The European Directive 2004/37/EC provides the legal framework for the protection of workers from exposure to carcinogenic, mutagenic or toxic for reproduction substances at the workplace. It requires compliance with minimum requirements to ensure a higher level of health and safety at work. Each European member state must transpose the directive into national regulations. In Germany, for example, this is done through the Ordinance on Hazardous Substances.
According to Article 5 of the Directive, the substances listed in Annex III are to be substituted. If substitution is not possible, exposure to a carcinogenic substance must be avoided by working in a closed system or reduced by further protective measures. To this end, the limit values listed in Annex III, or the limit values transposed nationally, must be complied with.