EU-Presidency Conference ‘Preventing work-related cancer’
Every year, between 50,000 and 100,000 workers in the European Union die as a result of exposure to carcinogenic substances at work. It is essential to protect employees in the EU from such substances.
This conference highlights existing and new insights into the problems associated with carcinogens and the ways to reduce exposure to these substances. One important measure is to set more EU limits for exposure to carcinogens. Other factors including the behaviour of employers and employees, and innovations in removing and replacing carcinogens will also be discussed at the conference.
Programme
The conference will open on Monday 23 May with a plenary session on the severity and scope of the issues surrounding carcinogens and the consequences for affected employees. The Minister of Social Affairs and Employment, Lodewijk Asscher, and the European Commissioner for Employment, Social Affairs, Skills and Labour Mobility, Marianne Thyssen, will speak at this session.
The second day of the conference will take a look at risk perception, innovation, collaboration and the role of social partners, as well as examining how to share good campaign examples and determine exposure limits. The speakers will be European scientists in fields like carcinogens, epidemiology, psychology, communication and labour law.
Day three will look ahead to the future. The speakers will include representatives from the European Commission and the European Agency for Safety and Health at Work (EU-OHSA).
Experts and policymakers from throughout the EU will be taking part in the conference.
