The Health and Safety Authority (HSA) brought together European and Irish experts in Dublin for a conference focused on protecting workers from exposure to carcinogenic substances.
The event, titled The Air We Work In: Protecting Workers from Respirable Carcinogens, formed part of the European Roadmap on Carcinogens initiative and was hosted during Ireland’s Presidency of the Council of the European Union.
Occupational cancer risks highlighted
The conference addressed the risks associated with carcinogenic substances that can be inhaled in workplace environments.
In Ireland, an estimated 400 deaths each year are attributed to occupational exposure to carcinogens.
According to the European Agency for Safety and Health at Work (EU OSHA), approximately 120,000 cases of occupational cancer occur annually across the European Union, resulting in around 80,000 deaths.
The figures highlighted the importance of preventing exposure to hazardous substances in workplaces.
HSA emphasises prevention and risk management
Speaking ahead of the conference, HSA Chief Executive Officer Mark Cullen said: “Exposure to carcinogens at work does not always involve an obvious or visible danger.
“The consequences can emerge many years after exposure has taken place, which makes prevention and effective risk management particularly important.
“Employers have a responsibility to identify where workers may be exposed to hazardous substances and to put appropriate measures in place to eliminate or control that exposure.
“Our focus must always be on preventing occupational disease before it occurs.”
“No individual organisation or country has all the answers when it comes to tackling occupational exposure to carcinogens. Sharing evidence, practical interventions and regulatory experience across borders is an important part of improving prevention.
“By learning from one another, we can turn that shared knowledge into practical action that reduces exposure and better protects workers.”
European experts share knowledge
The conference brought together regulators, researchers, employers, trade union leaders and occupational health and safety practitioners.
Participants considered approaches to preventing and controlling exposure to airborne carcinogens and the importance of sharing evidence and regulatory experience across European countries.
Conference supports European cooperation
The event took place at the Royal College of Physicians of Ireland on Kildare Street in Dublin.
Speakers included representatives from the European Commission, the German Federal Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs, EU OSHA and the HSA.
The conference provided a forum for discussing practical interventions and strengthening cooperation on the prevention of occupational cancers.
