BOHS Webinar - Asbestos Limits: A Discussion

The purpose of this webinar is to discuss and consult with PCM laboratories and other asbestos professionals, what practical limitations and difficulties would arise should similar limits be applied in the UK.

The European Commission and Parliament have enacted an amending directive (2023/2668) for the protection of workers from the risks related to exposure to asbestos at work. Some of the headline changes are:

1) To reduce the 8- hour occupational exposure limit (OEL) as measure by phase contrast microscopy (PCM) by a factor of 10 to 0.01 f/ml) from the 21 December 2025.

2) Then to further reduce by an overall factor of 50 (0.002 f/ml) from the 21 December 2029*.

3) To change to a transmission electron microscopy method (TEM) and/or a scanning electron microscopy (SEM) methods to allow counting of thinner fibres at higher magnifications, with an OEL of (0.01 f/ml) from the 21 December 2029*.

(*Subject to an EC assessment of feasibility by 31 December 2028, see article 22)

The purpose of this webinar is to discuss and consult with PCM laboratories and other asbestos professionals, what practical limitations and difficulties would arise should similar limits be applied in the UK. As we are no longer part of the EU, there is currently no proposals for changes to the UK asbestos control limits, but it is likely that the situation will be a focus for debate, when the EU reductions come into force, so best start now.

The webinar will have three short presentations to inform and prime the discussion:

1) An outline of the new reduced OELs and what they are designed to achieve.

2) A UK laboratory view of some of the practical issues to measure to the EU limits.

3) Some alternative strategies for measurement.

The outcomes of this webinar will be fed into the annual FAAM conference, which has been discussing science-led approaches, as well as new and practical methods to reducing and measuring the exposure and risk to asbestos removal and maintenance workers.

Find out more and register