BILBAO, ES -- 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. 

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 percent 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, representing 1.6 percent of all workers.

About 11.1 percent of workers are exposed to at least one of the 24 substances at a high level.  

Multiple exposures are also common: 26.1 percent 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.

"Nearly half of European workers are probably exposed to cancer-causing agents at work, and millions face high levels of risk or multiple exposures. Every year, more than 100 000 people in the EU lose their lives to work-related cancer. These findings reveal significant gaps in prevention and an urgent need for targeted, evidence-based interventions to protect workers' health and reduce the burden of occupational cancer across Europe,” said William Cockburn, EU-OSHA’s executive director.

Control measures and prevention gaps
The survey, conducted between September 2022 and February 2023, shows important differences across sectors, job types and demographic groups, underlining the importance of targeted interventions and policies.  

WES 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, organizational and personal protective measures, following the established hierarchy of prevention.

Informing policy and action
The WES data provide robust and comparable evidence to support policy development and workplace prevention strategies. EU-OSHA has actively contributed to the European Commission’s ongoing process to update EU legislation on carcinogens, mutagens and reprotoxic substances at work, which began several years ago and continues today. Our research underpins this legislative work, and the survey findings will inform possible future amendments.

They also support the goals of the EU Strategic Framework on Health and Safety at Work 2021-2027, Europe's Beating Cancer Plan, and the EU Roadmap on Carcinogens.

Effective prevention strategies must consider the different types and levels of exposure experienced by diverse groups of workers. Sector-specific and worker-centered approaches are essential to reduce risks and protect health.

Access the findings

Overview report: Occupational cancer risk factors in Europe - Overview of the findings of the Workers' Exposure Survey

Summary: Occupational cancer risk factors in Europe - Overview of the findings of the Workers' Exposure Survey

Thematic section: Workers' Exposure Survey on cancer risk factors in Europe

(1) First findings were released in November 2023.