Respirable Crystalline Silica – Social Dialogue project

Brief description and main aims: 

In 2016 the European Commission started a revision of the “Carcinogens and Mutagens” Directive (2004/37/EC) which led (at the end of the legislative procedure) to the inclusion within the scope of this Directive of various substances, including “Respirable Crystalline Silica” (RCS).

By doing so the EU legislator recognises RCS as being a carcinogenic substance and introduced a binding OEL (occupational exposure level) of 0,1 mg/m3, which now becomes mandatory in all the Member States.

In 2020, in the course of the 4th revision wave of the “Carcinogens and Mutagens” Directive, the European Parliament even requested that the OEL for RCS be lowered to 0,05 mg/m3. However, this proposal has not been accepted by the COUNCIL. 

Why FIEC is dealing with this topic:

Crystalline silica is a substance having an abundance of uses in industry and being a vital component in many things used in our everyday lives. It is impossible to imagine houses without bricks, mortar or windows. It is thefore present in most of construction-related activities.

For many years, it has been known that the inhalation of fine dust containing a proportion of crystalline silica can cause lung damage (silicosis).

Against this background, the EU sectoral social partners for the construction industry FIEC, representing the employers, and EFBWW (European Federation of Building and Wood Workers), representing the workers, have undertaken a joint project aiming at identifying best practices and elaborating guidelines – according to a traffic light system – for helping companies and workers in complying with the requirements of the modified “Carcinogens and Mutagens” Directive, i.e. working with low-dust practices.