Electromagnetic Fields (EMF)
A Directive on minimum health and safety requirements regarding exposure of workers to electromagnetic fields (2004/40/EC) was adopted by the Council and European Parliament in 2004. Members States should by 30 April 2008 accordingly adapt national legislations. However, due to difficulties in the practical application of the directive, the implementation deadline has been postponed for the second time (see update).
In order to assist the Commission a working party was
created with delegates from national authorities, unions and
industry. Euro Chlor has actively participated in this working
party as the industry is committed to ensuring protection of the
safety and health of workers in chlor-alkali plants and supports
initiatives that can lead to improvements. .
During the long experience of
chlor-alkali manufacture there have been no links observed between
EMF and adverse effects on workers health. Euro Chlor,
therefore, requests a practical approach and that the final
directive would not impose limits for the work in electrolysis cell
room that could have serious implications on the
industry.
The Commission has now proposed a directive integrating
the latest guideline on low frequencies EMF published by ICNIRP
(international scientific body on non-ionising radiations) and the
German authorities' study results. It is generally acceptable for
the chlor-alkali industry, even if technical adaptations will be
necessary in some plants; measurements campaigns will have to be
organised and additional risk assessments performed. See more
details in the Euro
Chlor Position Paper (PDF document) and the joint
statement of Business Europe, the EU Industry Associations
Council. (PDF document)
The proposed directive has been submitted to the
Council and the European Parliament for adoption before April 2012
(allowing repelling the existing directive). Euro Chlor together
with other affected industry sectors, have called upon the
authorities to retain the good progress that has been achived in
the Commission proposal (see below).
In parallel, Euro Chlor is also working with the European
Committee for Electrotechnical Standardization CENELEC to prepare
a standard for measurement methods applicable to the
electrolysis industries.
Update March 1st
The revision of the Electromagnetic Fields Directive is
postponed for the second time.
The European Parliament and the Council have
discussed the Commission's proposal for a revision of the
Electromagnetic Fields Directive during the last six months.
However, because of the technical complexity of the directive,
requiring long discussions with national experts; and the divergent
views on some key provisions of the proposal, the European
Parliament and the Council will not be able to finalise the
adoption process by the required deadline of 30 April 2012.
Consequently the deadline for transposition of the Directive will
be prolonged for the second time (probably by two additional
years). This would give sufficient time for the experts to further
discuss the outstanding issues in particular to update and improve
the exposure limit values.
Euro Chlor has closely been following the
developments and is working closely with CEEMET (Federation of
European Employers of the Metal, Engineering and Technology-Based
Industries). A workshop with Council member states experts was
organised on 8 February where a joint industry proposal for
improving the technical annexes of the directive were presented and
discussed. This industry initiative was appreciate by the member
state experts present and the discussions will continue during
Spring.
More information:
Contact:
- Caroline Andersson, Senior Counsellor,
tel. +32 2 676 72 48
- Jean-Pol Debelle, Technical Director, tel. +32 2
676 73 36
Last update: 03/2012
