Bundeskabinett is about to make a decision: asbestos and occupational safety at risk?

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Die neue Gefahrstoffverordnung steht zur Abstimmung: Felix Pakleppa, Hauptgeschäftsführer des Zentralverbands Deutsches Baugewerbe, warnt vor gesundheitlichen Risiken für Bauarbeiter durch unzureichende Asbestüberprüfung. Er fordert eine stärkere Einbindung der Bauherren zur Gewährleistung von Sicherheitsstandards bei Sanierungen. Lesen Sie, warum Klimaschutz und Gesundheit nicht gegeneinander ausgespielt werden dürfen.
The new Hazardous Substances Ordinance is on the vote: Felix Pakleppa, general manager of the Central Association of German Construction Management, warns of health risks for construction workers through inadequate asbestial check. It calls for a greater integration of the builders to ensure security standards for renovations. Read why climate protection and health must not be played against each other. (Symbolbild/MB)

Climate protection vs. Health protection: The new draft regulation ensures controversy

Next Wednesday, the Federal Cabinet will vote on a crucial hazardous substance regulation that has an impact on the construction and renovation sector. This new regulation influences who is responsible for reviewing asbestos in the renovation of buildings, a substance that can be found in many houses built before 1993.

Felix Pakleppa, the general manager of the Central Association of German Construction, expresses concerns about the current provisions that could potentially push the health risks of construction workers into the background. Pakleppa emphasizes that the regulation in its current form does not guarantee the necessary protection of the employees or environmental standards.

The changed regulation stipulates that builders are only obliged to provide existing information about possibly existing hazardous substances. If there is no corresponding information, there is no obligation to carry out an asbestos examination. These processes could have serious consequences, especially when you consider that the responsibility is transferred to the construction companies, which then have to check the buildings for asbestos independently.

A common problem with renovation projects is the cooperation of various trades. This could result in each company has to commission its own investigation, which leads to higher costs and time delays in renovations. Pakleppa warns that the cooperation and the exchange between builders and construction companies are thus severely affected and the potential for proper renovation is in danger.

The question of responsibility in the construction system focuses on the discussion. The feared delay in energetic renovation could be a reason why the government is hesitating to introduce a comprehensive obligation to check for builders. Pakleppa, however, makes it clear that if in doubt, a technical examination according to asbestos should always be carried out, regardless of the financial effects.

It is crucial that both climate protection and health protection go hand in hand without neglecting one at the other. The current draft regulation is watering down the previously made progress in occupational health and health protection and could expose the construction workers to an unnecessary risk.

In summary, it can be said that the renovation industry is faced with a possible crisis if the measures adopted are not covered. The interests of the construction workers should be a priority to ensure that they are not caught in an unjust situation in which their health is risked to achieve climate goals. A constructive discussion and a return to an integrative and health -protecting approach are urgently required.

Berlin is at the turning point, and the decisions that are now made will have far -reaching consequences for the construction industry and the health of the employees.