HIGHLIGHTS AND NEWS13/01/2012 - DOWNLOAD 2012 Reporting Guidances in all languages at Guidance PDFs in other languages (2012) 08/12/2011 - NEPSI SDA Reporting 2012 coming soon - from 16 January 2012 until 16 March 2012 - Updated Reporting instructions available in English in the Reporting section: Guidance documents (EN) 05/08/2011 - Four new task sheets included in the Good Practice Guide and available online - see here 01/08/2011 - Four NEPSI workshops to take place in Czech Republic, Poland, Romania in September and October 2011 - see News & Events 01/01/2011 - NEPSI DVDs can be ordered at c.lanne@ima-europe.eu |
NEPSI is the acronym for the resulting European Network for Silica formed by the Employee and Employer European sectoral associationshaving signed the Social Dialogue "Agreement on Workers' Health Protection Through the Good Handling and Use of Crystalline Silicasand Products Containing it" on 25 April 2006, representing 15 industry sectors i.e. more than 2 million employees and a business exceeding € 250 billion.
Crystalline silica (SiO2) is an essential component of materials which have an abundance of uses in industry and are vital in many products and objects we use everyday: it is impossible to imagine houses without bricks, mortar or windows, cars without engines or windscreens, life without roads or other transport infrastructures and everyday items made of glass or pottery.
Although crystalline silica is ubiquitous in nature, the inhalation of fine dust containing a proportion of it may constitute a hazard that is limited to the workplace. Considering that such an exposure can be controlled, the main industries concerned by possible exposures to respirable crystalline silica agreed on appropriate and credible measures for the improvement of working conditions.
The 17 initial signatory organisations represent the aggregates, cement, ceramics, foundry, glass fibre, special glass, container glass, flat glass, industrial minerals, mineral wool, natural stones, mining, mortar and pre-cast concrete sectors. The Agreement has recently welcomed the expanded clay sector and represents to date 18 European industry sectors. It remains open for further signatures.
