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Protecting Public Health: Why the UK Must Lower its Asbestos Exposure Limit Amidst New European Proposals

Adam Fox • 14 September 2023

With new proposals from the European Union to further reduce the exposure limit, will the UK follow suit?

Asbestos, a term synonymous with potential health risks, has been on the radar of both health and construction experts for years. With the Control of Asbestos Regulations 2012 in place, the UK has guidelines for managing asbestos exposure. But with new proposals from the European Union to further reduce the exposure limit, will the UK follow suit?


The Current State of Asbestos Control in the UK


According to the Control of Asbestos Regulations 2012, the current control limit for asbestos exposure in the UK is set at 0.1 fibres per cubic centimetre (f/cm³). This limit, also known as the Control Limit, equates to approximately 100,000 fibres per cubic metre of air, an alarmingly high number considering the health hazards associated with asbestos.


In addition to the Control Limit, the UK also has the Clearance Indicator. This is the level that an asbestos enclosure must achieve before it can be deemed safe. Currently set at 0.01 f/cm³, this limit ensures the safety of the environment after asbestos removal.


The European Union's Stance on Asbestos Exposure


While the Control of Asbestos Regulations 2012 governs the UK, the European Union has been making moves to reduce exposure limits even further. The EU Commission proposed a reduction in the exposure limit of asbestos at work to a value 10 times lower than the current level. This proposition would reduce the limit from 0.1 f/cm³ to 0.01 f/cm³, aligning it with the UK's Clearance Indicator.


This proposal, however, was not deemed sufficient by the European Parliament's employment committee (EMPL). The EMPL insists on a 100-fold reduction, which would lower the limit to 0.001 f/cm³, after a transitional period of four years.


The Implications of the EU's Proposal


The EU's proposal has significant implications for the UK. If the EU reduces its exposure limit, it could exert pressure on the UK to follow suit. But adopting such a low limit brings its own set of challenges.


Currently, there's no available equipment or testing technique that can perform personal monitoring tests at these low levels. The technology is simply not ready to support them.


Moreover, the masks that asbestos removal workers use have a protection factor of 40. To stay within the lower 0.001 f/cm³ exposure limit, any method used to remove asbestos must not release concentrations above 0.04 f/cm³. As of now, no working method can reliably achieve this.


The Agreement on New Asbestos Rules


In a move to protect workers from the risks of asbestos exposure, the European Parliament and EU countries reached a political agreement in June. This agreement entails updating the EU Directive on asbestos at work by lowering asbestos limits ten times and setting new measurement methods.

The new rules set the maximum exposure level to 0.01 asbestos fibres per cubic centimetre (f/cm³) during a maximum transitional period of six years. After this period, member states will be required to implement a new method for measuring asbestos levels - electron microscopy (EM). This method is more sensitive than the currently used phase-contrast microscopy (PCM).


Potential Impact on the UK


As a country that has been diligently following the Control of Asbestos Regulations 2012, the UK might face significant challenges if it decides to align with the EU's new rules. The technological constraints, coupled with the need to ensure the safety of workers involved in asbestos removal, might make it difficult to implement the lower limit.


However, the adoption of these stringent rules could also spur advancements in protection technology. This could lead to breakthroughs that could make achieving the lower limit feasible, ensuring a safer environment for both workers and the general public.


The Bottom Line


With the EU's progressive approach towards reducing asbestos exposure, the UK, under the Control of Asbestos Regulations 2012, may face pressure to adapt. The question of whether the UK will follow suit remains unanswered, but it is clear that the battle against asbestos exposure is far from over.

In the pursuit of a safer environment, it is crucial to balance the need for stricter rules with the practicality of implementing them. For now, the UK continues to abide by its existing regulations, while keeping an attentive eye on the developments within the EU.


References


1.   Control of Asbestos Regulations 2012

2.   European Commission's Proposal on Asbestos Exposure

3.   Council's Press Release on New Asbestos Rules

4.   Press Release from The Left

5.   Commission's Press Release


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