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.

The Minister of State for Energy Affairs, Eng. Saad bin Sherida Al Kaabi, has announced the death of 13 workers following an accidental incident at the Barzan Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) Plant on 21 June

During a press conference held on Monday at the headquarters of QatarEnergy, His Excellency confirmed that the explosion and fire at the Barzan LNG Plant was an 'accidental incident' and was not linked to sabotage or any deliberate act of wrongdoing.

He said the relevant authorities have begun a comprehensive investigation to identify the causes behind the incident.

Al Kaabi confirmed that the deceased workers were from India and Pakistan. He added that among the 66 people injured were citizens and residents from Qatar, India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Kenya, Ghana, Tanzania, Nigeria and Nepal. None of those injured were reported to be in life-threatening condition.

The Minister said the explosion occurred at approximately 10:30 p.m. inside the facility, which is operated by QatarEnergy to supply natural gas for domestic requirements. The plant had been temporarily shut down since December 2025 for essential maintenance and repair activities and had resumed operations only two days before the incident.

Emergency response teams from QatarEnergy, working alongside Civil Defense authorities, successfully brought the fire under control and extinguished it, Al Kaabi said.

He expressed his deepest condolences to the families of those who lost their lives and to their colleagues, while wishing a quick recovery to the injured. He also confirmed that QatarEnergy is providing all necessary support to those affected by the incident.

Al Kaabi stated that QatarEnergy’s LNG facilities, Ras Laffan Port and all logistics operations associated with the energy sector were not impacted by the incident. He confirmed that LNG production and export activities continue as normal.

He further stressed that there are no environmental concerns or risks of hazardous material leakage resulting from the fire. The relevant authorities have monitored the situation since the incident occurred and have not identified any environmental threats requiring action.

Addressing media questions, the Minister said the immediate priorities are to continue monitoring the condition of the victims and injured workers, while completing technical investigations to establish the causes of the incident.

He explained that it remains too early to determine the extent of material damage or associated financial losses, as assessments and investigations are still ongoing.

Regarding the potential impact of the plant shutdown on domestic gas supplies, Al Kaabi noted that while the facility is an important source of natural gas for local industrial sectors, including petrochemicals and fertilisers, Qatar has reserve capacity and alternative operational measures in place to ensure uninterrupted supply.

He confirmed that the incident has not affected LNG exports or Qatar’s contractual commitments to international customers, with production and export operations at other facilities continuing without disruption.

On the timeline for the plant’s return to full operations, Al Kaabi said it was premature to provide a specific timeframe. He explained that the schedule would depend on the findings of the technical investigation and the completion of detailed damage assessments by engineering and maintenance teams once they access the affected area.

The Minister also confirmed that the incident would not affect Qatar’s future energy sector plans, stating that expansion projects and strategic initiatives remain on schedule.

Discussing safety measures, Al Kaabi highlighted that industrial facilities across Qatar operate under strict occupational safety and security regulations. He said the ongoing investigation would examine all possible causes, including human error, technical issues, equipment failures and other operational factors.

He added that the investigation findings would help determine the exact causes of the incident and support the implementation of corrective measures to prevent similar occurrences in the future. He reaffirmed that Qatar’s energy sector follows the highest internationally recognised safety standards.

Concluding the press conference, Al Kaabi reiterated QatarEnergy’s commitment to transparency throughout the investigation process. He said the findings would be made public once the investigation is completed, while the company continues to provide care and assistance to the injured workers and the families of those who lost their lives.

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration concluded its 13th annual National Safety Stand-Down to Prevent Falls in Construction earlier this month, encouraging employers and workers across the United States to strengthen awareness around fall hazards and workplace safety practices.

Held from 4-8 May 2026, the nationwide initiative focused on reducing falls, which remain one of the leading causes of fatalities within the construction sector. The campaign promoted greater emphasis on planning, employee training and hazard identification to improve safety performance on jobsites.

Throughout the week, employers were encouraged to temporarily halt work activities and conduct safety-focused sessions, including toolbox talks, fall prevention training, hazard recognition exercises and equipment demonstrations. Particular attention was given to risks linked to roofing operations, scaffolding and ladder use.

Assistant Secretary for Occupational Safety and Health David Keeling participated in a Stand-Down event held at the Henry Bacon Ball Field on the National Mall, where several infrastructure and construction projects are underway. OSHA representatives also attended events organised in different parts of the country.

The initiative formed part of OSHA’s wider Fall Prevention Campaign and was delivered in collaboration with organisations including The Center for Construction Research and Training, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health and the NORA Construction Sector Council.

OSHA also announced plans to strengthen cooperation with Construction Safety Week through a new alliance aimed at supporting worker wellbeing and preventing serious incidents across the construction project lifecycle.

Since its launch in 2012, the Stand-Down campaign has helped train millions of workers and promote stronger safety awareness throughout the industry.