The European Trade Union Technical Bureau for Health and Safety (TUTB) has published a brochure on the health and safety benefits inherent in the REACH legislative reform for the millions of European workers who are exposed to chemicals in the workplace on a daily basis: REACHing the workplace - How workers stand to benefit from the new European policy on chemical agents.

The proposed reform of the European legislation on trade in chemical substances, known as REACH (Registration, Evaluation and Authorisation of CHemicals), pursues two main aims: ensuring a high level of protection for human health and the environment; and strengthening the competitiveness of the European chemical industry.

European workers stand to benefit enormously from this reform, since at present the manufacture and use of chemicals in the workplace takes a heavy toll on them. Indeed, approximately one out of every three occupational diseases recognised annually in Europe can be ascribed to exposure to hazardous chemicals.

In order to better understand in what way the REACH reform represents a real opportunity to reduce the number of occupational diseases related to exposure to dangerous substances, this publication begins by examining the reasons why a reform is needed; it then describes the content of the REACH reform and the changes it will make to the existing legislation. It concludes by explaining the state of play in the legislative process underway at the European Parliament and the Council, which should result in the adoption of the REACH Regulation.

Contents of this publication:

• Chemicals: two sides to the story
• Why is a reform of the current legislation on chemicals needed?
• Content of the REACH proposal
• How REACH will alter the existing legislation
• How workers stand to benefit from REACH
• What is the current state of play on REACH?

The publication is available in English and French. For more information, visit the TUTB Web site.