NEPSI

Cement Europe is part of the NEPSI Social Dialogue Agreement, which aims to protect employees from occupational exposure to RCS in the workplace. Through this platform, sector-specific guidance and assessments have been developed to help companies meet their obligations on exposure minimisation complementing the general requirements of the directive. By following NEPSI guidance, signatories apply these requirements in an informed and practical way.

The NEPSI Social Partners recognise the role of the Good Practices of the Social Dialogue Agreement on Workers’ Health Protection through the Good Handling and Use of Crystalline Silica and Products Containing It (the NEPSI Agreement) in supporting implementation of the CMD. This agreement was formally acknowledged during the first revision of the directive (Directive (EU) 2017/2398) as a valuable and necessary instrument complementing regulatory requirements. It was further recognised under the second revision, Directive (EU) 2019/130, which specifies in Article 13a that social partners’ agreements concluded under this directive shall be listed on the EU-OSHA website.

The most recent NEPSI reporting year took place in 2024. Thanks to the efforts of its members, Cement Europe achieved 100% reporting of identified sites, and 98% of employees potentially exposed to RCS were covered by a risk assessment with progress recorded across all Key Performance Indicators (KPIs). The next reporting year will take place in 2026 (15 January – 15 March), with preparation beginning in December 2025.

Cement Europe continues to play an active role in NEPSI activities and in shaping the future of the Social Dialogue Agreement on Workers’ Protection through the Good Handling and Use of Crystalline Silica and Products Containing It (the NEPSI SDA).

In 2019, a series of projects under the NEPSI 5-year roadmap (2018–2023) were launched to strengthen, expand, and modernise the Agreement. This joint effort resulted in:

• An updated Guidance Document aligned with the amended directive;
• A shortened guidance document for companies, targeting SMEs;
• A new training package and e-learning tools for workers, including materials for new employees.

In June 2025, the new EU project NEPSI in PROPAGATION (2025–2028) was launched. Planned activities include:

• Exchanging on national initiatives via a dedicated website;
• Organising seminars in five additional countries;
• Investing in innovative tools;
• Promoting and sharing good practices through awareness campaigns, events, and e-learning.

NEPSI will celebrate its 20th anniversary in 2026.