Background
Occupational exposure to chemicals in the EU is regulated under the occupational safety and health (OSH) legislation, including the Chemical Agents Directive (CAD); Carcinogens, Mutagens and Reprotoxic substances Directive (CMRD), as well as under the REACH regulation (Registration, Evaluation and Authorization and Restriction of Chemicals). The limit values established under CAD and CMRD include indicative occupational Exposure limit values (IOELVs) and binding occupational exposure limit values (BOELVs).
The OSH legislation provides a minimum health and safety standards across the EU, allowing member states to implement stricter national measures. Under REACH, occupational chemical exposure can be regulated through authorization and restriction processes, as well as through the establishment of derived no-effect levels (DNELs). The REACH regulation is directly applicable in all EU member states.
Variations in the interpretation and implementation of OSH legislation related information and REACH-related requirements in workplace chemical risk assessments may influence risk assessment outcomes and, consequently, risk mitigation.
Objectives of the project
The project is carried out through a series of case studies. STAMI is involved in two case studies: one focusing on occupational exposure to reproductive and developmental toxicants (CS8) and another on chemical risk assessment in the workplace (CS3).
In the first case study (CS8), a literature review will be conducted on limit values and safety margins for reproductive toxicological effects in the EU and its member states. Additionally, a comparative analysis will be performed to assess the coverage, values, and scientific basis of occupational exposure limits (OELs) and derived no-effect levels (DNELs) for known reproductive toxicants.
The objective of the second case study (CS3) is to evaluate how workplaces apply OELs and other regulatory information and how this impacts the work environment. The study consists of two components: 1) A literature review examining various approaches to regulating occupational chemical exposure in the EU through case examples, focusing on CAD/CMRD (limit values) and the REACH regulation (restrictions, authorizations, DNELs). 2) A survey and interviews aimed at mapping different perspectives among those responsible for workplace safety and health (e.g., OSH personnel), labour inspectors, and representatives from employer and employee organizations. The study is being conducted in four countries (Finland, Norway, Latvia and Slovenia).
The project will provide increased understanding of how limit values and related regulatory information are utilized in workplace chemical risk assessment and risk mitigation. Additionally, it will identify potential challenges and highlight good practice associated with the use of regulatory information.
External Collaborators:
CS3: Finnish Institute of Occupational Health (FIOH, leder prosjektet), Karoliniska Institutet (KI), Jozef Stefan Institute (JSI), Riga Stradins University (RSU)
CS8: Karolinska Insitutet (KI, leder prosjektet), Finnish Institute of Occupational Health (FIOH), Lithuanian University of Health Sciences (LSMU), Riga Stradins University (RSU)
Financial Contributors: Horizon Europe (EU)
More information about the research program: https://www.eu-parc.eu/
PARC Project Number: PARC p6.3.2.a_Y1_Tools RA
Project leader:
Aurora Moen
Project group members:
Susann Wolf, Mimmi Leite, Karl-Christian Nordby, Steen Mollerup
More information is to be found on the Norwegian project page.