In a move that aims to provide better protection for workers, the European Commission has proposed a number of changes to the Carcinogens and Mutagens Directive that will limit exposure to 13 cancer-causing chemicals at work.
According to the World Health Organisation, cancer is the second largest cause of death in most developed countries – and in the European Union cancer is the first cause of work-related deaths. Around 53% of annual work-related deaths are due to cancer, compared to 28% for circulatory diseases and 6% for respiratory diseases.