Cancer risk at the workplace: How to protect yourself from fatal fabrics!

Cancer risk at the workplace: How to protect yourself from fatal fabrics!

An alarming picture is emerging in Europe: working cancer is one of the main causes of death in the region, and every year over 100,000 people in the EU lose their lives in the consequences of carcinogenic substances in the workplace. Austria in particular is affected, where around 1,800 people die every year from the consequences of these diseases, such as the Gailtal Journal . Despite the ban on asbestos in Austria since 1990, this dangerous substance during renovation work remains a threat. But not only asbestos - other chemical pollutants such as diesel emissions and wood dust are serious dangers that require more attention and modernized protective measures.

necessary changes

Another central problem is that employees have no obligation in Austria to report cancer. This poses the risk that employers will not be informed about possible dangers for health and therefore could not take preventive measures. According to the European Trade Union Institute (ETUI), the statistics for exposure to dangerous substances are incomplete, and many companies do not have the corresponding records of working conditions. In addition, legal limit values ​​have not been updated for decades. If recognized prevention measures were consistently implemented, a large part of these diseases could be avoided, according to the Austrian Trade Union Confederation (ÖGB), which calls for a fundamental legal revision.