© CEEMET publication 2011

Employment and Social Affairs Committee - 5 October 2011Terry Woolmer

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Who are CEEMET? What is EMF? The Precautionary Principle Impact Assessment Guiding principles Unintended Consequences Is Directive fit for purpose?

2CEEMET - Council of European Employers of the Metal, Engineering and Technology-based industries

CEEMET represents the interests of employers’ organisations in the metal, engineering and technology-based (MET) industries from 22 countries

CEEMET strongly support effective management of health and safety risks to ensure worker protection.

3CEEMET - Council of European Employers of the Metal, Engineering and Technology-based industries

Electromagnetic Fields (EMFs) - a type of natural or man made non-ionising radiation created when electrical energy is used.

Everyday EMF sources include telecommunications, microwave ovens and electricity transmission and distribution.

Electric fields created by differences in voltage: Higher voltages = stronger electric fields. Electric fields exist even when there is no current flowing.

Magnetic fields created when electric current flows: Higher currents= stronger magnetic fields.

What are the effects on the Human Body?4CEEMET - Council of European Employers of the Metal, Engineering and Technology-based industries

Precautionary Principle?

Health and Safety Framework Directive 89/391/EEC already regulates EMF

5CEEMET - Council of European Employers of the Metal, Engineering and Technology-based industries

Failure to identify, quantify or monetize Health and Safety benefits

Costs based on different requirements and action levels

Vailidity of original cost projections

Number of businesses affected

6CEEMET - Council of European Employers of the Metal, Engineering and Technology-based industries

Coverage of all sectors Clear definition of adverse health

effects Inclusion of Limit values Use of Zoning Simplification of Risk Assessment Flexibility in a controlled

environment Medical Surveillance

7CEEMET - Council of European Employers of the Metal, Engineering and Technology-based industries

Action values and exposure limit values are likely to be exceeded for common manufacturing processes:

Midfrequency pulsed resistance welding Midfrequency pulsed arc welding High power single phase resistance

welding Other?

Incorrect action values for hand exposures

8CEEMET - Council of European Employers of the Metal, Engineering and Technology-based industries

Have the working group met its guiding principles?

Status of theRegulatory Impact assessment?

Does Harm Exist? Can employers apply the

Directive? Does it prevent unintended

consequences?9CEEMET - Council of European Employers of the Metal, Engineering and Technology-based industries

© CEEMET publication 2011

For further information: www.ceemet.org

Terry Woolmer

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