 | European Campaign on the Evaluation of Hazardous Substances in the Workplace 2009-2011 |  |  |
Slogan: 'Hazardous Substances: Be aware, assess and protect'
The European Senior Labour Inspectors Committee (SLIC) launched an information and enforcement campaign for the improvement of working conditions aimed at small and medium sized enterprises that use hazardous substances in workplaces. The campaign will run from December 2009 to March 2011.
Four sectors have been selected for intervention, one or more for each member state:
- wood and furniture production
- motor vehicle repair (MVR)
- industrial and dry cleaning
- bakery
The Health and Safety Authority will incorporate this campaign into its ‘Programme of Work’ for 2010/2011 and will focus particularly on the motor vehicle repair and dry cleaning sectors.
In addition to real improvement of working conditions, the campaign aims to improve harmonisation across all member states in the compliance with European legislation on the use of hazardous substances in the workplace, contributing to the reduction of occupational diseases and work related accidents in the EU.
The campaign will disseminate information in a simple and practical way, as leaflets and posters that are specific to each sector of activity and a web page (currently under construction) www.chemicalscampaign.eu, with the provision of tools to help self-evaluation on the risks related with the use of hazardous substances.
Labour inspectors will receive training based on best practice inspection approaches for each sector in order that workplace visits will be more consistent across member states and the products of the campaign will be applied.
Gareth Doran, Senior Inspector for the OH/REACH Enforcement Unit is representing the Authority on the Working Group driving this campaign and can be contacted on 01-6147152 or at gareth_doran@hsa.ie for further information.