Six European organizations, including EU-OSHA, sign up the Roadmap on Carcinogens to reduce the risks from Cancer, the leading cause of work-related death in the EU, responsible for around 80,000 deaths each year.
The Roadmap on Carcinogens is aiming to raise awareness of the risks arising from exposure to carcinogens in the workplace while promoting and facilitating the exchange of good practice across Europe.
Carcinogens cover a range of substances, from solvents to process-generated materials such as the particles found in welding fumes and silica dust. To combat the risks posed by carcinogens,
Established in 2016 under the Netherlands EU Presidency, a number of Member States have officially joined the roadmap and others are running actions to prevent the harm caused by carcinogens.
The roadmap’s next destination is Helsinki, with the forthcoming Finnish EU Presidency announcing its support of the scheme in 2019.
The overall goal of the roadmap is to reinforce prevention in companies by providing employers with strategies for risk assessment and management, as well as with vital information about limit values.
EU-OSHA is also advancing the roadmap by organizing and contributing to events, and by producing an info sheet with the other signatories. Prior to the roadmap, EU-OSHA published a review of assessment methods, and ran a workshop on ‘Carcinogens and Work-Related Cancer’.
Interested parties are encouraged to join and support the roadmap community. In return, organizations and workers can benefit from the knowledge and activities that are shared with the community. The roadmap already features 660 organizations, businesses and friends, and 60 solutions from 13 countries have been published.
Links:
- The roadmap in carcinogens website
- Factsheets about different carcinogens
- Good practice tips
- Informative video