Preface

PagesV-VII
V
Preface
This ILO code of practice defines major principles and approaches concerning
safety requirements and precautions in the use of insulation wools (glass wool, rock
wool and slag wool). It provides practical control measures to minimize occupational
exposure to fibres and dusts from insulation wools, prevent irritation and discomfort,
and avert any long-term health risks involved in working with such products. The code
promotes an integrated approach, taking account of the fact that synthetic vitreous fibre
insulation wools do not appear in the workplace in their pure forms but rather as a
product with mixed components. Emphasis is placed on addressing all the hazards
arising from the product (insulation fibres, binders and other materials), taking account
of real work situations.
This code was adopted unanimously by a Meeting of Experts on Safety in the Use
of Insulation Wools, held in Geneva from 17 to 26 January 2000.1 The good spirit of
1 Experts nominated by governments:
Mr. Jean-François Certin, Consulting Engineer, Lab oratoire interregiona l de chimie de l’Ouest , CRAM
des pays de la Loire, Nantes (France).
Dr. Chaiyuth Chavalitnitikul, Senior Expert on Occupational Safety and Health, Department of Labour
Protection and Wel fare, Bangkok (Thailand).
Dr. Norihiko Kohyama, D irector of Divisio n of Work Environment Evaluation, Nationa l Institute of
Industrial Health, Ministry of Labour, Kawasaki (Japan).
Dr. Rolf Packroff, Federal Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, Dortmund (Germany).
Dr. Loretta Schuman, Directorate of Health Standards Programs, US Occupational Safety and Health
Administration (OSHA), US Department of Labor, Washington, DC (United States).
Mr. Yuriy Tsybulya, Director, Small Venture “BEIM Ltd .”, Kotsubinskoe, Kiev region (Ukraine).
Mr. Jesús Zepeda Vera, Deputy Director of Research and Development on Occupational Health
Standards, Secretariat of Labour and Social Protection, General Directorate of Occupational Safety
and Health, Federal District (Mexico).
Experts nominated by the employers:
Mr. Tom Calzavara, CIH, Johns Manville Corporation, Technical Center, Littleton, CO (United States).
Dr. Vermund Digernes, Assistant Director, Occupational Medicine, Federation of Norwegian Process
Industries (PIL), Oslo (Norway).
Dr. Utz Draeger, Head of the Industrial Medicine Department, Deutsche Rockwool-Mineralwoll-GmbH,
Gladbeck (Germany).
Adviser:
Dr. Rainer Dorn, Manager , Department of Envir onment, Occupatio nal Health and Safety and
Dangerous Substances, Grünzweig & Hartmann AG, Ludwigshafen (Germany).
Mr. Kevin Heribert, Executive Director, Fibreglass and Rockwool Insulation Manufacturers’ Association
(FARIMA), North Sydney (Australia).
Mr. Charles Houghton, Regulatory Affairs Leader, Europe, Owens-Corning Building Products Ltd. (UK),
St. Helens (United Kingdom).
Mr. Aymon de Reydellet, ISOVER-Saint Gobain, Environnement & Risques Industriels, Paris (France).
Dr. Anthony R. Wells, Owens-Coming Canada, Toronto (Canada).
Experts nominated by the workers:
Mr. Dave Bennett, National Director, Health, Safety and Environment, Canadian Labour Congress,
Ottawa (Canada).
Mr. Justin Daerden, Centrale chrétienne des travailleurs du bois et du bâtiment, Brussels (Belgium).
Mr. Bernd Eisenbach, Trade Union for Building, Forestry, Agriculture and the Environment (IG-BAU),
Frankfurt am Main (Germany).

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