Brussels — The European polyurethane industry welcomes mandatory training for safe handling of diisocyanates through the entire value chain, according to a position statement issued by 22 polyurethane-related associations in the European Union.
The associations were responding to the submission of a restriction dossier for diisocyanates to the European Chemicals Agency by the German Federal Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (BAuA). They said the safe handling proposal, which is due to enter its consultation phase will "ensure the optimal protection of workers and contributes to the sustainability of our products."
The measures proposed by the require diisocyanate producers and others along the value chain to develop and maintain training materials. Under the proposal this will be a mandatory requirement and will ensure that employees handling diisocyanates have good access to safety information in all EU languages, the associations said.
Training courses could be given via training institutes, pubic authorities or by in-house experts, the associations suggest
Signatory associations include: the European Aliphatic Isocyanates Producers Association (ALIPA); the European Confederation of the Footwear Industry (CEC); The European Trade Association for Domestic Equipment Manufacturers (CECED); the voice of paint, printing ink and artists' colours in Europe (CEPE); the German Construction Chemicals Association (Deutsche Bauchemie); the European Association of professional Industrial Painting Contractors for protective and marine coating application to metal and concrete substrates (EAIPC); the European Furniture Industries Confederation (EFIC); the European Panel Federation (EPF); EuroMoulders; EuroPUR; the European Association of Chemical Distributors (FECC); the Association of the European Adhesive and Sealant Industry (FEICA); the Specialist Association of Foamed Plastics and Polyurethanes (FSK); the German Association for Adhesives (IVK); the European trade association for producers of diisocyanates (ISOPA); the German Association of Rigid Foam Polyurethane Producers (IVPU); polyurethane spray foam in the Netherlands (IVPU); Polyurea Development Association Europe (PDA); the European Association of Panels and Profiles (PPA Europe); PU Europe; the Association of the German Paint and Printing Ink Manufacturers (VdL); the German Electrical and Electronic Manufacturers' Association (ZVEI).
