S.T.O.P. Carcinogens at Work: EU-OSHA launches website

Bilbao, Spain — When carcinogens are present in the workplace, “employers must do everything in their power to prevent workers from coming into contact with them,” the European Agency for Safety and Health at Work says.

Providing information to help prevent worker exposure to carcinogens is the goal of the agency’s new website: S.T.O.P. Carcinogens at Work.

A recent EU-OSHA survey found that solar ultraviolet radiation, diesel engine exhaust emissions, benzene, respirable crystalline silica and formaldehyde are the most frequent exposures that put European workers at risk for cancer. The new website lists steps to curb workplace exposures. They include:

• List all carcinogens used and their quantities.
• Gather their Safety Data Sheets.
• Identify workers who are potentially subject to exposure and for how long.

The website has tips on providing worker instruction and details the “STOP” principle, which describes the order of priority of protective measures. Employers “must observe this order of priority when determining and applying protective measures”:
S – Substitution. Replace dangerous substances with less dangerous processes or substances.
T – Technical measures. Strategies to reduce exposures can include using closed systems and effective air suction.
O – Organizational measures. Only to be used to offer additional protection, these include internal policies or organizational methods. These also should be considered for emergencies and workers who perform regular maintenance and cleaning duties.
P – Personal protection. This applies when substitution isn’t possible and technical and organizational measures aren’t enough.