CELEX: 51980PC0518
Language: en
Date: 1980-09-18
Title: PROPOSAL FOR A SECOND COUNCIL DIRECTIVE ON THE PROTECTION OF WORKERS FROM THE RISKS RELATED TO EXPOSURE TO AGENTS AT WORK: ASBESTOS (presented by the Commission to the Council)

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COM (80) 518
Vol. 1980/0170
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 ---pagebreak--- COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES
                                            COM(80)518 final
                                            Brussels . 18th September 1980
                    PROPOSAL FOR A SECOND COUNCIL DIRECTIVE
              ON THE PROTECTION OF WORKERS  FROM THE RISKS RELATED
                   TO EXPOSURE TO AGENTS AT WORK :   ASBESTOS
                 (presented by the Commission to the Council )
 COM ( 80 ) 518 final
 ---pagebreak---        PROPOSAL FOR A SECOND COUNCIL DIRECTIVE ON THE PROTECTION
                      OF WORKERS FROM THE RISKS RELATED
                 TO EXPOSURE TO AGENTS AT WORK : ASBESTOS
EXPLANATORY MEMORANDUM
1.   General observations on the Proposal for , a Directive
     Asbestos is the focus of attention from public opinion and from the
     various authorities in the Member States .    This has been reflected
     by the actions already undertaken by the Member States , by the debate
     and approval of a resolution on the health hazards of asbestos by the
     European Parliament and by study of the Economic and Social Commitiree
     on health and environmental hazards arising from the use of asbestos .
     The Commission has also published a report on the " Public Health Risks
     of Exposure to Asbestos" (EUR 5^53 e ) which contains a critical analysis
     of the available bibliography on asbestos as it relates to public health .
     Asbestos has been widely used because of its unique properties : tensile
     strength , resistence to degradation , in particular by abrasion and by
     chemicals , fineness of incombustible fibres , and thermic and electrical
     insulation qualities .   It is employed in various ways , in many industries .
     The main fields of application are the building , construction , engineering ,
     shipbuilding and automobile industries .    The major use of asbestos fibres
     is in a mixture with cement which is utilized for construction purposes and
     for pipes .
     The consumption of asbestos in the Member States has been estimated at
     over 800,000 metric tons per year , . the great majority of which is imported ,
     since within the Member States the mining of asbestos ( chrysotile ) occurs
     only in Italy .
     Man 's exposure to asbestos can occur in several ways t but the main expos-ares
     to asbestos ars work related and parap-vork related.
 ---pagebreak--- Work related exposure is either direct , such as from work in asbestos
mines , factories , etc . or indirect , such as from work in the vicinity
of asbestos contaminated work situations .
Para-work related exposure results from either domestic exposure of
members of households , as a result of exposure to asbestos contaminated
clothing of asbestos workers , or exposure through leisure time activities ,
such as results from the use of " do it yourself" asbestos containing
products .
The principal mode of entry of asbestos into the humain body is through
inhalation and a potential health risk exists from exposure to fine
asbestos fibres of inhalable geometric dimensions ( diameter smaller
than 3 ji) in the air .
Health effects usually occur after long exposures , but relatively      short
term exposures may cause disease , in particular certain tumours .
The following diseases have been shown to be related to exposure to
asbestos :
–  Asbestosis .   This is a progressive lung fibrosis which in general only
   appears after massive and prolonged exposure .      However a shorter exposure
   of only a few years can result in asbestosis .
–  Bronchial carcinomas .    An excess inoidence of bronchial carcinomas has
   been established iv relationship with asbestos exposure .      Cigarette
    smoking is a highly contributive factor .     Work related exposure need
   not necessarily be of long duration , but a high intensity usually has
   occurred .
–  Mesotheliomas .   The majority , but not all , pleural mesotheliomas are
   work related or para-work related to past exposure to asbestos .      There
   is general agreement that the risk of pleural mesotheliomas is fibre
   related in the order crocidolite ^ amosite ^ chrysotile ^ anthophylite
   but the magnitude of the difference between , for example , crocidolite
   and chrysotile is not well established .     Peritoneal mesotheliomas are
   probably only related to rather intensive work exposure .
 ---pagebreak--- –  Laryngeal carcinomas .  Certain of these tumours may be related to
   high level exposure to asbestos but a caused relationship is not •
   proven .
–  Gastrointestinal carcinomas .  Some studies have shown an increased
   prevalence of carcinoma of stomach , colon , rectum , and oesophagus
   in exposed workers .                                _
At the present time only a few systematic studies regarding the presence
of asbestos in lung tissues have been conducted in the European Community ,
and therefore the results of measurements of asbestos in tissues cannot be
directly related to exposure levels .  It is therefore impossible to present
quantitative expo sure/effeet relationships.                            _
However the available evidence suggests that in the case of mesothelioma
the exposure may be short and probably of lower concentration than that
required to produce asbestosis or bronchial carcinomas , but the long latent
period for induction of mesotheliomas means that they are a late effect
of exposure to asbestos .
                                                     *
Asbestos is thus a dangerous agent for which regulations regarding occupa­
tional exposure have existed for a long time in most Member States .     These
regulations cover a number of industrial circumstances and include in
certain cases exposure limits for the control of asbestosis , based on semi­
quantitative exposure effect relationships from short term , high level
exposures .
There are considerable disparities between the legislation in Member States
with respect to the extent of the coverage and also with respect to the
significance which is attached to the exposure limits .                   _
This proposal is therefore aimed at removing these disparities and it will
increase the protection of workers against occupational risks due to
asbestos by improving the means and conditions of work, knowledge and
human attitudes .            "
 ---pagebreak--- It is based on "the Council Resolution of 29 June 1978 on an Action
Programme of the European Communities on Safety and Health at Work ( 1 )
and on the Council Directive of               on the protection of workers
from exposure to chemical , physical and "biological agents at work ( 2 )
which provides for an Individual Directive on asbestos .    It is the second
such Directive .
One of the general objectives of the Action Programme on Safety and Health
at Work is that exposure to occupational risks must be kept as low as
possible .    To monitor more effectively the application of preventive
measures , surveillance of health and working conditions must be intensified ,
notably in line with the exigencies of occupational medicine , hygiene and
safety appropriate to present day conditions .
This action programme provides for the establishment of exposure limits
for asbestos , sampling requirements and measuring methods , and satisfactory
conditions at the workplace .
The Council Directive on the protection of workers from exposure to chemical ,
physical and biological agents at work already requires Member States to
ensure that as regards asbestos appropriate surveillance of the state of
health of workers is carried out during the period of exposure , and that
workers and/or their representatives at work have access to appropriate
information on its danger .
( 1 ) OJ No . C 165 of 11.7.1978
( 2 ) OJ No .
 ---pagebreak--- Asbestos is also one of the agents for which the following complementary
measures are foreseen ?                                                 ■
1.    providing medical surveillance of workers prior to exposure and     .
      thereafter at regular intervals .  In special cases , it shall he
      ensured that a suitable form of health surveillance is available
      to workers who have been exposed to the agent , after exposure
      has ceased ;
2.    access by workers and/or their representatives at the place of
      work to the results of exposure measurements and to the anonymoils
      collective results of the biological tests indicating exposure
      when such tests are provided for ;
3.    access by each worker concerned to the results of his own biological
      tests indicating exposure ;
4*    informing workers and/or their representatives at the place of work
    . where the limit values referred to in Article 4 are exceeded , of the
      causes thereof and of the measures taken or to be taken in order to
      rectify the situation ;
5»    access by workers and/or their representatives at the place of work
      to appropriate information to improve their knowledge of the dangers
      to which they are exposed .
Observations on certain specific aspects of the Proposal for a Directive .
Article 2 gives the definition of asbestos and the Chemical Abstract
number relevant to each of the fibrous silicates .
Article 3 sets out the field of application of this Direotive .
Article 4 contains three important provisions , all of which have been
called for in the resolution of the European Parliament , and in the
study of the Economic and Sooial Committee .
 ---pagebreak--- Article 4»1 propose that as safer and suitable substitutes become
available , the use of asbestos should be phased out .
Article 4*2 bans the use of asbestos for spraying ( flocking and
painting) .
Article 4»3 is concerned with reducing the use of crocidolite to a
minimum , since this is the most harmful form of asbestos and accounts
for only        of the asbestos mined around the world .
Crocidolite may continue to be used if its use is authorised by the
responsible authority of the Member State , but on a year to year basis .
The information for this authorisation is given in the Annex.
        ι
Article 5 deals with a notification scheme for the use in industry of
asbestos fibres , other than crocidolite .  This notification scheme is
to be run by the responsible authority of the Member State , and the
information to be submitted in such a notification is based on the
Annex.    This article also makes provision for a new notification to be
made if there is an important change in the use of asbestos .
Article 6 contains a number of pro visions which are aimed at preventing
the release of free asbestos fibres into the air at work :
Indent one is consistent with the study of the Economic and Social
Committee and deals with engineering control at source , and the
provision of closed systems to prevent the release of asbestos fibres
into the general work atmosphere .
Indent two is primarily directed towards preventing the uncontrolled
use of compressed air to clean brake linings , in particular those of
motor vehicles .
 ---pagebreak---   Indent three is consistent -with the proposal in ths study of the
  Economic and Social Committee when it called for " suitable packaging
  of asbestos designed to rule out all losses"®
  Indent four bans the direct handling of raw asbestos by workers , unless .
  it is impracticable to do so , as may be the case in asbestos mines .
  Indent five is a general provision requiring all buildings , plant and
  equipement to be adequately designed and installed , but also to be
  regularly cleaned and maintained.
  Indent six requires measures to be taken so that the . removal of asbestos
  from and the demolition of , existing buildings , plants ,, structures and
  installations containing asbestos is performed as safely as possible .
  Article 7 « requires that the work areas in which asbestos is being used
  are clearly defined , that the number of workers exposed are limited to
                                            *
  those who have to work in these areas , and that there is no smoking .
  The latter provision is called for in the resolution of the European
• Parliament , and the dangers of smoking are referred to in the study
  of the Economic and Social Committee .
  Article 8 . concerns the minimum requirements for the sampling and
  analysis of asbestos in air to ensure that there is uniform compliance
  with the limit values laid down in Artiole 9 for :
  1 )  crocidolite
  2)  fibres other than orooidolite
  The need to establish the lowest possible limit values and the lower
  limit for crocidolite in view of its greater danger , has been recognised
  by the European Parliament and the Economic and Social Committee .
 ---pagebreak--- Article 10 gives technical rules relating to the assessment of levels
of asbestos in air in relation to the limit values .
Articles 11 and 12 concern the steps to "be taken when the limit values
are exceeded.    Article 11 relates to the technical measures to "be
taken whereas Article 12 relates primarily to the measures to protect
workers .  It should "be noted that Article 11 takes into account the
study of the Economic and Social Committee which states that " when a
limit is, not , or cannot "be adhered to , all work has to cease in the
area concerned".
Article 13 requires that the employer keep a list of all his workers ,
as well as information relating to sampling and analysis .     It details
the records which have to be kept and maintained up to date by the
doctor responsible for the health surveillance .     This article is
consistent with the study of the Economic and Social Committee .
                                *
Article 15 details the requirements for the surveillance of the state
of health of workers in line with Article 3«2 of the Council Directive
          on the protection of workers from exposure to chemical , phy­
sical and bio-logical agents at work , and the complementary measures
referred to in Article 5 of "th® same Directive .
Article 16 concerns the availability and wearing of protective clothing ,
the need for special washing facilities , and the precautions to be taken
to prevent the spread of pollution by asbestos outside the workplace in
line with Article 6 of the Council Directive             on the protection
of workers from exposure to chemical , physical and biological agents at
work .
Article 17 requires workers to be adequately trained , and details the
information to be made available to the workers and/or their represent ar-
txves at work in line with Articles 3.2 and 5 of the Council Directive
of           on tl^e protection of workers from exposure to chemical ,
physical and biological agents at work .    This is also consistent with
the resolu'iion of ^he European Parliament and tho study of the Economic
and Socisl Coirni ttf:e r .
 ---pagebreak--- Article 18 is consistent with the views of the European Parliament and
the Economic and Social Committee and concerns the collection of star-
ti sties by the Member States * Article 18.1 relates to workers * sickness
absences of over three days , due to asbestos, and Article 18.2 relates
to the keeping of. a register of asbestos related diseases such as
asbestosis and mesothelioma .
Article 19 * sets out some of the means to facilitate the implementation
of the Directive and deals with the information collected .
Consultation of the European Parliament and the Economic and Social
Committee .
Under the terms of Article 100 of the Treaty establishing the European
Economic Community , the opinion of these two institutions must be sought .
 ---pagebreak--- PROPOSAL FOR A SECOND COUNCIL DIRECTIVE ON THE PROTECTION OF WORKERS
FROM THE RISKS RELATED TO EXPOSURE TO AGENTS AT WORK :   ASBESTOS
The Council of the European Communities ,
Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Economic Commu­
nity , and in particular Article 100 thereof ,
Having regard to the proposal from the Commission ,
Having regard to the opinion of the European Parliament ,
Having regard to the Opinion of the Economic and Social Committee ,
After consulting the Advisory Committee on Safety , Hygiene and Health
Protection at Work ,
After consulting the Safety and Health Commission for the mining and
other extractive industries ,
Whereas the Council Resolution of 29 June 1978 on an Action Programme of
the European Communities on Safety and Health at work ( 1 ) provides for
the establishment of specific harmonized procedures regarding the pro­
tection of workers with respect to asbestos ; whereas the urgent need to
harmonize laws in this field is recognized ;
Whereas asbestos is a dangerous agent found in a large number of circum­
stances at work and many workers are exposed to a potential health
risk ; whereas crocidolite is considered as the most dangerous type of
asbestos ;
Whereas a reduct-ion of exposure to asbestos will reduce the risk of
developing asbestos-related disease ;
Whereas asbestos is one of the agents to which the provisions of
Council Directive .../.../ EEC    on the protection of workers from expo­
sure to chemical , physical and biological agents at work ( 2 ) apply ;
whereas Article 8 of that Directive provides that individual Directives
shall lay down limit values and other specific requirements for those
agents listed in Annex 1 to that Directive , which includes asbestos ;
Whereas the same           Directive provides for the setting up of a
Technical Committee whose task is limited to the technical aspects
listed in Annex III to that Directive , and which are detailed in the
individual Directives ;
HAS ADOPTED THIS DIRECTIVE
 (1)  OJ No . C 165 of 11.7.1978
 (2)  OJ No
 ---pagebreak---                                  - 2 -
Article 1
1.    This is the second individual Directive pursuant to. Article 8 of
      Directive .../.../ EEC .
2.    The aim of this Directive is the protection of workers against
      risks to their health and safety , including the prevention of such
      risks arising or likely to arise at work from exposure to asbestos ,
      by laying down limit values and other specific requirements .
Article 2
For the purpose of this Directive , asbestos means any of the following
fibrous silicates :
      Actinolite , CAS number 13768 -00- 8
      Amosite , CAS number 12172 - 73 - 5
      Anthophyllite , CAS number 17068 -78 - 9
      Chrysotile , CAS number 12001- 29 -5
      Crocidolite , CAS number 12001 - 28 - 4
      Tremolite , CAS number 14567 -73 - 8
or any mixture containing any one or more of the foregoing .
Article 3
This Directive shall apply to workers exposed to asbestos at work ,
including those exposed where asbestos is extracted , manipulated , trea­
ted , transformed , loaded , unloaded , applied , removed or demolished , and exposed
to any other process which involves the manufacture of articles com­
prised wholly or partly of asbestos .
Article 4
1.    Asbestos shall be replaced by suitable and safer substitutes when
      these are available .
2.    The spraying of asbestos shall be prohibited .
3.    Whenever possible the use of crocidolite shall be avoided and all
      measures shall be taken to reduce the amounts of crocidolite used
      at work to a minimum .
      When the use of crocidolite is unavoidable the responsible autho­
      rity of the Member State may authorize its use on a year to year
      basis and shall inform the Commission .      The information to be
      submitted by an applicant for such authorization is given in the
      Annex .   Such Annex shall be supplemented and adapted in Line with
      technical progress in accordance with the procedure set out in
      Article 10 of      Directive .../.../EEC .
      Guidelines to assist the responsible authority of the Member State
      in granting authorizations shall also be drawn up       and adapted in
      line with technical progress in accordance with the procedure set
      out in Article 10 of       Directive .../.../EEC .
 ---pagebreak---                                    - 3 -
Article 5
The manufacturing , processing , storage and disposal of asbestos , other
than crocidolite , shall be the subject of a notification system run
by the relevant       authority of the Member State .        Workers and
their representatives in        undertakings or establishments shall have
access to the notification concerning their own undertaking or estab­
lishment .
The information to be submitted by the notifier is given in paragraphs
1 , 2 , 3 , 4 and 5 of the Annex .    This information shall be supplemented
and adapted in line with technical progress in accordance with the
procedure set out in Article 10 of -        Directive ../.../EEC .
If in relation to the original notification , an important change in the
use of asbestos occurs , then a new notification shall be made .
Article 6
The entry of asbestos into the air at work shall be reduced to the
minimum that is reasonably practicable .       The measures to be taken shall
include the following :
       asbestos shall be captured where released , and closed systems shall
       be provided where technically feasible*
       the removal of asbestos emanating from friction linings or pads
       shall be carried out by suitable procedures/
-      when not in use, asbestos as a raw material shall be kept and trans­
       ported in suitable closed containers ;
       the manual handling of asbestos as a raw material shall be prohibi­
       ted unless the circumstances of the case make such prohibition not
       reasonably practicable ; this may be the case in asbestos mines ;
-      all buildings   and/or plant or equipment involved in the manufac­
       ture or processing of asbestos shall be adequately designed and
       installed   and regularly cleaned and maintained ;
       special measures shall be taken during the removal of asbestos
       from , and during the demolition of , existing buildings , plant ,
       structures and installations where there is a likelihood of the
       release of asbestos .
Article 7
The areas in which the activities referred to in Article 3 take place shall be
            -    clearly demarcated and posted with safety signs ;
                 limited as regards access to those who work there ;    and
                 no smoking areas .
 ---pagebreak--- Article 8
1.     Sampling of ^asbestos in air shall be planned and carried out regular
       and shall be representative of worker exposure .       Personal samplers
       sampling at a rate of 1 litre /minute and using membrane filters
       shall be the reference sampling method ;      other sampling methods
       giving equivalent results may be used .
2.     Sampling shall be carried out as soon as is reasonably practicable
       following substantial changes in , or the introduction of , activiti-
       ties covered by Article 3 .
3.     Employers shall be responsible for carrying out sampling and analy­
       sis .    Its implementation shall be carried out in agreement with
       workers        and/or their representatives in        undertakings or
       establishments .
4.     Sampling may be carried out intermittently or continuously through­
       out the working shift .      However , the total sample duration shall
       not be less than one hoVir .
5.     The frequency of sampling shall depend on the concentrations ana­
       lysed such that the lower these concentrations , the less frequent
       the sampling .    However , this frequency shall be at least every
       three months .
6.     In the case of occasional exposure , sampling shall be carried out
       when appropriate .
7.     For the purposes of analysis' asbestos fibres shall be those fibrous
       silicates listed in Article 2 which are longer than five micro­
       metres with a breadth of less than three micrometres , and with a
       length / breadth ratio of greater than three .
8.     Counting of fibres shall be carried out by means of          optical
       light microscopes .
9.     In the case of a mixture in which crocidolite is used , the concen­
       tration shall be either analysed directly or calculated on the
       assumption that the proportion of crocidolite present in the mix­
       ture is equivalent to that in the air .
10 .   Sampling of asbestos in air shall be carried out by suitably expe­
       rienced personnel .     The subsequent analysis of the samples takeh
       shall be carried out in laboratories which are recognized by the
       relevant      authority of the Member State , equipped to carry out
       analysis of asbestos samples , and skilled in the necessary identi­
       fication techniques .
11 . The technical specifications for the sampling and analysis of
     . asbestos in air shall be -supplemented and adapted in line with tech­
       nical progress in accordance with the procedure set out in Article
       10 of       Directive . ../. w. /EEC .
 ---pagebreak--- Article 9
1.     The concentration of crocidolite fibres in the air at work shall
       not exceed the limit value of 20 x 10 fibres per cubic metre of
       air ( equivalent to 0.20 fibres per cubic centimetre ) measured or
       calculated in relation to a reference^ period of eight hours .
2.     The concentration of asbestos fibres other than crocidolite in the
       air at work shall not exceed the limit value of 10 x 10 fibres per
       cubic metre of air ( equivalent to 1.0 fibre per cubic centimetre )
       measured or calculated in relation to a reference period of eight
       hours .
Article 10
Where a total sampling period of four hours or less is used to measure
asbestos in the air at work , compliance with the limit values laid down
in Article 9 can be considered as being assured if the results of analy­
sis are below :
a)     10 x 10 fibres per cubic    metre of air ( equivalent to 0.10 fibres
       per cubic centimetre ) for  crocidolite ,
b)     50 x 10 fibres per cubic    metre of air ( equivalent to 0.50 fibres
       per cubic centimetre ) for  asbestos fibres other than crocidolite .
If these values are exceeded then additional sampling of asbestos in the
air at work shall be carried out to ensure that the asbestos in air
limit values as laid down in Article 9 are not exceeded .
Article 11
Where the limit values    laid down in Article 9    are exceeded , all neces­
sary steps shall be taken to ensure that the situation is remedied as
soon as is reasonably practicable .
In the intervening period the provisions of Article 12 shall apply .
Repeat sampling and analysis shall be made within a maximum period of
eight days .     If this shows that the limit values are still exceeded ,
all work shall cease in the area concerned until the situation is reme­
died .    The reasons , the steps taken to remedy the situation and a
request for approval to resume work shall be communicated to the rele­
vant    authority of the Member State .
                                                                           <
Article 12
Where the limit values laid down in Article 9 are exceeded or it is
foreseen that they will be exceeded
a)     the relevant     authority of the Member State ,    . workers and/or
       their representatives in ' undertakings or establishments shall
       be informed ,
b)     workers shall be issued with personal protective equipment of an
       approved type which shall be worn , and
c)     warning signs sha3 3. be put up .
 ---pagebreak---                                  - 6 -
Article 13
Protective equipment shall be placed in a defined location , checked ana
cleaned after each use , and a record kept of any defects which occur in
particular during exposure and the action taken to repair or replace
defective equipment before further use .
Article 14
1.   A list shall be kept by the employer of all workers .
     A copy of such list shall be given to the doctor responsible for
     medical surveillance and made available to the relevant           autho­
     rity of the Member State .                     ^                -
2.   An individual health record shall be established for each worker .
     Such record shall contain details of ... J work carried out , the
     dates and duration of        periods of exposure > the methods used for
      sampling and analysis , the concentrations of asbestos to which the
     worker has been exposed , the results of all tests which the worker
     has undergone , and the results of the health assessment .
     Such record shall be kept and maintained by the doctor responsible
     at the time for medical surveillance , for a minimum period of
     thirty years following the end of exposure .
Article 15                                                         -
1.   No worker shall be exposed for the first time or continue to be
     exposed to d risk of ill health from inhaling asbestos at work if
     it is considered that following an assessment of his health such a
     risk is contra- indicated .    This assessment shall :    ,
     a ) , be repe'ated at least once a year during the duration of expo­
           sure , and once every three years following the end of expo­
           sure }
     b)    include a clinical examination of the chest', respiratory
           function tests ( including vital capacity ) and a standard
           format radiograph of the chest .
2. , Without prejudice to national provisions and the specific require­
     ments of individual workers , such health assessments procedures
     shall be supplemented and adapted in tine with technical progress in
     accordance with the procedure set out in Article 10 of
     Directive .../.../EEC .
3.   Each Member State shall lay down the procedure for appeal against
     the findings and decisions made in pursuance of this Article ..
Article 16
1.   Employers .   ' shall make available to each worker individual working
     or protective clothing , which shall be worn .
 ---pagebreak---                                    - 7 -
2.   Separate locker and changing facilities shall be provided for such
     working or protective clothing and for street clothes .       Adequate
     washing facilities including showers shall be provided , and shall
     separate the locker and changing facilities so as to prevent the
     transfer of asbestos from one to the other .
3.   Working or protective clothing shall remain at work , it may however
     be transferred elsewhere in closed impermeable containers marked as
     containing asbestos to be laundered in special facilities .
Article 17
1.   Workers shall be adequately instructed for the work they are to
     carry out .    Such instruction shall include :
     a)     technical , health and safety information ,
     b)     the precautions to be taken , including the wearing and use of
            protective equipment and clothing .
2.   So that workers are aware that they are exposed to asbestos , they
     shall be so informed by their employers and all containers of
     asbestos as a raw material and all products of asbestos shall be
     clearly marked "Contains asbestos ".
Article 18
1.   The relevant        authority of the Member State shall collect the
     statistics of all workers' sickness absences attributed to asbes­
     tos , which last longer than three days .
2.   Member States shall keep a register of all persons suffering from
     asbestos-related diseases , including asbestosis and mesothelioma .
     The guidelines for this register shall be drawn up and adapted in
     line with technical progress in accordance with the procedure set
     out in Article "10 of            Directive . „/. . ./EEC .
3.   A summary of the information required under this Article shall be
     transmitted annually to the Commission .
Article 19
1.   The Commission shall convene when appropriate meetings of represen­
     tatives of the' Governments of Member States to examine any practi­
     cal problems which may arise ,from the implementation of this Direc­
     tive.'
2.   On the basis of the information collected , the Commission shall
     make reports to the Council .
Article 20
1.   Member States»shali bring into force the laws , regulations and administrative
     provisions nece.ssary to comply w'th this Directive before 1 Janu­
     ary 1985 and shall frv.- tlwith inform the Commission the-reof .
2.   Member States shall communicate to the Commission the texts of the
     provisions of nation.! 7 law which they adoo ; in th ? fiwld covered by
     the Directive .   •
 ---pagebreak---                               - 8 -
Article 21
This Directive is addressed to the Member States
 ---pagebreak---                                ANNEX
                  • INFORMATION TO BE SUBMITTED
         FOR THE PURPOSES OF ARTICLE 4.3 AND ARTICLE 5
1. Name and address of applicant or notifier .
2. Succinct description by the applicant or notifier of :
   a)   types and amounts of asbestos used
   b)   processes used
   c)   final products manufactured
   d)   buildings , plant and equipment used
3. Other dangerous substances used .
4. Number of workers exposed to asbestos .
5. Health , safety and hygiene measures taken including details of the
   sampling and analysis of asbestos .
6. Reasons why crocidolite needs to be used , including reasons why it
   has not been replaced by safer substitutes .