sent on 13 November 1984 to the  
Director-General of the ILO, with an annex containing the  
Community reply to the questionnaire (Decision of the  
Committee of Permanent Representatives of 7 November 1984).
Furthermore on the spot extensive coordination took place  
during the Conference in Geneva, on the basis of a Communication  
from the Commission to the Council, and this is clearly  
reflected in the Report (IV(1)) of the Conference.
In accordance to the Standing Orders of the International  
Labour Conference comments and amendments concerning the  
proposed texts for a Convention and a Recommendation are to  
be submitted to the Office in Geneva not later than 30 November  
1985, in view of the preparation of the 72nd Session of the  
International Labour Conference.
It is proposed that the form for the transmission of the  
comments and amendments be the same as used for the transmission  
of the comments on the same topic before the 71st Session of  
the international Labour Conference (letter of 13 November 1984)

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The following comments and amendments are proposed:
The present texts for the proposed Convention and  
Recommendation on "Safety in the Use of asbestos" will  
represent a considerable step forward when adopted  
and ratified, worldwide, in increasing the health  
protection of workers using asbestos?
As indicated at the 71st International Labour Conference,  
during the -Committee discussion elaborating proposed  
conclusions, it is felt that the proposed text for a  
Convention includes obligations and duties which go  
beyond the powers of competent authorities and which  
require modifications to avoid difficulties of  
ratification;
Article 6 of the Proposed Convention which requires
the competent authorities to encourage research should be
moved to the Proposed Recommendation;
Article 7(2) of the Proposed Convention which requires  
co-operation between employers when two or more are  
present at the same worksite and for the competent  
authorities to prescribe the general procedures for  
this co-operation should be moved to the Proposed  
Recommendation or the last sentence should be deleted;
In Article 10(a) of the Proposed Convention after the  
words "Less harmful" the words "at the same exposure level"  
should be added to better qualify the concept;
Article 13(3) of the Proposed Convention should be  
strenghthen with the following words at the end "and to  
reduce exposure as far as possible".
In Article 13(4) of the Proposed Convention the terms  
"approved by the competent authority" should be deleted;

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Article 14(2) of the Proposed Convention which provides  
for the assistance to small undertakings by competent  
authorities should be moved to the Proposed Recommendation;
Article 17 of the Proposed Convention should clarify  
the concept that all workers including those handling  
asbestos waste should be informed and protected;
In Article 18(1) of the proposed convention the term  
“methods approved” should be changed to "methods specified".
The provision of Article 19(2) of the proposed Convention,
to ensure that appropriate medical examination continues
to be available after termination of exposure to asbestos
is difficult to enforce by competent Authoritiesj however
the concept is important and should ajfpear in the proposed
, .  mRecommendation;
The provisions of Article 20(2) of the proposed Convention  
concerning a written policy are too wide without limitations.  
They should be moved to the proposed Recommendations or  
linked to the notification procedures;
A new paragraph should be introduced in the Proposed  
Recommendation after paragraph 2 with the concept of  
"action level";  a level well below the limit value which  
should assist competent authorities in defining activities  
to be excluded from the application of the Convention;
A new paragraph should be introduced in the Proposed  
Recommendation after paragraph 16 drafted as follows:  
"Spraying of all forms of asbestos should be banned".