Council Directive 98/24/ECShow full title

Council Directive 98/24/EC of 7 April 1998 on the protection of the health and safety of workers from the risks related to chemical agents at work (fourteenth individual Directive within the meaning of Article 16(1) of Directive 89/391/EEC)

Article 8U.K.Information and training for workers

1.Without prejudice to Articles 10 and 12 of Directive 89/391/EEC the employer shall ensure that workers and/or their representatives are provided with:

  • the data obtained pursuant to Article 4 of this Directive, and further informed whenever a major alteration at the workplace leads to a change in these data,

  • information on the hazardous chemical agents occurring in the workplace, such as the identity of those agents, the risks to safety and health, relevant occupational exposure limit values and other legislative provisions,

  • training and information on appropriate precautions and actions to be taken in order to safeguard themselves and other workers at the workplace,

  • [F1access to any safety data sheet provided by the supplier in accordance with Article 31 of Regulation (EC) No 1907/2006;]

and that the information is:

  • provided in a manner appropriate to the outcome of the risk assessment pursuant to Article 4 of this Directive. This may vary from oral communication to individual instruction and training supported by information in writing, depending on the nature and degree of the risk revealed by the assessment required by the said Article,

  • updated to take account of changing circumstances.

2.Where containers and pipes for hazardous chemical agents used at work are not marked in accordance with the relevant Community legislation on the labelling of chemical agents and on safety signs at the workplace, the employer shall, without prejudice to the derogations provided for in the abovementioned legislation, ensure that the contents of the containers and pipes, together with the nature of those contents and any associated hazards, are clearly identifiable.

[F13. Member States may take measures necessary to ensure that employers are able to obtain on request, preferably from the producer or supplier, all information on hazardous chemical agents that is necessary to apply Article 4(1) of this Directive, insofar as neither Regulation (EC) No 1907/2006, nor Regulation (EC) No 1272/2008 include any obligation to provide information.]