Changes to workers’ protections from the risks of exposure to asbestos

On 30 November 2023 the European Parliament and Council published Directive (EU) 2023/2668 amending Directive 2009/148/EC on the protection of workers from the risks related to exposure to asbestos at work. These amendments include clarifying which types of asbestos are covered by the Directive, all of which are classified in Annex VI of Regulation (EC) 1272/2008 (the CLP Regulation). The new Directive’s requirements come into effect on 22 December 2023. Member States have to transpose those new requirements in their national regulation system by 21 December 2025.

Among the other amendments:

• When assessing the risk presented by asbestos in the workplace, there should be a priority to remove the asbestos or materials containing asbestos before considering other options.
• The exposure limits of activities and the requirements relating to this exposure are amended : until 20 December 2029, workers should not be exposed to an airborne concentration of asbestos in excess of 0,01 fibres per cm3 as an 8-hour time-weighted average (TWA) (from 21 December 2029, 0,01 fibres per cm3 as an 8-hour TWA excluding fine fibers, or 0,002 fibres per cm3 as an 8-hour TWA)