Council Directive 78/610/EEC of 29 June 1978 on the approximation of the laws, regulations and administrative provisions of the Member States on the protection of the health of workers exposed to vinyl chloride monomer

COUNCIL DIRECTIVE  of 29 June 1978  on the approximation of the laws, regulations and administrative provisions of the Member States on the protection of the health of workers exposed to vinyl chloride monomer  (78/610/EEC)
THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES
,
Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Economic Community, and in particular Article 100 thereof,
Having regard to the proposal from the Commission,
Having regard to the opinion of the European Parliament (1),
Having regard to the opinion of the Economic and Social Committee (2),
Whereas, in the past it was recognized that vinyl chloride monomer was capable of giving rise only to the generally reversible disease known as "occupational acro-osteolysis" ; whereas more recent evidence from epidemiological studies and animal experimentation indicates that prolonged and/or repeated exposure to high concentrations of vinyl chloride monomer in the atmosphere may give rise to a "vinyl chloride monomer" syndrome encompassing, in addition to occupational acro-osteolysis, the skin disease scleroderma and liver disorders;
Whereas vinyl chloride monomer should also be regarded as a carcinogen which may cause angiosarcoma, a rare malignant tumour which can also occur without any known cause;
Whereas, although working conditions are considerably better than those under which the above syndrome formerly occurred, a comparison of protective measures taken by each Member State reveals certain differences ; whereas, therefore, in the interests of balanced economic and social development, these national laws, which directly affect the functioning of the common market, should be harmonized and improved;
Whereas the first step should be to take technical preventive and protective measures based on the latest scientific knowledge so that the values of concentrations of vinyl chloride monomer in the atmosphere in the works can be reduced to an extremely low figure;
Whereas medical surveillance of workers in the vinyl chloride monomer and vinyl chloride polymer industry should take account of the latest medical knowledge, in order that the health of workers in this important sector of the chemical industry may be protected;
Whereas the urgent need to harmonize laws in this field is recognized by both sides of industry which took part in the discussion on this specific problem ; whereas efforts must therefore be made towards the approximation, while the improvement is being maintained, of the laws, regulations and administrative provisions of the Member States as envisaged in Article 117 of the Treaty;
Whereas the provisions of this Directive constitute minimal requirements which may be re-examined in the light of the experience gained and of progress in medical techniques and knowledge in this field, the final objective being to achieve optimum protection of workers,