There shall be attached to the Commission a Scientific Committee (hereinafter called the ‘Committee’) to examine the health effects of chemical agents on workers at work.
Commission Decision of 12 July 1995 setting up a Scientific Committee for Occupational Exposure Limits to Chemical Agents (95/320/EC)
Commission Decision of 12 July 1995 setting up a Scientific Committee for Occupational Exposure Limits to Chemical Agents (95/320/EC)
THE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES,
Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community,
Whereas common rules concerning safety, hygiene and health at work must afford adequate protection of the health of workers at the place of work within the Community;
Whereas the elaboration and amendment of common rules concerning safety, health and hygiene at work require a scientific evaluation of risk at the place of work and of the measures that need to be implemented to protect against these risks;
Whereas such an evaluation requires the participation of highly qualified scientific persons in all fields relating to safety, hygiene and health at work;
Whereas on the occasion of the adoption of Council Directive 88/642/EEC(1), which amended Directive 80/1107/EEC(2) on the protection of workers against risks associated with exposure to chemical, physical and biological agents at work, the Council called upon the Commission to set up a scientific committee responsible for the evaluation of available scientific data required to set limit values;
Whereas the Commission welcomed the request from the Council and since 1990 has consulted informally a scientific expert group on occupational exposure limits;
Whereas in its communication on a programme concerning safety, hygiene and health at work the Commission has included amongst the objectives for the coming five years the development of preventative measures in relation with chemical agents;
Whereas it is important that the Commission obtain impartial scientific opinions of highly qualified persons in order to conduct this ongoing examination;
Whereas to this end a scientific committee of a consultative nature should be attached to the Commission,
HAS DECIDED AS FOLLOWS:
Article 1
Article 2
1.
The task of the Committee shall be to supply the Commission with opinions at the latter's request on any matter relating to the toxicological examination of chemicals for their effects on health of workers.
The Committee shall in particular give advice on the setting of Occupational Exposure Limits (OELs) based on scientific data and where appropriate shall propose values which may include:
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the eight-hour time weighted average (TWA),
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short-term limits/excursion limits (STEL),
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biological limit values.
The OELs may be supplemented, as appropriate, by further notations.
The Committee shall advise on any absorption of the substance in question via other routes (such as skin and/or mucous membranes) which is likely to occur.
2.
Any recommendation shall be supported and explained by information on the basic data, a description of the critical effects, the extrapolation techniques used, and any data on possible risks to human health. The feasibility of monitoring exposure at any proposed limit value(s) shall also be noted.
3.
The Committee shall keep under review all relevant scientific factors relating to the setting of OELs and shall make recommendations to assist the Commission in setting out priorities.
4.
The Committee shall carry out such other actions relating to the toxicological evaluation of chemical agents as may be requested by the Commission.
Article 3
1.
The Committee shall be composed of not more than 21 members selected from among suitable candidates proposed by the Member States and reflecting the full range of scientific expertise which is necessary to fulfil the mandate in Article 2, including, in particular, chemistry, toxicology, epidemiology, occupational medicine and industrial hygiene, and general competence in setting OELs.
2.
The Commission shall appoint the members of the Committee, on the basis of their proven scientific expertise and experience, having regard to the need to ensure that the various specific areas are covered.
3.
The Committee shall elect from the members a chairman and two vice-chairmen for a period of three years. Elections shall be by a majority of two-thirds of the members present.
4.
The term of office for members of the Committee shall be three years. Their appointments may be renewed. After the expiry of the three-year period members of the Committee shall remain in office until they are replaced or until their appointments are renewed.
In the event of resignation or death of a member of the Committee during a period of appointment the Commission shall appoint a new member of the Committee in accordance with paragraph 2.
Article 4
A list of members shall be published by the Commission, for information purposes, in the Official Journal of the European Communities.