Social Services, Health and Safety, Firefighters
Stop Cancer at Work welcomes new EU guidelines and list of hazardous medicinal products, but more needs to be done to protect workers
Employers, workers and Member States need to work together to raise awareness, enhance best practice and implement the guidelines and list of hazardous drugs in the workplace.
EP sets new frame to protect workers from asbestos! Now it is time for the European Commission to do the same.
(Joint Press Release) Today, the European Parliament (EP) approved the legislative report on Protecting Workers from Asbestos. The document includes measures such as a ban on encapsulating asbestos and the recognition of all asbestos related diseases.
Health and safety of workers must be taken more seriously: stop asbestos
On 28 September, the European Commission published its proposal to better protect workers from asbestos, by lowering the current occupational exposure limit for asbestos from 100,000 fibres per cubic meter to 10,000 fibres per cubic meter.
Union acts on new research links cancers to firefighting
The FOA trade union is planning to open old cases related to firefighters and cancer, following the publication of new research that links at least two cancers to firefighting, with further limited evidence in relation to five other cancers. The union argues that there is now sufficient evidence that mesothelioma (linked to asbestos) and bladder cancer may have been triggered by working as a firefighter and should be added to the occupational disease list. FOA has been at the forefront of developing procedures to prevent firefighters from being exposed to the harmful substances that develop
EMPL Committee of the European Parliament votes to limit the Occupational Exposure Limit (OEL)
WE MADE IT! On Monday morning the EMPL Committee of the European Parliament has voted to limit the Occupational Exposure Limit (OEL) which determines the number of asbestos fibres per m3 air allowed in workplaces without dedicated protection measures.
New OSH strategy should aim to mainstream OSH, be less gender blind and be based on lessons learnt from the pandemic
EPSU representative Adam Rogalewski participated in a dedicated hearing organised by the European Commission with the social partners on the New Occupational Safety and Health Strategic Framework 2021-2027.
Firefighters’ union takes on government over cancer ruling
Public service union, Fagforbundet, that represents firefighters is taking legal action to try to overturn a decision by the social insurance court that cancer doesn’t quality as an occupational disease. There was a long struggle by firefighters to get occupational injury compensation as a result of being more exposed to certain types of cancer more than other workers. This was achieved in 2016 and several workers have received this compensation. However, a new ruling reverses this decision. The union argues that there is no new knowledge or research to justify any changes. Several recent