OSH News

Occupational exposure to hazardous substances remains one of the most serious risks to workers’ health in the EU, with about 120,000 work-related cancer cases and approximately 80,000 fatalities annually.

The sixth revision of the Directive on carcinogens, mutagens or reprotoxic substances at work has been voted by the European Parliament's Committee on Employment and Social Affairs, to support Europe’s Beating Cancer Plan and the EU Strategic Framework on Health and Safety at Work 2021–2027, which promotes a “vision zero” approach to work-related deaths.

The text includes new occupational exposure limit values (OELs) for cobalt and its inorganic compounds (used for battery production), polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (used in steel, iron and aluminium production), 1,4-dioxane (used in chemical and textile production) and isoprene (used in the chemical and rubber producing industry) and adds welding fumes to the list of substances, mixtures and processes.

Other details include an obligation for employers to provide personal protective equipment (PPE), appropriate training for workers exposed to hazardous medicinal products, and the need to systematically incorporate a gender perspective in future assessments.

The revision considers the latest scientific evidence and the opinion of the Advisory Committee on Safety and Health at Work (ACSH) that represents Member States and the Social partners.

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