The debate on guaranteeing a healthy and safe work environment for EU workers has been recently revamped with the European Pillar of Social Rights that, with its Principle 10 – Healthy, safe and well-adapted work environment and data protection, calls for the right to a high level of protection, health and safety at work.
The EU agenda is currently addressing the topic through the REACH initiative and the Directive on Carcinogens and Mutagens. In this context, the European Agency for Safety and Health at Work will launch on 24 April its 2018-2019 Healthy Workplaces Campaign, with the aim to raise awareness on dangerous substances’ impact on EU workers.
Nurses are among the professionals most affected by this issue, as often exposed to carcinogenic, mutagenic and reprotoxic hazardous drugs. Something needs to be done to prevent nurses and other health professionals from the deadly chemical risks during activities such as the preparation and administration of hazardous drugs. Health professionals must receive suitable and regular information on the risks linked to the use of such substances, and the EU should publish regularly a list of hazardous drugs and guidelines to prevent occupational exposure.