Under discussion/activities
Topics for future meetings
The following topics are on the agenda of future meetings:
- Schedule for feasibility tests
See also the section on feasibility tests.
- Prevention of work-related airway allergies
Methods of Measurement Working Group
The Working Group is responsible for determining whether suitable validated methods of measurement for particular substances are available (or can be adapted) for the testing and approval of OELs.
The members of the Methods of Measurement Working Group are as follows: Prof. H. Kromhout (Chair), M. Bakker, Dr D.H. Brouwer, C.I. Boeckhout, Dr T. Hafkenscheid (Deputy Chair), Dr F.J. Jongeneelen, T.L.M. Scheffers, J. Smeets, J. Smit, C.S. van Hoek (Advisor) and J.J.A.M. Brokamp LL M (Secretary).
The Working Group advises the OEL Subcommittee on the validity of a method of measurement. The views of the Working Group are incorporated in the OEL databank, alongside the information for the substances in question. The Working Group has developed a classification model that it uses to assess the extent to which a method of measurement has been validated. You can download this model and an explanation here (in Dutch).
In assessing methods of measurement, experience shows that it is important to measure not only vapour, but also aerosol fraction. The Working Group’s discussions on this subject have led to the development of guidelines on when to measure vapour, when to measure aerosol fraction, and when to measure both.
If you have questions or comments for the Working Group regarding the assessment of methods of measurement, please e-mail the Secretariat. Where necessary, the Secretariat will put you in touch with the person who developed the classification model.
(12 April 2007)
Documents available to be downloaded/General
Report on activities 1993-2003 (Report in Dutch (PDF 176, kB))
Starting on 16 April 2003, the predecessor of the current OEL Subcommittee (Subcommissie GSW), known as the Subcommissie MAC-waarden, operated under the SER’s Working Conditions Committee. The Subcommittee has given an account of its activities in the period 1993-2003.
Summary
From 1993 to 2003, the Subcommittee advised on the introduction of:
- statutory OELs for 133 substances
- administrative OELs for 135 substances.
In total, the Subcommittee recommended that new OELs be introduced for 268 substances. These recommendations were approved by the Deputy Minister for Social Affairs and Employment, with the exception of the proposed statutory status of the OEL for one substance (PVC).
In addition, the Subcommittee published or prepared a number of advisory reports or letters for the Working Conditions Committee on topics related to health-damaging substances and the procedure for establishing OELs (see Appendix 3 of the report for a full overview). Particular reference is made to the advisory report dated 25 April 2003 of the Working Conditions Committee concerning the structure and implementation of a Working Programme for the establishment of OELs, then known as MAC-waarden (SER 03/05). Based on this report, the Deputy Minister for Social Affairs and Employment issued a request for advice (spring 2004) on a new OEL system in the Netherlands, taking account of developments in international substance policy (REACH).
(12 April 2007)
International cooperation (Discussion (PDF, 47 kB))
In recent years, the Subcommittee has increasingly discussed the issue of international cooperationand harmonisation, with regard to both the health basis of OELs and which OELs should be set on the basis of feasibility in practice. This discussion has led to a discussion memorandum on this subject, and to regular discussions with Germany, Sweden and the European Commission (see National and international developments).
Feasibility tests
The Subcommittee has drawn up two documents for the purpose of feasibility tests. To gather information from companies about the feasibility of the implementation of a statutory OEL for a carcinogenic or mutagenic substance without a safe threshold, a form has been developed, which can be downloaded here (in Dutch). A suggested report structure has also been developed for trade organisations, and can be downloaded here (in Dutch).