Mat Jongen / Remco Visser / Sonja Nossent Evaluating a national support strategy for managing chemical risks in small firms The Dutch experience:

Mat Jongen / Remco Visser / Sonja Nossent

Evaluating a national support strategy for managing chemical risks in small firms

The Dutch experience:

TNO Quality of Life, Cardiff - 06 March 2008 2

This presentation

• General information on chemicals and exposure

• Chemicals management

• Special Dutch initiatives

• Evaluation

• Current trends


Sectors (1)

26 High risk sectors:

• High risks agents: allergenic agents (organic dust, latex, isocyanates, biocides), organic solvents (in paints, glues etc.), wood dust, asbestos, quartz, chromium, welding fumes, cleaning substances, metal working fluids;

• The most hazardous working processes: manual cleaning and washing work (wet work), pouring, weighing and mixing of powders, spraying of paints and alike, slivering operations;

• Main health risks: allergy, skin effects, neurological effects (like OPS), respiratory effects, cancer.


Sectors (2)26 high risk sectors (number of workers):

Bakeries, flour industry (44,500)Car industry (34,000)Car recycling (11,250)Car trade and repairs (> 42,000)Cattle-fodder industry (??)Cement, chalk, gypsum, concrete,

ceramics, natural stone (19,500)Cleaning of buildings (200,000)Construction of building (440,000)Fish and meat industry (29,800)Furniture production (24,000)Glass and glass productsHair dressers (35,000)Health care (211,000)

Hotels, restaurants, cafes (300,000)Metal products industry (450,000)Paint and ink production (7,000)Polyester construction industry ( 30.000)Primary metal production (27,500)Printing and publishing shops (45,000)Recycling construction and

demolishment materials (6,000)Roads and utility construction (See

Construction of buildings)Rubber products industry (4,500)Ship construction industry (??)Tapestry and parquet flooring (37,000)Chemical industry (various)Wood products industry (17,000)


Hazardous substances(percentage of companies)

Organic solvents (9)Exhaust fumes (8)Corn, wood or flour dust (4)Quartz (2)Welding fumes (5)Tar products (1)Reproduction toxic agents (1)Other carcinogenic agents (1)Pesticides (4)Dangerous cleaning agents (15)Other chemicals (13)Other (10)


Exposure and health effects

• 1.7 million workers exposed (population: 16 million)

• 17000 workers with health effects

• 1850 workers die early

• Main health effects:• Skin disorders• Respiratory disorders• OPS, headache, migraine• Injuries due to accidents


Chemicals management - actors (1)

Seven main actors in Dutch chemicals management:

1. Governmental2. OSH-service companies3. Suppliers of chemicals4. Branch organisations5. Sector specific training and education organisations6. Professional associations7. Trade unions


Chemicals management - actors (2)

Government (6 ministries):

1. Social Affairs and Employment (labour, OSH)2. Housing, Spatial Planning and the Environment

(environment)3. Health, Welfare and Sport (public health, consumer safety)4. Interior and Kingdom Relations (fire brigades, fire

prevention)5. Transport, Public Works and Water Management (transport)6. Agriculture, Nature and Food Quality (enforcement of

labelling)


Legislation

Implementation of European Directives requires lots of tuning: long implementation time

Legislation on: Responsible ministry Responsible for enforcement

Obligations for companies (employers)

Obligations for suppliers

Labelling Housing, Spatial Planning and the Environment; Health, Welfare and Sport

Food Authority, Environmental Inspectorate

(derived, in OSH decree:) to label internal products as well.

To classify chemical substances and products and label it correctly

SDS's Social Affairs and Employment

Environmental Inspectorate, Labour Inspectorate

(derived, in OSH decree:) to adapt the SDS information in instruction understandable for employees

To provide SDS's with information for employers

Chemical agents

Social Affairs and Employment

Labour Inspectorate Risk assessment on exposure of substances, taking measures according the occupational hygienie strategy

ATEX Social Affairs and Employment

Labour Inspectorate Make a risk assessment (in a Explosion Prevention Document), taking preventive measures, classify hazardous zones

Seveso Housing, Spatial Planning and the Environment; Interior and Kingdom Relations; Social Affairs and Employment

Environmental Inspectorate, Labour Inspectorate, Fire Brigades, Labour Inspectorate

Risk assessment of chemical installations in a safety report, Safety Management System

Chemical Waste Housing, Spatial Planning and the Environment

Environmental Inspectorate, Labour Inspectorate

Dispose of chemical/dangerous waste by a licence system, to a licensed waste remover.


Special Dutch initiatives (1)

1997 - 2004: OSH covenants. In 14 of 62 covenants the handling of hazardous chemicals was

part of the plan of action. Large programmes with multimillion EURO budgets.

1998 - 2003: SOMS(Strategie OMgaan met Stoffen - Strategy for the handling of

chemicals) was initiated by the Dutch government in 1998 with the goal of eliminating risks from chemicals by 2020.

2004 - 2007: VASt(VASt: Versterking Arbeidsveiligheid Stoffen - Enhancement of

Occupational Safety regarding Hazardous Chemicals) was directly aimed at improving chemical risk management in SME’s.


Special Dutch initiatives (2)

• Mandatory contracts with OSH service companies (now forbidden by EU)

• Mandatory assessment of risk assessment by OSH services (partly abandoned)

• MAC values policy (700 values - now mostly abandoned)

• Policy on reproductive substances (Dutch list of substances)

• Policy on OPS (substitution of organic solvents for indoor use)


Dutch strategies for chemicals management (1)

General:1. Legislation is main driving force

2. Policy making is based on consultation of involved interest groups (employers, employees, NGO’s, professional associations, etc): the ‘polder’-model: covenants

3. Prevention gets much attention in science and policy. This results in a substantial amount of research on health and environmental effects of chemicals

4. Mid nineties to 2005: 4 step assurance of adequate OSH service: (1) certificates for OSH servies, (2) accreditation of 4 mandatory disciplines, (3) approval of risk assessment, and (4) four mandatory services in contract with company


Dutch strategies for chemicals management (2)

NOW:• No more covenants

• SOMS overruled by EU legislation

• VASt finished in 2007

• No new Dutch legislation

• Contracts with OSH services less strict

NEW:• Arbocatalogus (“OSH catalogue” - best practices)

• REACh (exposure scenarios)


Results of the VASt-programme (1)

Purpose: to strengthen chemicals management in SME’s

Period: 2004 - 2007

24 action plans in branches and sectors

Indicators for chemicals management:1. Use of branch specific risk assessment2. Percentage of companies measuring exposure3. Percentage of companies not receiving SDS’s4. Percentage of companies that find branch organisation useful5. Percentage of companies giving adequate instruction 6. Percentage of companies satisfied with information on

chemicals


Result of the VASt programme (2)

Indicator Start - 2004 End - 2007 Significant change

1) Percentage using risk assessment

7% 15% Yes

2) Percentage measuring exposure

24% 22% No

3) Percentage not receiving SDS

35% 25% Yes

4) Percentage finding branch organisationhelpful

55% 53% No

5) Percentage with instruction

54% 59% Yes

6) Percentage satisfied with information on chemicals

76% 64% Yes


Strategies in the Netherlands - 2008

Government:• Implementation of European legislation, including REACh. No more new

Dutch legislation• Shift from government responsibility to industry responsibility:

• REACh• MAC values: from public to private• Risk assessment responsibility of company

• Government supports the development of OSH catalogues with best practices and instruments per sector / branch (labour inspection regime is dependent on use of catalogue)

Industry:• Chemical industry: renewed attention to Responsible Care - Global

Charter• Huge effort in implementation of REACh


Discussion

Who is helping SME’s in Wales?

• Regarding occupational safety and health in general?

• With questions on the safe use of hazardous substances?

What is the best way for improvement?

Documents

Mat Jongen / Remco Visser / Sonja Nossent Evaluating a national support strategy for managing chemical risks in small firms The Dutch experience: