First pan-European campaign to combat risks of dangerous substances at work
- One fifth of EU employees - 32 million people - are exposed to carcinogenic agents;
- 22% of workers inhale fumes and vapours for at least a quarter of their working time;
- Two-thirds of the 30,000 most commonly used chemicals in the EU have not been subjected to full and systematic toxicological tests;
- For substances with known toxicological risks, as few as 12% of firms comply with risk prevention regulations.
The first pan-European campaign to reduce the risks of chemicals, biological agents and other dangerous substances at work - hazards that affect around a quarter of the EU's 150 million employees - is to be launched by the European Agency for Safety and Health at Work on Tuesday 13 May 2003 at the European Parliament in Strasbourg. Cancers, asthma and neuro-psychiatric problems are just some of the illnesses that can be caused by the 100,000 chemicals marketed in the EU, as well as biological agents.
According to research, 21% of EU employees are exposed to known or suspected carcinogens, such as benzene (in fuel) and crystalline silica (construction materials), while 22% of workers inhale fumes and vapours for at a least a quarter of their working time, including organic solvents, wood dust and welding fumes. In addition, 16% of employees handle or come into contact with dyes, pesticides, Chromium VI (via wet cement) and other dangerous substances for similar periods, either directly or through contaminated surfaces and production processes. Sectors most at risk range from construction and agriculture to printing, cleaning, health care and automotive mechanics.
These risks are heightened by inadequate regulatory compliance and information. One study, for instance, found that only 12% of firms were aware of their regulatory duties. Moreover, a separate study revealed that 20% of Safety Data Sheets supplied by manufacturers of hazardous substances contained errors
The health impacts are significant. Research has shown that 4% of all cancers, for example, are work-related and that 10% of employees contract eczema. In addition, studies suggest that one third of all cases of adult-onset asthma are caused by workplace exposures. Occupational skin diseases alone, which often force employees to change jobs, including 10% of hairdressers, are calculated to cost the EU EUR 600 million a year. Occupational asthma is estimated to cost the EU EUR 400-800 million.
The human and financial costs, however, are likely to be much larger. Existing data is based on studies of substances with known toxicities. However, two-thirds of the 30,000 most commonly used chemicals in the EU - around 20,000 substances - have not been subjected to systematic toxicological tests and assessments. Only new chemicals notified since 1981 must undergo these tests, although the EU is developing a strategy to systematically assess so-called 'existing' chemicals.
“Dangerous substances contribute significantly to the 350 million days lost through occupational ill health in the EU and to the seven million people suffering from occupational illnesses,” says Anna Diamantopoulou, European Commissioner for Employment and Social Affairs. “The Agency's campaign, together with EU initiatives, including our recent White Paper on a Strategy for a Future Chemicals Policy, are important steps in dealing with this severe, but often hidden, problem.”
Pat Cox, President of the European Parliament comments: “The use of dangerous substances in the workplace is commonplace for millions of EU workers. It is important that campaigns such as these convey the message to both workers and citizens that dangerous substances need to be handled with care both in the workplace and at home. This campaign is not only important in raising awareness but provides us with advice and good practice on how to eliminate or minimise these risks. The important role of the media in assisting in this task cannot be underestimated."
"I am very pleased to announce that the European Week for Safety and Health at Work has developed into the largest safety and health event in our region, including not only the 15 EU-Member States but also all Candidate Countries and all EFTA countries," says Hans-Horst Konkolewsky, Director of the Agency. "Dangerous substances need to be handled with care - this is the key message of our 2003 campaign. In many cases safe substitutes for dangerous substances do exist, for instance to replace organic solvents. If this is not possible, exposure can be eliminated or reduced through efficient control measures. We hope to communicate these messages along with a lot of good practice information to workplaces all across Europe where dangerous substances are handled."
To support this drive, the Agency's campaign, which will form the heart of its European Week on Safety and Health at Work in October, will provide a range of information about the risks and solutions through various media. These will include information packs in all official EU languages, posters, leaflets and a multilingual website at http://osha.europa.eu/ew2003/. The Agency, which acts as a European portal for information on occupational safety and health, will also announce at the Week’s closing event in November the winners of its European Good Practice awards for organisations that have most successfully tackled the problem of dangerous substances via preventive measures, risk awareness, substitution and other techniques. During October 2003, events will be organised across Europe to bring the campaign to life in all organisations, large and small, public and private.
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Further information
European Week press pack available at http://osha.europa.eu/ew2003/presspack/
Press contact:
Eke Heetveld or Siobhan Savage, European Agency for Safety and Health at Work, Bilbao Tel: +34 94 479 4386 or +34 94 479 5738 emails: heetveld@osha.europa.eu or savage@osha.europa.eu.
Alun Jones or Marijo Urkidi, European Agency, Strasbourg (12-14 May), Tel (GSM): +34 609 612 941.
Other enquiries:
European Agency for Safety and Health at Work, Gran Via 33, E-48009 Bilbao, Spain, email: information@osha.europa.eu , fax: +34 94 479 4383
Notes for editors
Background to the Agency and the European Week for Safety and Health at Work1.The A press conference will be held at the European Parliament in Strasbourg at 16.30 on 13 May 2003. This will include the European Commissioner for Employment and Social Affairs and the Director of the European Agency for Safety and Health at Work. Both they and EP President Pat Cox, will be available for photographs at 16.20 pm in “Place de la Tour” to launch the campaign.
2.The The European Agency for Safety and Health at Work was set up by the European Union to help meet the information needs in the field of occupational safety and health. Based in Bilbao, Spain, the Agency aims to improve the lives of people at work by stimulating the flow of technical, scientific and economic information between all those involved in occupational safety and health issues.
3.The The European Week for Safety and Health at Work which will take place during October 2003 is an information campaign designed to raise awareness and promote activities to make Europe a safe and healthy place to work. It is coordinated by the European Agency and will be run in the Member States, EFTA and candidate countries in October 2003 with each Member State deciding the precise week. The Week is aimed at the workplace and all safety and health institutions and organisations, trade unions, companies, managers, employees and safety representatives are invited to take part and organise their own activities. These can include special audits and risk assessment activities in the workplace, organising training, distributing information material, launching a new workplace policy, suggestion schemes, encouraging participation of employees and their representatives or linking-up with other organisations, businesses or sub contractors to carry out activities in partnership. The slogan of EW2003 is "Dangerous Substances – Handle with Care".
4.The EU legislation aims to minimise the health risks from dangerous substances in the workplace. European Union law places elimination and substitution at the top of the hierarchy of control measures form protecting workers from dangerous substances. The most important pieces of European legislation in this field include:
- Council Directive 89/391/EEC which contains the basic provisions for health and safety at work where not covered by more specific legislation
- 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
- Council Directive 90/394/EEC of 28 June 1990 on the protection of workers from the risks related to exposure to carcinogens at work and its amendments
- Directive 2000/54/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 18 September 2000 on the protection of workers from risks related to exposure to biological agents at work.
5.The statistics quoted in this news release came from: European Foundation for the Improvement of Living and Working Conditions; Eurostat, The International Labour Organization and national occupational health and safety authorities and organisations
