Introduction

• Pages: 1-2

1

Introduction

In accordance with a decision of the Governing Body of the ILO at its 270th

Session (November 1997), a Meeting of Experts on Safety in the Use of Insulation

Wools was convened in Geneva from 17 to 26 January 2000 to draw up and adopt a

code of practice on safety in the use of synthetic vitreous fibre insulation wools (glass

wool, rock wool, slag wool). The Meeting was composed of 22 experts, seven appointed

following consultations with governments, seven following consultations with the

Employers’ group and eight following consultations with the Workers’ group of the

Governing Body (since one of them had to be replaced during the Meeting).

This code of practice is based on principles established in international instruments

relevant to the prevention and protection of workers’ safety and health, as well as on the

findings of the Meeting of Experts on Safety in the Use of Mineral and Synthetic Fibres,

Geneva, 17-25 April 1989. The development of an ILO code of practice on synthetic

vitreous fibre insulation wools (glass wool, rock wool, slag wool) was a specific

recommendation of the 1989 Meeting of Experts, which stated in its report:

It was noted that the industry producing such fibres had been aware of the

health aspects of its products and had worked closely with scientists for developing

guide-lines for safety in their use. The experts felt that it was precisely because a

large amount of work on safety had been done by the industry that a code of

practice, specifically on insulation wools, was suggested. ... The experts unanimousl y

agreed to recommend the preparation of a code of practice on safety in the use of

insulation wools. It was suggested that a code of practice could benefit both the

industry and workers and would be particularly useful for developing countries.1

This code focuses on synthetic vitreous fibre insulation wools (glass wool, rock

wool and slag wool), but it is recognized that other synthetic vitreous fibre materials,

such as refractory ceramic fibres (RCF), refractory fibres other than RCF, and special-

purpose glass fibres, are potentially more hazardous. Although the code was written for

insulation wools, many of its provisions represent good practice for the prevention of

occupational health hazards generally, and this could be applied to RCF, refractory

fibres other than RCF, and special-purpose glass fibres. Guidance in this respect can also

be found in other codes of practice.2 Furthermore, the International Programme on

Chemical Safety (IPCS), a joint programme of the United Nations Environment

Programme (UNEP), the International Labour Organization (ILO) and the World Health

Organization (WHO), has provided practical information in the form of an International

1 “Annex 2: Report of the Meeting of Experts on Safety in the Use of Mineral and Synthetic Fibres”

(Geneva, 17-25 April 1989), in ILO: Safely in the use of mineral and synthetic fibres, Occupational Safety

and Health Series No. 64 (Geneva, 1990), p. 79.

2 For example, the ILO codes of practice, Occupational exposure to airborne substances harmful to

health (Geneva, 1980) and Safely in the use of asbestos (Geneva, 1984), contain many relevant provisions,

establish the principles of the prevention of contamination of the working environment and specify

general preventive methods. These principles include the elimination of hazards or risks and substitution

by harmless or less harmful agents (which may in turn be associated with a prohibition of certain work

practices). After efforts to apply these two principles, the emphasis is on engineering controls and on the

implementation of an effective control programme.