Valorization/Recognition of Environmental Protection Qualifications in the Chemical and Metal Industries. Synthesis of the National Reports: Federal Republic of Germany, France, Italy, Spain, United Kingdom. CEDEFOP Panorama. First Edition.

Reports on the development and recognition of environmental protection qualifications in the chemical and metal industries in Germany, France, Italy, Spain, and the United Kingdom were synthesized. The synthesis focused on companies' and social partners' current and planned strategies and obligations of companies regarding recognizing environmental protection qualifications. In all countries surveyed, the "environmental management" function was recognized by company management. Many large companies were establishing environmental departments or environmental services, and many small and medium-sized enterprises were integrating the task of environmental protection into the functions of the company owner/manager. Most companies tended to give further training in environmental protection to their own staff rather than to recruit individuals with specialized diplomas in environmental protection. Companies recognized the competencies acquired by their environmental staff through training or other means; however, the environmental protection functions undertaken at the first level of qualification received little recognition. The following methods of developing environment-related occupational profiles were identified: bodies responsible for initial or continuing training were analyzing and establishing training objectives in the environmental field; environmental legislation was beginning to incorporate descriptions of firms' mandatory environmental protection functions; and future negotiations regarding renewal of collective agreements are slated to include recognition of environmental protection competencies. (MN)