• Date 2022-02-04

World Cancer Day: Protecting employees from carcinogens in the workplace

It is estimated that 100,000 people die each year in the European Union as a result of occupational cancer. Today, on the World Cancer Day, the German Federal Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (BAuA) and the German Federal Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs (BMAS) are drawing attention to the need to protect employees from carcinogenic substances in the workplace.

Cancer is still the most common cause of occupational deaths in the European Union. The long-banned Asbestos still tops the list because of its long latency periods, but about 500 other chemical substances are classified as carcinogenic or suspected of being carcinogenic in the EU. The risks at workplaces can vary widely. To protect employees, extensive regulations in occupational health and safety law, such as occupational limit values, are in place. There are also regulations based on European chemical safety, such as the mandatory disclosure of information on hazards in the safety data sheet and their labelling. Nevertheless, carcinogenic substances and their risks at work are often overlooked or not taken seriously enough.

The joint European initiative "Roadmap on Carcinogens" aims to raise awareness of the risks posed by carcinogenic substances. As a platform, it offers practical solutions for employers and employees for activities involving carcinogenic hazardous substances and promotes the transfer of knowledge between companies, occupational safety and health organizations and the member states. Until 2024, the BAuA, together with the BMAS, is leading this initiative, which is jointly supported by member states, the EU Commission, and employee and employer associations, in order to contribute to the fight against occupational cancer.

In addition, there are various activities in Germany to prevent occupational cancers. The work program of the Joint German Occupational Health and Safety Strategy (GDA) and the 14th German Hazardous Substances Protection Award are also dedicated to the topic of "STOP cancer in the workplace".

Source: BAuA press release of February 04, 2022 Initiative "Roadmap on Carcinogens" von BAuA und BMAS geleitet (in German)

Further information:

BMAS-press release of 04 February 2022 Weltkrebstag 2022: Verhüten von Krebsrisiken am Arbeitsplatz (in German)

EU-OSHA highlight of 04 February 2022 Work-related cancer in the centre of attention on World Cancer Day