Online international conference on Asbestos at Work Directive: Challenges and opportunities

Background

Asbestos is a highly dangerous, cancer-causing substance which became widely used over the time due to its heat resistance and strength. Asbestos is known to contribute to the high burden of cancer in Europe.

Although in 2005 all forms of asbestos were banned in the European Union (EU), a substantial legacy problem exists across the EU, especially in many older buildings likely to be renovated or demolished. While extracting, manufacturing, and processing asbestos is prohibited, it is estimated that currently 4.1 to 7.3 million workers in the EU are exposed to asbestos and 125 million people worldwide. In 2019, occupational exposure to asbestos claimed over 70 000 lives in the EU.  

Against this backdrop, the Commission took a series of initiatives to tackle the risks resulting from exposure to asbestos at work and this Conference represents a crucial part of it.

Programme highlights

• Legal framework and enforcement aspects
• Main challenges and possible solutions from different perspectives
• Implementation aspects

Why attend

Bringing together high-level experts from some of the most frontline and committed organisations and authorities to discuss and share experiences in the field of workplace asbestos exposure, this Conference aims to facilitate effective implementation of the recently revised Asbestos at Work Directive 2009/148/EC by relevant stakeholders, hereby responding to the need for a continuous improvement of the prevention and protection of workers against the risks of exposure to asbestos.

In the same way, the conference will provide a unique opportunity to raise awareness about the ongoing relevant Commission’s projects and measures, on which the Commission is committed to continue working with the highest priority.

Learn more and participate

For further details, please consult this information note.

To register for the event, which will take place online at 13:00-17:30 on 28 November 2024, please contact EMPL-C2-UNITec [dot] europa [dot] eu (EMPL-C2-UNIT[at]ec[dot]europa[dot]eu)