Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 23 Mar 1999

Vol. 502 No. 3

Written Answers. - Hazardous Substances.

John Gormley

Question:

112 Mr. Gormley asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the health and safety measures in place for dealing with asbestos waste on a national level; if she has satisfied herself that these provide proper procedures for dealing with asbestos waste; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8129/99]

Minister of State at the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment (Mr. T. Kitt)

The principal regulations governing asbestos waste are the European Communities (Asbestos Waste) Regulations, 1990, – S.I. No. 30 of 1990 – the European Communities (Control of Water Pollution by Asbestos) Regulations, 1990, – S.I. No. 31 of 1990 – and the Air Pollution Act, 1989 (Emission Limit Values for the Use of Asbestos) Regulations, 1990 – S.I. No. 28 of 1990. These regulations are the responsibility of the Minister for the Environment and Local Government.

In so far as my Department is concerned, the Health and Safety Authority is the statutory body responsible for the promotion of occupational safety and health and for the day to day administration and enforcement of relevant statutory provisions in this area. The authority currently administers and enforces legislation in relation to the protection of the health and safety of workers from exposure to asbestos and restrictions on the marketing and use of asbestos.

The current regulations enforced by the authority are the European Communities (Protection of Workers) (Exposure to Asbestos) Regulations, 1989 – S.I. No. 34 of 1989 – which were amended in 1993 – S.I. No. 276 of 1993. These regulations place a duty on employers whose work involves coming into contact with asbestos or materials containing asbestos to make assessments of the exposure to asbestos in the air in the place of work. They have a duty to ensure that employees are not exposed to concentrations above limits indicated in the regulations. In addition, adequate information must be provided to workers and their representatives at the workplace in relation to the potential risks to health from exposure to asbestos and the precautions to be taken. Employers must also ensure that asbestos used as a raw material is stored and transported in suitable sealed packing and that all asbestos waste kept in sealed receptacles is clearly labelled when being collected and removed from the place of work, other than in respect of mining activities carried on at that place.

Other regulations relating to asbestos enforced by the authority are the European Communities (Dangerous Substances and Preparations) (Marketing and Use) Regulations, 1998 – S.I. No. 462 of 1998. Under these regulations, without prejudice to other EU provisions on the classification, packaging and labelling of dangerous substances and preparations, the placing on the market and the use of products containing chrysotile fibre – white asbestos – may be permitted only if the products bear a label in accordance with the detailed requirements specified in Part A of the Second Schedule of the regulations.