The Cyprus presidency of the Council of the European Union has reached a provisional agreement with the European Parliament on updated rules designed to strengthen protection for workers exposed to hazardous substances that may cause serious illnesses, including cancer and asthma

The agreement relates to the sixth revision of the Carcinogens, Mutagens and Reprotoxic Substances Directive (CMRD), which updates EU occupational health and safety legislation by introducing stricter measures against workplace exposure to dangerous substances.

“This agreement reflects our shared commitment to ensuring a high level of protection for workers against serious occupational health risks. By introducing new occupational exposure limit values, we are ensuring that the Union’s legislative framework keeps pace with the latest scientific evidence and technological developments. This outcome will help create safer working environments for millions of workers across Europe and further strengthen the prevention of work-related illnesses,” said Marinos Moushouttas, Minister for Labour and Social Insurance, Republic of Cyprus.

The revised rules are expected to prevent approximately 1,700 cases of lung cancer and 19,000 other work-related illnesses over the next 40 years.

Under the proposed revision, the directive will introduce new occupational exposure limit values (OELs) for cobalt and its inorganic compounds, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and 1,4-dioxane. It will also add welding fumes to the list of substances, mixtures and processes covered under Annex I of the directive.

As part of the provisional agreement, the Council and Parliament agreed to expand the scope of the directive by introducing an OEL for isoprene. The agreement also extends the transitional period for applying the new OEL for PAHs to seven years and expands the sectors eligible for this transition period to include all carbon and graphite manufacturers.

The revised framework will also introduce requirements for regular breaks for workers using personal protective equipment (PPE) and clarify rules governing PPE use in relation to existing legislation.

In addition, the agreement updates the definitions of 'carcinogen', 'mutagen' and 'reprotoxic substance' to reflect the inclusion of welding fumes in Annex I, recognising their potential reprotoxic effects. It also highlights the need for further guidance on welding fumes and notes that establishing occupational exposure limits alone does not completely remove risks to workers’ health and safety.

The provisional agreement must now receive formal approval from both the Council and the European Parliament. Once adopted, the legislation will enter into force following legal and linguistic review.

The CMRD establishes measures to prevent and control risks arising from exposure to carcinogenic, mutagenic and reprotoxic substances in workplaces across the EU. The directive requires the introduction of occupational exposure limits wherever possible.

Following an evaluation of EU occupational safety and health legislation in 2017, the CMRD has undergone several updates, with five revisions already adopted addressing more than 40 hazardous substances. The European Commission presented its proposal for the sixth revision on 18 July 2025.

Workers and members of the public in the UAE have access to Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation (MOHRE) channels to report 11 categories of labour violations, ranging from forced labour and human trafficking to sexual harassment, unpaid end-of-service benefits and excessive working hours.

MOHRE said that disputes involving employers and domestic workers can be formally escalated when efforts to reach an amicable resolution fail. In such cases, a labour complaint can be filed through the ministry’s designated channels, allowing the matter to proceed through the formal review process.

The ministry has outlined 11 types of violations that can be reported. These include fake Emiratisation, forced labour and human trafficking, non-compliance with Emiratisation requirements, sexual harassment, failure to provide end-of-service benefits and requiring employees to work more than two additional hours.

The list also covers violations related to heat-stress protection measures, labour accommodation standards, the employment of workers in breach of regulations, occupational health and safety requirements, and annual leave entitlements, including failure to provide payment in lieu or allow unused leave to be carried forward.

MOHRE said its community reporting service enables members of the public to report unlawful practices at establishments. The initiative is intended to strengthen monitoring and improve compliance across the UAE labour market.

Workers and members of the public can submit reports through the MOHRE UAE app, the ministry’s website or the Labour Claims and Advisory Centre by calling 80084.

At the Big Sky Labor and Employment Conference in Montana, which brings influential employee, employer, and neutral leaders together to discuss important labour and employment issues, OSHA Assistant Secretary David Keeling highlighted the agency’s commitment to working more closely with employers, listening to stakeholders, and raising awareness of the importance of prevention to businesses

Keeling outlined how OSHA plans to advance that vision:

• Provide small businesses with tailored guidance and practical support.
• Understand stakeholders' needs and how OSHA can be most effective for them.
• Build stronger partnerships across industries, associations, and alliances to share what works and amplify safety successes.
• Make resources easier to access by promoting onsite consultation, expanding training tools and enhancing digital resources so employers understand requirements before an incident happens.

Keeling also highlighted new initiatives designed to enhance workplace safety and health, including:

• The OSHA CARES Initiative, a customer service effort designed to help businesses meet federal requirements as well as building more effective safety and health programmes that benefit both employers and workers. It is aimed at supporting small and medium sized business in particular, strengthening collaboration between businesses and OSHA by increasing access to OSHA experts and compliance assistance specialists, improving access to educational and training materials, and offering consistent workplace assistance during enforcement visits and meetings.
• The Safety Champions Program, a new cooperative initiative designed to help employers develop and implement effective safety and health programmes. With a focus on proactive prevention and continuous improvement to prevent workplace injuries, illness and fatalities, it emphasises seven key elements: management leadership, worker participation, hazard identification, prevention and control, education and training, programme evaluation, and communication. By incorporating these elements, employers can create safety and health programs that not only meet regulations but also enhance workplace safety and health.

Along with the focus on assistance and partnership comes a strong enforcement role. Keeling emphasised OSHA priorities that include hiring compliance officers, focusing enforcement efforts on repeat violators and other bad actors, and modernising outdated rules by prioritising clarity and efficiency to meet the needs of today's workforce.

The mission of OSHA, part of the US Department of Labor, is to ensure America's workers have safe and healthy working conditions free from unlawful retaliation. It does this by setting and enforcing standards; enforcing anti-retaliation provisions of the OSH Act and other federal whistleblower laws; providing and supporting training, outreach, education, and assistance; and working collaboratively with state OSHA programmes, furthering a national system of worker safety and health protections.