Almost 47 million EU workers may have been exposed to at least one cancer risk factor during their last working week, according to the Workers’ Exposure Survey (WES) on occupational cancer risk factors in Europe, conducted by the European Agency for Safety and Health at Work (EU-OSHA). The survey highlights significant gaps in prevention and underscores the urgent need for targeted, evidence-based interventions to protect workers’ health and reduce the burden of occupational cancer across Europe.
Exposure rates and worker disparities
- The most common exposures are; 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 (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 workers experienced high-level exposure during the past working week (1.6% of all workers).
- Approximately 11.1% of employees experience high-level exposure to at least one of the 24 substances studied.
- Multiple exposures are also common: 26.1% of workers were probably exposed to at least two cancer risk factors within the same week.
- Older workers tend to have higher exposure to multiple risk factors, but at lower levels compared to other workers.
- Self-employed and temporary workers often face higher exposure rates, while exposure patterns also differ between men and women depending on the sector and type of work involved.
Prevention and control measures
The survey, conducted between September 2022 and February 2023 in 6 EU-countries, also examines how workplaces manage exposure risks. The use of control measures such as ventilation, enclosed systems and personal protective equipment varies widely. Some sectors, including chemical laboratories, report consistent use of technical controls. In many others, controls are used only occasionally or not at all. For example, more than two-thirds of workers exposed to diesel engine exhaust emissions during vehicle maintenance reported not taking protective measures.
These findings highlight the need for improved and more consistent implementation of technical, organisational and personal protective measures, following the established hierarchy of prevention.
