NEPSI

The European Network for Silica (NEPSI) is formed by the Employee and Employer European sectoral associations which signed the Social Dialogue "Agreement on Workers' Health Protection Through the Good Handling and Use of Crystalline Silica and Products Containing it" on 25 April 2006.  These associations represent 15 industry sectors i.e. more than 2 million employees and a business exceeding € 250 billion.

The 17 initial signatory organisations represent the aggregates, cement, ceramics, foundry, glass fibre, special glass, container glass, flat glass, industrial minerals, mineral wool, natural stones, mining, mortar and pre-cast concrete sectors. The Agreement has recently welcomed the expanded clay sector and represents to date 18 European industry sectors. It remains open for further signatures.

Signatory European Industry Sector Associations

• APFE: European Glass Fibre Producers Association
• BIBM: International Bureau for Precast Concrete
• CAEF: The European Foundry Association
• CEEMET: Council of European Employers of the Metal, Engineering and Technology-Based Industries
• CEMBUREAU: The European Cement Association
• CERAME-UNIE: The European Ceramics Industries
• EMO: European Mortar Industry Organization
• EUROMINES: European Association of Mining Industries
• EUROROC: European and International Federation of Natural Stones Industries
• ESGA: European Special Glass Association
• EURIMA: European Insulation Manufacturers Association
• EXCA: European Expanded Clay Association
• FEVE: European Container Glass Federation
• GEPVP: European Association of Flat Glass Manufacturers
• IMA-Europe: European Industrial Minerals Association
• UEPG: European Aggregates Association

The NEPSI industry sector organisations and their counterpart trade union federations negotiated a multisectoral social dialogue Agreement between 1 September 2005 and 2 February 2006. The European Commission supported the project, qualifying it as innovative: indeed, where European social dialogue agreements are usually sectoral or cross-industrial, this one is the first of its kind. An EC budget was granted to cover the costs of the negotiation, and the European trade associations which were not yet members of a social dialogue committee at EU level were considered as eligible to participate in this negotiation after scrutiny by the Commission.

Two working groups were set up for the negotiation: one Steering Working Group to draft the Agreement and discuss political aspects, and one Technical Working Group (made up of producers and consumers of products and materials that contain crystalline silica) to draft the technical annexes of the Agreement, especially the Good Practice Guide. Experts from national health institutes – the HSE (UK), the BerufGenossenschaften (D) and the Instituto Nacional de Silicosis (ES) – supported the technical working group.

The final text was unanimously approved by the negotiating Parties and the negotiations ended on 25 April 2006 with the signature of the Agreement, in the presence of Commissioner Spidla.

More information
Agreement
Summary report