03/2023
Following the IIW and the EWA, the DVS has now
also called upon its members to participate in the survey of the
European Commission regarding the consequences of a carcinogen
classification of all welding fumes. Other associations such as BDI,
VDMA, DECHEMA, STAHL, etc. are also in the planning stage. Talks are
also being held with the „member state authorities“, i.e. the BMAS.
What is the background for this survey?
End 2022 ECHA has delivered a „Scoping Study Report“ to
the European Commission (EC). The report assesses recent medical, technical
and OSH data, concluding with „option“ recommendations to the EC, on how to
better control exposure to welding fumes. The most far-reaching option
foresees the classification of welding fumes as „substance“ or the welding
activity as „process“ under Annex I of the new Carcinogens, Mutagens or
Reprotoxic substances Directive (CMRD). Link:
https://echa.europa.eu/documents/10162/7399806/report_welding_fumes_en.pdf
Jan 2023: following its process for establishing new OELs
under CMRD , the EC now started a public survey among all member states to also
understand the socio-economic impact of such a regulatory change. The survey
addresses welding companies, OSH experts, member state authorities. Link to
survey homepage for welding companies:
https://ec.europa.eu/eusurvey/runner/Welding
The survey will run until March 27, 2023, and depending on how „threatening“ companies describe the impact of the planned regulatory changes, the EU will weigh the pros and cons of specific OEL options.
At this point, it is not clear how drastic the OEL changes will be. The
formulations of Luca Costa, as CEO of the IIW, are probably most apt here:
„The introduction of new Occupational Exposure Limits (OELs) and limit values
for workers exposed to carcinogens, mutagens or reprotoxic substances, including
welding fumes, could have far-reaching consequences for the industry and the
whole welding sector.“
Importantly for us, the term „welding fume“ used here extends well beyond MIG/MAG welding; the study specifies the following scope:
„Welding“ fumes is defined (by ECHA, 2022) as fumes from the following activities:
Link to the DVS survey:
Jetzt an EU-Umfrage zu Arbeitsplatzgrenzwerten teilnehmen - DVS - Deutscher
Verband für Schweißen und verwandte Verfahren e.V.:
https://www.dvs-home.de/themen-neuigkeiten/neuigkeiten/detail/dvs-ruft-zur-teilnahme-an-eu-umfrage-auf
Direct link under:
https://ec.europa.eu/eusurvey/runner/Welding