WRITTEN QUESTION No. 2910/98 by Edward KELLETT-BOWMAN to the Commission. Safety in the workplace: soldering
29. 4. 1999 EN Official Journal of the European Communities C 118/163 In addition, the national websites of the employment services, which contain large vacancy databases, are also interlinked. Access to these websites is increasingly being made available in job centres. Finally, there are a significant number of bilateral transfers of vacancies between countries especially where they share a common border or where there are specific skill shortages in one Member State which can be met by suitable job seekers from another. (1999/C 118/203) WRITTEN QUESTION E-2910/98 by Edward Kellett-Bowman (PPE) to the Commission Subject: Safety in the workplace: soldering (2 October 1998) Is the Commission aware of the problems caused by the toxic fumes resulting from the soldering process which affect many workers, particularly those in electronics assembly work, and are there any plans to draw up proposals to deal with this toxic pollution? Answer given by Mr Flynn on behalf of the Commission (5 November 1998) The Commission is aware of the risks to the health of workers arising from exposure to welding fumes. Workers exposed to welding fumes are already covered by the measures provided by the Community legislation on health and safety at work, such as Council Directives 80/1107/EEC (1), 89/391/EEC (2), 89/654/EEC (3), 89/655/EEC3, 89/656/EEC3, 90/394/EEC (4) and 98/24/EC (5). These directives lay down minimum requirements under Article 118A of the EC Treaty which are to be applied in the workplace in order to ensure that all the necessary steps have been taken to prevent or adequately control workersí exposure. (1) OJ L 327, 3. 12. 1980. (2) OJ L 183, 29. 6. 1989. (3) OJ L 393, 30. 12. 1989. (4) OJ L 196, 26. 7. 1990. (5) OJ L 131, 5. 5. 1998. (1999/C 118/204) WRITTEN QUESTION E-2918/98 by Honório Novo (GUE/NGL) to the Commission (2 October 1998) Subject: The entry into force of Commission Decision 97/296 of 22 April 1997 Following the entry into force of Commission Decision 97/296 (1) of 22 April 1997, fishery products may be imported from a number of third countries authorised to do so. Such imports are subject to compliance with certain formalities and checks on the health conditions for production. Can the Commission say whether it can guarantee that the health requirements for products from 1. third countries are absolutely identical to those for fishery products produced in the Community? Can the Commission say whether the importation of fishery products from those countries is in fact 2. authorised before or after the actual health conditions of production are ascertained on the spot?