European Commission Directive 2000/39/EC establishing a first list of Indicative Occupational Exposure Limit Values at European Community level in implementation of Council Directive 98/24/EC on the protection of the health and safety of workers from the risks related to chemical agents at work

Consultation ended 1 May 2001

 

Summary

Indicative Occupational Exposure Limit Values (IOELVs) are concentrations of a hazardous substance in air proposed by the European Commission under the framework of the Chemical Agents Directive (CAD). Member States are obliged to introduce an occupational exposure limit (OEL) for these substances in accordance with national legislation and practice that takes the IOELV into account.

The first IOELV Directive (2000/39/EC) is due to be implemented by 31 December 2001 and lists 63 substances. In May 2000 the Health and Safety Commission (HSC) consulted on proposals to implement IOELVs for 29 substances (CD156) and for a further 6 substances (CD157). For 19 substances the existing national limit was considered to meet the requirements of the Directive (although we have now decided to consult on Cumene).

This document (CD166) sets out HSC's proposals for 9 substances as well as proposals for three substances already partly covered by earlier CDs:

Chlorobenzene**
Cumene
Dihydrogen selenide
Ethylbenzene*
2-Methoxy-1-methylethyl acetate
Orthophosphoric acid
Phenol**
1,2,4-Trichlorobenzene
Xylene, mixed isomers
m-Xylene
o-Xylene
p-Xylene

* see also CD156
** see also CD157

This document also contains an amendment to CD156 and CD157 with revised proposals for 7 substances. The reasons for the need to reconsult are summarised in the main text (paragraphs 7-9). If you commented on CD156 or CD157 you may wish to check the revised proposals. For one remaining substance, Piperazine, HSE is not yet able to present formal proposals. These will be consulted on early in 2001 via HSE's web site at http://www.hse.gov.uk (paper copies of the proposals will be available on request).

All the agreed limits must be in place by 31 December 2001 and will be published in the 2001 or the 2002 edition of HSE's 'EH40 - occupational exposure limits'. Limits resulting from IOELV proposals will not come into effect until 31 December 2001.