The purpose of this example of good practice was to improve the work environment in the department of sterilisation and disinfection of surgical postoperative instruments. 
Through a complex approach, it was possible to minimise the exposure to hazardous chemicals, in particular to ethylene oxide, in the department. This approach consists of the following elements: 

The Latvian pharmaceutical company on which this case study focuses found that involving workers in the identification of occupational safety and health problems — and indeed in all stages of an intervention to improve safety and health — is crucial for implementing effective prevention measures. The company implemented measures to significantly reduce or eliminate exposures to carcinogens, mutagens, reprotoxic substances and other hazardous chemicals among its workers, in particular pregnant and breastfeeding workers.

An adhesive manufacturing company in Finland has implemented a multifaceted approach to protect its workers from dangerous chemicals. The case study details how, through a combination of measures, exposure levels are so low that personal protective equipment is not required for most work processes.

In this example of good practice, a cleaning company in Estonia introduced measures to reduce the risk of exposure to dangerous chemicals in cleaning agents. Through revisions to its procurement system, the company limited the cleaning products it used on a daily basis to three main products: one contains two hazardous ingredients in low concentrations; one is not considered hazardous under EU legislation; and the third is purified water, containing no chemical ingredients at all.

A cleaning company in Sweden has successfully reduced the exposure of its workers to hazardous cleaning products. This case study outlines the approach taken by the company, which involved a combination of eliminating cleaning chemicals altogether or replacing them with safer alternatives, and extensive staff training and supervision. These measures not only allowed the company to protect its workers from the potentially harmful effects of cleaning chemicals, but have also dramatically cut the associated costs.