Citation
(2011), "Executive Committee of the European Trade Union Confederation (ETUC) adopted a second resolution on nanosciences and nanotechnologies", Anti-Corrosion Methods and Materials, Vol. 58 No. 3. https://doi.org/10.1108/acmm.2011.12858cad.002
Publisher
:Emerald Group Publishing Limited
Copyright © 2011, Emerald Group Publishing Limited
Executive Committee of the European Trade Union Confederation (ETUC) adopted a second resolution on nanosciences and nanotechnologies
Article Type: Environment and safety From: Anti-Corrosion Methods and Materials, Volume 58, Issue 3
The resolution is a result of the work done by the ETUC Working Group on nanotechnologies and of the discussion during the seminar nanotechnologies in National and European Trade Union strategies organised by the ETUI on 19-22 October.
The aim of the resolution is to call for the protection of workers potentially exposed to nanomaterials in all sectors. It contains contributions that reaffirm the principles set out in the first ETUC resolution of 25 June 2008, such as the precautionary principle and the “no data, no market” principle.
The second ETUC resolution incorporates new subjects related to the technical and regulatory developments on the definition of nanomaterials, the need to adjust the legislative framework to integrate the principles of hygiene and traceability and the role of standardisation.
In particular, with regard to the definition of nanomaterials, it should enable and support the generation of information and its dissemination in the supply chain in such a way that workers and consumers are informed when nanomaterials constitute an integral part of a substance (or a mixture) and whether nanomaterials can be released from related products.
One of the ETUC’s demands is the development of concrete measures in the workplace to identify who is exposed, to what extent and to what type of nanomaterials, and which prevention measures to install to avoid exposure. Moreover, the ETUC invites Member States to set up a register of workers’ exposure to nanoparticles in association with health surveillance programmes.
More information is available from: www.etuc.org