Community news|16/09/22

EU-OSHA: better understanding of cancer risk factors

Home > The news of EUROGIP and occupational risks in Europe > EU-OSHA: better understanding of cancer risk factors

EU-OSHA, the European Agency for Safety and Health at Work, is currently carrying out a pilot survey on the main risk cancer factors in these six countries – Finland, France, Germany, Hungary, Ireland and Spain – chosen for their representativeness. The survey could be extended to other countries.

The aim is to better identify cancer risk factors, including asbestos, benzene, diesel exhaust, wood or silica dust, UV radiation, etc. The survey will be based on 25 000 questionnaires from telephone interviews with workers in all sectors.

The results will be used to better target awareness-raising campaigns, to help develop evidence-based policies, or for the possible updating of EU legislation, including the development of possible future proposals to amend the Carcinogens, Mutagens and Reprotoxic substances Directive.

“What’s more, this survey should contribute to the OSH actions of the European Plan to Overcome Cancer and support one of the key objectives of the EU’s strategic framework for health and safety at work for the period 2021-2027, namely to improve the prevention of work-related diseases, and in particular cancer.”

The first results of the survey are expected by the end of 2023.

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