: The final overview report of the survey (1), covering 98.5 million European workers, provides the most comprehensive data so far on workers' probable exposure to 24 known cancer risk factors across six EU Member States: Germany, Ireland, Spain, France, Hungary and Finland. The latest report highlights that 46.6 million workers faced exposure to one or more of the cancer risks during their most recent week at work. Exposure rates and worker disparities The most common exposures are to solar ultraviolet radiation, diesel engine exhaust emissions, benzene, respirable crystalline silica and formaldehyde. Unlike exposure to other industrial chemicals, exposure to formaldehyde is more widely distributed among the working population, with 6.4% of all workers probably exposed. The circumstances of this exposure are quite diverse, for example when working with glue or plywood, during firefighting or opening shipping containers. Wood dust exposure stands out among cancer risk factors in the survey: half of affected [...]
: Poor mental health is increasing in the EU: nearly half (45%) of workers report facing risks for their mental wellbeing at work , and 29% of workers experience stress, anxiety, or depression caused or made worse by work. Prolonged exposure to psychosocial risks is costly, with significant impact on workers’ health, including absenteeism and long-term sick leave. This not only harms workers, but also reduces productivity and increases costs for organisations, with wider consequences for society. “Employers have a legal duty to protect workers’ health, including mental health. The latest evidence shows that barriers and reluctance to address psychosocial risks are common, with organisations lacking expertise or resources to tackle these issues. The campaign aims to help organisations manage psychosocial risks across all sectors by providing data, evidence-based solutions and practical tools. These resources will support preventative action, improve work organisation, and foster dialogue between employers and[...]
: The European Agency for Safety and Health at Work (EU-OSHA) today inaugurated its new offices in the BAT (B Accelerator Tower), in a ceremony presided over by the European Commission Executive Vice-President for Social Rights and Skills, Quality Jobs and Preparedness, Roxana Mînzatu . Also taking part in the event were William Cockburn , Executive Director of EU-OSHA; Mikel Torres , Deputy First Minister and Minister of Economy, Labour and Employment of the Basque Government; Ainara Basurko , Provincial Councillor for Economic Promotion and First Deputy General; and Amaia Arregi , First Deputy Mayor and Counsellor for Security at the Bilbao City Council. During the inauguration, European Commission Executive Vice-President Roxana Mînzatu highlighted that EU-OSHA’s new headquarters in the BAT marks the beginning of a new chapter for the Agency, which has been based in Bilbao since 1996 and has become Europe’s reference point for occupational safety and health. She noted that the building symbolises values suc[...]
: À mesure que le changement climatique accroît l’intensité des phénomènes météorologiques extrêmes tels que les inondations, il engendre de nouveaux dangers et aggrave les risques existants pour la sécurité et la santé des travailleurs. Des événements récents, notamment les graves inondations qui ont touché la région espagnole de Valence en 2024, ont mis en évidence la nécessité pour les organisations de mieux se préparer. Il est essentiel de prendre des mesures pour anticiper et gérer ces risques afin d’assurer la protection des travailleurs et la résilience des entreprises. Nous venons de publier de nouvelles ressources sur la gestion des risques d’inondation pour les petites et moyennes entreprises: un guide pratique de l’UE et un document de réflexion complémentaire. Ces deux documents étudient les implications des inondations en matière de sécurité et de santé au travail (SST), mettent en évidence les principaux enjeux politiques et proposent un outil pratique destiné à aider les organisations à intégrer[...]