1. Insert your logo
Prevention of Respirable Crystalline Silica at the workplace Social Dialogue

2. Crystalline Silica in Foundries
Crystalline silica is ubiquitous
Crystalline silica is the base material of cores and moulds
Crystalline silica flour is the base material of refractory materials
Where there is crystalline silica, there is often also respirable crystalline silica
Here you can see that crystalline silica dust is a standard topic concerning health and safety in foundries. The topic is not a new one, but has been tackled not by implementing new limit values but by implementing measures for the prevention and minimisation of dust exposure.

3. Definition of Respirable Crystalline Silica Dust (RCS)
Matter %
alveolar fraction (A)
thoracic fraction
respirable fraction (R)
Respirable dust is defined as the entirety of particles which can be inhaled through mouth and nose.
The alveolar fraction is the entirety of particles in the breathing air which can reach the alveoli. This is the PM 4-fraction of the dust which is composed of particles that have an aerodynamic diameter which is smaller than 4 µm.
Aerodynamic diameter (µm)

4. RCS at workplaces in foundries
Red line: Current limit value in A and inofficial limit value in D: 0.15 mg/m3
Grey line: Suggestion from SCOEL for EU: < 0.05 mg/m3
Insert a chart that informs
about the measured values
in your country
This chart highlights the fact that there has been a continuous improvement but that the already existing limit values are ambitious and that a limit value of mg/m³ or less will invoke substantial problems that are almost not resolvable.
The blue curve reflects the 90%-value in mg/m3 (Main association of commercial Employers' Liability Insurance Association)

5. European limit values for crystalline silica
This chart highlights the fact that fine dust is not only discussed in your country but all over Europe. Also, in the remaining EU member states the limit values are not always met.
(1) Other limits are applied for dust containing quartz
(2) Since 1 October 2006
(3) No OELs for crystalline silica since 2005, instead there is a workers health protection system.

6. IARC1 Classification 1997
Crystalline silica inhaled in the form of quartz or cristobalite from occupational sources is carcinogenic to humans, group 1
In making the overall evaluation, the Working Group noted that carcinogenicity was not detected in all industrial circumstances studied2
IARC is part of the world health organisation WHO.
1: IARC: International Agency for Research on Cancer, Lyon
2: IARC Monographs 68, “Silica, silicates, dusts and organic dusts” (1997)

7. SCOEL1 Statement 2003
The main effect in humans of the inhalation of respirable silica dust is silicosis. There is sufficient information to conclude that the relative risk of lung cancer is increased in persons with silicosis.
Therefore preventing the onset of silicosis will also reduce the cancer risk. Since a clear threshold for silicosis development cannot be identified, any reduction of exposure will reduce the risk of silicosis.
It arises that an OEL should lie below 0.05 mg/m3.
1: SCOEL: European Commission DG EMPL, Scientific Committee for Occupational Exposure Limits

8. New cases of silicosis excl. coal workers
This chart again demonstrates that new cases of silicosis are declining. This development has to be seen against the background of the fact that the incubation phase of this disease is very long and thus major improvements reached in the last decade are not reflected.
Belgium: Fonds des Maladies Professionnelles
France: Statistiques Financières et Technologiques des Accidents du Travail, CNAM
UK: Health & Safety Statistics, HSE Germany: Berufgenossenschaften Statistiken

9. Consequences of an EU classification
Substitution
Use in closed systems whenever technically possible (Minimisation down to zero)
Labeling as carcinogen
Environmental regulatory concerns (e.g. emissions, waste, etc.)
Critical public attention
OEL: below 0,05 mg
Not feasible in most foundry shops
Appropriate reply: Action not legislation

10. What is a Social Dialogue?
Agreement between social partners on EU level
Social Dialogue Agreement (SDA) instead of legal regulations
Preparation of „Good Practices Documents“
Employers strive for implementation
Monitoring in companies (employer/employee)
Several industries concerned
Formalised procedure of the EU-Treaty
Strong support through the EU Commission!!
Signature on April 25, 2006
Entry into force October 25, 2006
As an alternative to the regulation of RCS by European legislation, the EU-Treaty foresees the instrument of an European Social Dialogue of the social partners. The Negotiation Platform on Silica (NepSi), negotiating this special Social Dialogue Agreement was composed of employers’ and employees’ representatives of the following sectors: Aggregates, ceramics, foundries, glass, industrial minerals and metaliferous minerals, cement, mineral wool, natural stone, mortar and precast concrete industry. After almost 9 months of negotiations, that were strongly supported by the EU Commission, the platform concluded the negotiations. It was the conviction of the platform that workers’ health protection in this case can best be reached by means of this Agreement. NepSi found appropriate solutions, appropriate in many respects: In terms of workers’ health protection but also in terms of job protection and the economic future of the companies. Employers and employees will therefore jointly make their best endeavours to implement the Agreement and the Good Practices at site level.

11. Social Dialogue on crystalline silica in the EU –
Panels at the negotiations
NePSi
Office
Negotiation Platform on Silica (NePSi)
Plenary
Employers
Employees
CAEF
CEEMET
EMF
Steering-
Working Group:
Rules etc.
Technical
Working Group:
Measures etc.
The foundry industry is represented twice in the NePSi groups: Through the employers’organisation CEEMET (Council of European Employers of the Metal, Engineering and Technology-Based Industries ) and through the industrial organisation CAEF - The European Foundry Association.
On European level there is a very constructive dialogue with the trade unions.
DGV
GDM
VDG
Gesamt- metall
IG-Metall

12. Agreement text Objectives „Non application“: Principles
Health protection of employees
Minimisation of exposure through application of Good Practices (no European limit values)
Increase of knowledge
„Non application“:
Non compliance with the treaty and the Good Practices that leads to an increased exposure and thereby to health risks
Principles
Increase of knowledge, necessity of a strategy of prevention
Silica is indispensable for many industrial processes
The Agreement aims at protecting the health of employees, minimising exposure to RCS by applying the Good Practices and increasing knowledge about the potential health effects of RCS and about Good Practices. Through the implementation of Good Practices, the Agreement aims at improving the protection of over 2 million workers employed in the EU by signatory sectors from exposure to RCS and at enhancing compliance with the EU’s and EU member states’ existing workers’ health and safety legislation. The main principles of the Agreement are:
Compliance with national and EU law (including national OELs)
Initial risk assessment to identify RCS exposures and application of
general prevention principles
Continued use of crystalline silica
Ancillary obligations: Training, dust monitoring, health surveillance,
cooperation to increase knowledge
Reduction of failures (continual improvement)
Monitoring at site level through indicators
Biannual reporting through the signatories to a bipartite Council
Summary report published by the Council

13. Agreement text (2) Good Practices Monitoring and Reporting
Obligation to comply with described technical solutions or comparable effective protective measures
Documentation within the scope of a risk assessment (that needs to be created anyway)
Monitoring and Reporting
Double verification principle for monitoring the Good Practices
Monitoring format considerably adapted and easy to handle
Time and effort for monitoring within reason (0.5 to 2 days every 2 years)
Implementation and updating may require extra time, depending on the status of the respective occupational safety and health organization
Monitoring is added value from point of view of the workers‘ unions
The necessary work steps concerning the implementation and control of the system are summarised in a checklist that we already sent round.

14. employees exposed to crystalline silica
Annex 3 Reporting
In foundries the employer has to prepare a report every 2 years in coordination with the employees’ representative on the situation regarding crystalline silica dust, there are the following tasks:
Number of …
employees
employees exposed to crystalline silica
employees included in risk management
employees included in health monitoring
employees trained and informed on crystalline silica
technical occupational health and safety measures
organisational occupational health and safety measures
personal protective measures
Free area for your comments
At the moment a special NepSi task force is busy with the development of an online reporting tool that will be designed to ease the application through the member companies. As soon as this software is ready for use, you will be informed.
Just yes/no
no figures

15. Agreement text (3) Training of employees
Establishment of a council as single institution to supervise implementation and interpretation of the agreement
Equal representation, consensual decisions aspired
In repeated cases of unjustified non-application of the Good Practices by a company: Resolution on „appropriate measures“
Reimbursement through European Union
Confidentiality stipulation
Duration
Right for termination at any time at one-year period
If EU law is suggested regarding crystalline silica, parties convene to consult consequences
Entry into force
Since October 2006

16. More on the Social Dialogue
Negotiations have been concluded with a result that has been accepted by all negotiating parties
Concrete occupational health and safety measures have been agreed upon
The agreed health and safety measures as well as their monitoring and reporting are demanding
The agreements (especially the Good Practices) are geared to circumstances in modern central-European foundries

17. Good Practice Guide on Workers’ Health Protection through the Good Handling and Use of Crystalline Silica and Products containing it

18. Annex 1: Good Practices
Part 1: Respirable crystalline silica essentials
1. Introduction
1.1 What is silica?
1.2 Respirable crystalline silica
1.3 Occupational exposure to respirable crystalline silica
2. Silica and the silica industry
2.1 Where silica occurs
3. Respirable crystalline silica and its health effects
4. Risk Management – What do I need to do?
Annex 1: Table of Occupational Exposure Limit Values 2
Annex 2: Tables of processes generating fine particles
Part 2: Task Manual
56 Task Guidance Sheets, of which 28 are of relevance for foundries
The Good Practice Guide for dust prevention in the work place has two parts:
1. RCS essentials
2. Task guidance sheets describing Good Practice techniques
The objective of the guide is to give guidance on the practical application of a program to manage RCS and guidance on safe use of crystalline silica containing products in the workplace. It is a dynamic guide, which concentrates on the aspects that are considered the most significant. The guide represents a summary of information collected from a number of sources, including existing documents providing information on the RCS issue, legal documents and expertise of people working in the industry.
The first part of the Good Practice Guide is aimed primarily at employers. It is designed to help them decide whether health is at risk from exposure to RCS. The booklet will guide them through the process of risk assessment and provide them with some general guidance on methods for controlling exposure to RCS in the workplace. It also stresses the importance of continual improvement.

19. Annex 1
Risk Management
The first part of the Good Practice Guide is aimed primarily at employers. It is designed to help them decide whether the health of their employees or others present in the workplace is at risk from exposure to respirable crystalline silica. The booklet will guide them through the process of risk assessment and provide them with some general guidance on methods for controlling exposure to respirable crystalline silica in the workplace. It also stresses the importance of continual improvement.
Using a simple question and answer format, it will introduce basic risk management techniques that should be applied to workplace situations where persons may be exposed to respirable crystalline silica.
We recommend to study and implement the first part of the guidance very carefully, before starting to implement the task sheets. This will ease the implementation of the Good Practices.

20. Title and (repeated) sub-titles
Employee checklist
The second part of the guide is aimed at both, employers and those who actually work with materials containing crystalline silica. It provides detailed guidance on methods for safe production, handling and use of these materials. The task sheets in part two identify appropriate control measures that will assist employers in reducing exposure levels for many common work activities. Depending on the specific circumstances of each case, it may not be necessary to apply all of the control measures identified in the task sheets in order to reduce exposure to an acceptable level. In total there are 56 task sheets and 28 of them are relevant to the foundry industry. All task sheets are built in the same way (see picture 3), starting with a short description of the scope and the definition of the objective of the task sheets. Every task sheet contains also an illustrative picture. The contents of the task sheets always follow this structure:
Access, design and equipment
Maintenance
Examination and testing
Cleaning and good housekeeping
Personal protective equipment
Training
Supervision
Definition of objective
Picture or illustration

21. Individual task sheets: General
The matrix included in the guidance shows some task sheets that are general and without sector relevance (for instance design of ducting)…

22. Individual task sheets: Foundries
… besides the general task sheets there are also sector specific task sheets.
By means of this task sheet, it shall be demonstrated, how the task sheets are generally built.
In the description of the objective, it is laid down, that this sheet provides advice on core-making and moulding in foundries and that following the key points of the task sheets, the exposure will be reduced.
Just like on every task sheet, it is highlighted, that depending on the specific circumstances of each case, it may not be necessary to apply all of the control measures identified in this sheet in order to minimise exposure to respirable crystalline silica. It is also said that this document should be made available to persons who may be exposed to respirable crystalline silica in the workplace, in order that they make the best use of the control measures which are implemented.
Concerning design and equipment, the task sheet contains the following list:
Control sand spillage. Make sure the right amount of sand
is used for the mould.
You need an air speed typically between 0.5 and 1,5 metres per second into the enclosures. Refer to task sheet
Always confirm that the extraction is turned on andworking at the start of work. Check the gauge.
Discharge cleaned, extracted air to a safe place outside the building, away from doors, windows and air inlets.
Have a supply of clean air coming into the workroom to replace extracted air.
Consult a qualified ventilation engineer to design new control systems.
The cleaning and housekeeping should meet the following criteria:
Every day, clear up accumulation of dirt in areas where people work all the time.
Clean general workrooms once a week to stop dust being stirred up and to reduce slips.
Use a vacuum cleaner fitted with a filter to clean up dust.
Do not clean up with a brush or with compressed air.
Shovel containers in a safe place.
Keep lids on containers when they are not being filled or emptied.
Dispose of empty containers safely.
Dispose of wastes safely.
The other sub-chapters which are also repeated in every single task sheet are:
access, maintenance, examination and testing, personal protection equipment, training and supervision. In order to ease the application of the task sheets as much as possible, the main results of the task sheets are summarised in an employee checklist for making the best use of the controls. The core making and moulding checklist reads as follows:
Make sure the room is well ventilated and any dust extraction system is switched on and is working.
Look for signs of damage, wear or poor operation of any equipment used. If you find any problems, tell your supervisor.
If you think there is a problem with your dust control equipment, ensure additional control measures are taken to reduce exposure to respirable crystalline silica dust while the problem persists.
Do not interface with ventilation systems – they are provided to protect your working environment.
Clean up using vacuum or wet cleaning methods.
Use, maintain and store any respiratory protective equipment provided in accordance with instructions.
Besides the application of the task sheets, article 10 of the Social Dialogue Agreement foresees that the occupational physician/industrial hygienist or equivalent internal or external organ appointed for the site will define in accordance with national and EU-regulations and the health surveillance protocol as described in annex 8 of the Agreement the scope of the medical examinations to be performed. Therefore, this annex has to be handed over to the occupational physician.
These are the main points that are to be applied in the normal operations. The foundries will have to report for the first time in spring 2008 on the application of those measures. The space of time until that reporting date seems to be very long, but we should take all the opportunities to implement this new system without hurry. Only, if this happens on time and area-wide, we have made our homework properly and managed at the same time to have both, a better occupational health and safety situation and to avoid the classification of respirable crystalline as carcinogenic, which from our point of view is not appropriate.

23. Time Line
The Agreement will enter into effect 6 months after its implementation, provided it has been translated into the 20 official EU languages.
In 2007, a preliminary reporting on the status of implementation will be organized.
Official reporting for the first time in 2008, and every 2 years from then on.
Translation
Signature
25/04
/06
Entry into
effect 25
/10
/06
Preliminary
reporting
May 2007
After having completed the first milestone, the preliminary reporting, it is now crucial to implement the Good Practices successfully in the foundries. There will be a first ordinary reporting that has to be sent to the national associations by March 31, You will be informed in due time (see also the information regarding online reporting tool).
It is crucial to emphasise that the Social Dialogue on silica dust has the significance of a flagship project for both EU Commission and the national authorities and that this project is followed very attentively by those institutions.
reporting
May 2008

24. Action plan for companies
Implement checklist
Nominate responsibles
Organize training sessions
Determine exposure (risk assessment)
Prepare reporting
Further information:
Insert address of your national homepage here
It is especially this last task which is relevant for the companies at this moment in time. Within each company the employer has to designate:
One or several employees to monitor the application of the Good Practices on one or several sites
A responsible at company level to elaborate an action plan with the work’s council and the workers’ representatives, where applicable, for the above mentioned monitoring of the application and to collect and consolidate site reports.