Why must asbestos regulations change to better protect EU workers?

With Europe's climate change targets, 35 million buildings are expected to be renovated by 2030, potentially exposing many workers to asbestos. So how should we reinforce protection against this toxic material, which remains present in many buildings?

To increase workers’ safety, the European Commission is proposing to reduce 10-fold the professional exposure limit to asbestos fibres. Real Economy's Fanny Gaurent travelled to France to discover what it means for those on the frontline of asbestos removal.

The stricter tolerance level on asbestos that Europe is aiming for has been in place in France for a long time. On an asbestos removal site in the north of Toulouse, Emmanuel Pezet, the decontamination manager, explains the many security measures in place.

"For workers, there's personal protective equipment and respiratory protection devices," he says. "This depends on the level of dust and the risk analysis of the construction site. Then, a mobile decontamination unit, fences, a display, some signage and a waste area."

"There are environmental pumps and there are also measurement pumps for the operators to monitor compliance with the occupational exposure limit."

France has a very strict regulatory framework on the means to be used for the protection of workers and the environment on such sites. Dust measurements are systematically carried out.

Inhaled, asbestos fibres can cause serious illnesses such as lung cancer, which appear on average 30 years after exposure. Despite the uncertainties, asbestos removal operator Florian feels protected.

"For me, I have no fear concerning my job because we're very, very well supervised," he says. "We're the first to know where there's asbestos, compared to other trades on traditional