NEPSI Negotiation Platform on Silica

1. NEPSI Negotiation Platform on Silica

2. i.e. more than 2 million Employees and a business exceeding € 250 billion NePSi:Aggregates, Cement, Ceramics, Foundry, Glass fibre, Special Glass, Container Glass and Flat Glass, Industrial Minerals, Mineral Wool, Mines, Mortar, Natural Stones and Pre-cast Concrete Employee organisations EMCEF, EMF Employer organisations UEPG, Cembureau, Cérame-Unie, CAEF, CEEMET, GEPVP, APFE, ESGA, FEVE, IMA-Europe, EURIMA, Euromines, EMO, EURO ROC, BIBM. Observers HSE (UK), BG (DE), INS (SP)

3. Silicosis control prevents cancerSCOEL1 SUM Doc 94-final, June 2002 The main effect of the inhalation of respirable silica dust is silicosis. Lung cancer only appears in workers who already have silicosis. Therefore preventing the onset of silicosis will also reduce the cancer risk. • SCOEL: European Commission DG EMPL • Scientific Committee for Occupational Exposure Limits

4. The setting up of NEPSI • Social Dialogue Agreement • Minimisation of Exposure • Protecting workers’ health • Effective, Flexible and Appropriate measures

5. The setting up of NEPSI • Improving workers’ health • Sectoral Agreement complementary to existing directives: new rights • Common will to have the agreement implemented

6. NEPSI negotiation calendar Three plenary meetings : 17 May 2005, 2 September 2005, and 2 February 2006 7 concurrent meetings of the Steering and Technical WGs 18 May 2005, 1 Sep 2005, 5 Oct 2005, 20 Oct 2005, 13 Dec 2005, 10 Jan 2006, 1 and 2 Febr 2006 Signature on 25 April 2006

7. Dave Gibbs, National Officer, Steel, Metals and Foundries Bud Hudspith, Amicus National H&S Amicus Representatives

8. The Objectives • The Agreement aims at • protecting the health of Employees • minimizing exposure to RCS by applying the Good Practices and • increasing knowledge about potential health effects of RCS and about Good Practices This initiative benefits from a grant of the EC

9. The Structure Agreement on Workers Health Protection through the Good Handling and Use of Crystalline Silica and Products containing it  Annex 1: Good Practices (Good Practice Guide) Annex 2: Dust Monitoring Protocol Annex 3: Reporting Format Annex 4: List of Research Projects Annex 5: Descriptions of Industries Annex 6: The Council – Secretariat Annex 7: Procedure for the Adaptation of the Good Practices Annex 8: Health Surveillance Protocol for Silicosis This initiative benefits from a grant of the EC

10. The Principles • Compliance with national and EU law, including national OELs • Application of the Agreement & Good Practices:Initial risk assessment to identify RCS exposures and application of general prevention principles • Continued use of crystalline silica • Ancillary obligations - Training - Dust monitoring - Health Surveillance - Cooperation to increase knowledge (R&D) • Reduction of failures(continuous improvement) • Monitoring Applicationat site level through indicators • Biennial Reportingthrough the Signatory sectorsto a bipartite Council • Summary Report published by the Council This initiative benefits from a grant of the EC

11. Biennial reporting site, company, country and sector level This initiative benefits from a grant of the EC

12. The Good Practice Guide (GPG)for Dust Prevention in the WorkplaceRespirable Crystalline Silica • Two parts: • Respirable Crystalline Silica Essentials • Task Guidance Sheets describing good practice techniques for various common tasks This initiative benefits from a grant of the EC

13. Concept of the GPG • Part 1: Respirable crystalline silica essentials • What is silica? respirable crystalline silica? • Description of industries • Health effects • Risk management: what do I need to do? • Bibliography • Glossary • Table of Occupational Exposure Limits • Tables of processes generating fine particles • which could result in respirable crystalline silica • exposure This initiative benefits from a grant of the EC

14. Concept of the GPGPart 2 - Task Sheets Title and (repeated) sub-titles Employee checklist Definition of objective Picture or illustration This initiative benefits from a grant of the EC

15. Entry into Preliminary reporting effect May 2007 25 /10 /06 Signature 25/04 /06 Time line First reporting May 2008

16. Social Dialogue Agreement(Article 139 (1) & (2) EC Treaty) Autonomous SDA: Social Partners are responsible for the implementation

17. The NEPSI Council Bi-partite Council, will meet at least every 2 years - implementation of the agreement - interpretation and application issues - adaptation of the Good Practices - communication with third parties - review of the sectors’ biennial consolidated reports - drafting of summary reports Decisions by consensus or at a double majority of 75%.

18. The NEPSI Council • Full and Alternate Members of the Council are appointed by their Party for terms of four years • The Council will be assisted by a Secretariat • The Council and its Secretariat are to be constituted on the day of the signature of the Agreement (25 April 2006)

19. Action plan for concerned parties • Raise awareness about the SDA and GPG • Distribution of translated documentation on sites • Identify individual needs • Creation of tools • Promotion within other sectors

20. Dave Gibbs and Bud Hudspith on the NEPSI Council Identify UK members of European signatories Promote the agreement in Amicus organised workplaces Metals and Foundries are a key sector Amicus Action

22. Recruiting Safety Reps • Have you got a safety rep? • If you have, are there enough of them? • Accreditation by regions • Confirm to employer in writing

23. inspect the workplace; investigate employee complaints; make representations to the employer; investigate accidents; inspect relevant H&S documents; and establish a joint union-management safety committee be consulted by employers on H&S issues receive H&S information and time off to do it Safety Representatives Rights

24. Get a safety rep, or Get more safety reps Get them accredited Get them trained Get your employer to act Make Your Workplace Safer Amicus H&S