Carcinogens in the workplace: EU protection regime to include new substances | WPN World People News

● New exposure limits set for cancer-causing toxins, including diesel fumes

● Better protection for 4 million workers in the EU

● Sectors affected include construction, metal and car industrie

New EU rules to better protect workers from exposure to carcinogenic and mutagenic substances were backed by the Employment and Social Affairs Committee on Tuesday.

MEPs backed the Commission proposal to set exposure limit values (the maximum amount that a substance should be present in workplace air) and/or skin notations (the possibility that a substance could be significantly absorbed through the skin) for harmful carcinogens.

They also agreed to regulate exposure levels for oils used in automobile, rail, marine and aero-transport engines and portable machinery. The Scientific Committee on Occupational Exposure Limits has identified that such oils could be absorbed through the skin with potentially harmful effects.

In order to protect the 4 million workers in the EU who are potentially exposed to diesel engine exhaust emissions, MEPs finally amended the original proposal to add exposure limit values also for diesel fumes.

Jobs at high risk of exposure to carcinogens

This second revision of a 2004 directive intends to further lower the risk for workers of getting cancer, which is the primary cause of work-related deaths across the EU.

A study conducted by the European Agency for Safety and Health at Work showed that the workers who are most at risk from workplace carcinogens are employed in the following sectors:

● construction,

● the metal industry,

● tool manufacture and

● car and repair industries.

The research further proved that workers employed in low-qualified jobs are more frequently exposed to high levels of carcinogens than white-collar workers.

Source: European Parliament