The final overview report of The Workers' Exposure Survey (WES) 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% 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% of all workers.
• About 11.1% of workers are exposed to at least one of the 24 substances at a high level.  
• Multiple exposures are also common: 26.1% 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.

William Cockburn, EU-OSHA’s Executive Director: “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.”

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

About the survey

The Workers' Exposure Survey (WES) is a large-scale, population-based telephone survey carried out between September 2022 and February 2023 in six EU Member States. It estimates the probable exposure of workers to 24 known cancer risk factors, including industrial chemicals, process-generated substances, mixtures, and physical agents. WES uses the Occupational Integrated Database Exposure Assessment System (OccIDEAS) tool and provides weighted data representative of 98.5 million workers. Earlier WES publications include short and technical reports, a methodology report, a topic-related report on healthcare workers, and several flyers. Occupational cancers are the leading cause of work-related deaths in the EU, responsible for more than 100 000 fatalities every year, as recognised in the EU Roadmap on Carcinogens. More information is available at https://osha.europa.eu.

Quelle: Pressemitteilung EU-OSHA

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