Spain wants big change in workplace silica exposure levels
The Spanish government’s recent proposal to double the occupational exposure limit value (OELV) for silica is being met with opposition by worker safety advocates. The current limit is 0.05 mg/m³. Under a draft decree presented to the national occupational health and safety commission earlier this month, OELV would be raised to (0.1mg/m³). The government says the change would help improve the competitiveness of Spanish companies. Additionally, it cites an alignment of Spanish OELVs with the European Union (EU) directive.
The European Trade Union Institute, an independent research and training center of the European Trade Union Confederation (ETUC), calls the move “a major step backwards” in occupational health legislation.