FR-Asbestos - OEL will be significantly reduced and a new measurement method introduced 03.11.2011
Following assessments by INRS and AFSSET of the measurement methods and workplace exposures, the French government has decided to reduce workplace exposure levels to asbestos to a tenth (from 100 fibres/l to 10 fibres/l) by 2015. Using a new method to analyse asbestos levels, the report showed that dust levels were much higher for certain materials than previously presumed.
Following assessments by INRS and AFSSET of the measurement methods and workplace exposures, the French government has decided to reduce workplace exposure levels to asbestos to a tenth (from 100 fibres/l to 10 fibres/l) by 2015. Using a new method to analyse asbestos levels, the report showed that dust levels were much higher for certain materials than previously presumed.
The reviews found that workplace exposures were considerably higher than expected, put into question the current concepts of strongly/weakly bound asbestos fibres and friability of materials, and proposed the general introduction of analytical transmission electron microscopy as assessment method.
Read the Press release (in French)
Read recent EU-OSHA publications on Safe maintenance – Asbestos in building maintenance.
Find more about the EU-OSHA maintenance campaign.
