Chemicals Risk Management: Potential Impact on the Construction Sector
Professional users of adhesives and sealants have more characteristics in common with industrial users than with consumers and should not be subject to consumers’ restrictions or prohibitions.
The European Commission’s Chemicals Strategy for Sustainability (CSS) could fundamentally change the Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and Restriction of Chemicals (REACH) Regulation by extending the application of the generic approach to risk management to professional uses and new hazard classes. This extension of the generic approach to cover not only consumers but also professional workers, including those in the construction sector, will have a significant impact.
The generic approach to risk management aims to regulate chemicals only on the basis of their inherent harmful properties. The place and method of use of the chemicals are not taken into consideration. Any risk management measures that would arise from a risk assessment are also not considered.