LET’S GET SMART ABOUT CARCINOGENS AT WORK
Cancer is the leading cause of work-related mortality in the EU. Identifying smart solutions and sharing good practices between businesses and organisations, could make a tremendous difference. How? It would reduce workers’ exposure to carcinogens, and it would improve the survival of many workers today and tomorrow.
The Roadmap started on May 25th 2016. At the end of the Amsterdam conference on preventing work related cancer, six key European organisations joined for a new initiative: a voluntary action scheme to raise awareness about the risks arising from exposure to carcinogens in the workplace and exchange good practices. The action scheme had a four-year perspective and got the title “Roadmap on Carcinogens”. In 2020 the partners concluded that the Roadmap was making good progress but far from ready. Therefore, on November 10th 2020 a new strategy for 2020-2024 was presented, with specific challenges to accelerate implementation.
One of the main aims of the Roadmap on carcinogens is to share good practices between companies and organisations.
At the same time, the number of organisations committed to the Roadmap on Carcinogens was extended (most recently in March 2022 when Spain signed the covenant):
- Austria: Federal Ministry of Labour and Economy
- Belgium: Federal public service Employment, Labour and Social Dialogue
- Finland: Ministry of Social Affairs and Health
- France: Ministère du travail, de l’emploi et de l’insertion
- Germany: Federal Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs
- Netherlands: Ministry of Social Affairs and Employment
- Portugal: Autoridade para as condições do trabalho
- Republic of Slovenia: Ministry of labour, family social affairs and equal opportunities
- Spain: Spanish Ministry of Labour and Social Economy
- BusinessEurope (European employers)
- European Trade Union Confederation – ETUC (European workers)
- European Agency for Safety and Health at Work – EU-OSHA
- European Chemicals Agency – ECHA
- European Commission
Aims of the Roadmap on Carcinogens
We encourage and help others to raise awareness and share knowledge. The roadmap will function as the hub of activities undertaken in industries, companies and governments. From 2021 the Roadmap on Carcinogens is running twelve challenges to gain further impact, all to help prevent our workers from getting exposed to carcinogens. These challenges focus on the following four goals:
- Creating awareness through Europe among businesses and workers on the risks of exposure to carcinogenic substances and the need for preventive actions.
- Providing help to businesses and workers in preventing exposure to carcinogens on the work floor and minimize its effect on the workforce.
- Mobilising stakeholders and increasing the involvement of relevant parties such as sectors and industry to multiply our efforts throughout Europe.
- Targeting innovation to bridge the gap between research findings and businesses’ needs.
What you can do right now
We propel solutions and good and innovative practices that are used across Europe. Therefore, we encourage you to share your best practices and ideas about preventing and reducing exposure to carcinogens at work with the rest of Europe!
As we are building a community to raise awareness about carcinogen exposure and share our best practices, we need your support! Join the Roadmap on Carcinogens today, receive updates about the Roadmap, and become a member of a unique valuable community in which workers health, innovation and solutions go hand in hand across Europe.
The Roadmap on Carcinogens needs your ideas, your best practices, and your network. In return, you, your organisation or business and workers can benefit from the knowledge and activities that are shared within the Roadmap community. If you are willing to dedicate a few moments of your time, leave your contact information and become part of the Roadmap community today!
Further information
- Read the 2019 Covenant to see exactly what the partners have committed to
- Download the Roadmap on Carcinogens 2.0 Strategy 2020-2024
Please check the download gallery for marketing materials such as banners and posters.