Commission Decision of 3 March 2014 on setting up a Scientific Committee on Occupational Exposure Limits for Chemical Agents and repealing Decision 95/320/EC (2014/113/EU)

Article 2 U.K. Mission

1. The mission of the Committee shall be to provide the Commission with Recommendations or Opinions at the latter’s request on any matter relating to the toxicological evaluation of chemicals for their effects on the health of workers.

2. The Committee, after consulting the Secretariat provided for in Article 5(3), shall adopt a methodology for the derivation of Occupational Exposure Limits (‘OELs’) and keep it under review, to reflect all relevant scientific factors relating to the setting of OELs. It shall ensure that its methodology reflects current risk assessment practice.

3. The Committee shall in particular recommend OELs based on scientific data, as defined in Directives 98/24/EC and 2004/37/EC, which shall include, but not be limited to:

• the eight-hour time weighted average (TWA);

• short-term limits/excursion limits (STEL);

• biological limit values/biological guidance values (BLV/BGV).

The OELs shall be supplemented, as appropriate, by further notations which shall include:

• likely absorption through the skin;

• sensitising potential;

• carcinogenic properties.

Additional appropriate notations may be introduced by amendments to the Committee’s methodology document.

4. Any Recommendation for an OEL shall be supported and explained in detail by information on the basic data, a description of the critical effects, the extrapolation techniques used and any data on possible risks to human health. The feasibility of monitoring exposure at any proposed OEL shall also be noted.

5. The Commission may request the Committee to carry out other actions relating to the toxicological evaluation of chemical agents.

6. The Committee shall identify any lack of specific scientific information which may be necessary for the evaluation of chemical risks and shall inform the Commission accordingly.

7. The Committee shall identify current priority issues regarding health effects of chemicals and shall inform the Commission accordingly.

8. At the request of the Commission, the Committee shall set up thematic workshops in order to review data and scientific knowledge on chemical agents or issues related to its methodology. These workshops shall be organised with the support of the Secretariat of the Committee.

9. In carrying out its tasks the Committee, in accordance with article 5(5), shall seek to ensure cooperation with the relevant other bodies established under EU law, including Union Agencies, carrying out similar tasks in relation to issues of common concern.