First pan-European campaign to combat risks of dangerous substances at work
Published: 9 June 2003
The European Agency for Safety and Health at Work launched the 'first pan-European campaign to reduce the risks of chemicals, biological agents and other dangerous substances at work' on 13 May 2003 at the European Parliament in Strasbourg. The campaign will form the heart of the Agency's annual European Week on Safety and Health at Work [1] in October 2003 and will provide a range of information about the risks involved and the solutions through various media. The week will culminate with the announcement of the winners of the Agency’s 'European good practice awards' for organisations that have most successfully tackled the problems of dangerous substances in the workplace.[1] http://osha.eu.int/ew2003/
A new EU-wide campaign to reduce the risks of chemicals, biological agents and other dangerous substances at work was launched by the European Agency for Safety and Health at Work in May 2003.
The European Agency for Safety and Health at Work launched the 'first pan-European campaign to reduce the risks of chemicals, biological agents and other dangerous substances at work' on 13 May 2003 at the European Parliament in Strasbourg. The campaign will form the heart of the Agency's annual European Week on Safety and Health at Work in October 2003 and will provide a range of information about the risks involved and the solutions through various media. The week will culminate with the announcement of the winners of the Agency’s 'European good practice awards' for organisations that have most successfully tackled the problems of dangerous substances in the workplace.
There are some 100,000 chemicals and biological agents marketed in the EU, many of which contain known or suspected carcinogens. The Agency cites research indicating that 21% of EU employees are exposed to dangerous substances such as benzene in fuel and crystalline silica in construction materials. Furthermore, 22% of workers are said to inhale fumes and vapours for at least a quarter of their working time and 16% of employees to handle or come into contact with dyes, pesticides and other dangerous substances. The sectors worst affected include construction, agriculture, printing, cleaning and healthcare.
The impact on workers’ health is deemed to be significant, with 4% of all cancers identified as work-related and with 10% of employees contracting eczema. Occupational skin diseases, such as those affecting hairdressers, are calculated to cost the EU some EUR 600 million a year, while occupational asthma is estimated to cost the EU between EUR 400 million and EUR 800 million. The extent of further risks from substances that have not been subjected to toxicological testing is unknown – obligatory testing of new substances has existed only since 1981, and does not apply to two-thirds of the most commonly used chemicals, although the EU is working on a strategy to assess these so-called 'existing' chemicals.
According to the Agency, the risks are heightened by inadequate regulatory compliance and information, with one study finding that only 12% of firms were aware of their regulatory duties and another that one-fifth of safety data sheets provided by manufacturers contained errors.
The social affairs Commissioner, Anna Diamantopoulou, welcomed the Agency’s campaign, saying: 'Dangerous substances contribute significantly to the 350 million days lost through occupational ill health in the EU and to the 7 million people suffering from occupational illnesses. The Agency’s campaign, together with EU initiatives, including our recent White Paper on a strategy for a future chemicals policy, are important steps in dealing with this severe, but often hidden, problem.'
Eurofound recommends citing this publication in the following way.
Eurofound (2003), First pan-European campaign to combat risks of dangerous substances at work, article.
