Welding Fumes Under Fresh Scrutiny as EU Tightens Workplace Cancer Limits to Save Lives

EU sets binding limits on cobalt, PAH, and welding fumes to prevent 1,700 lung cancers; Germany updates heat and office safety rules amid debate on working hours.

New exposure thresholds for a cluster of toxic substances, including welding fumes for the first time, were provisionally agreed by the European Parliament and member states on 23 June. The deal, the sixth revision of the EU's carcinogens directive, aims to prevent an estimated 1,700 lung cancer cases and roughly 19,000 additional occupational diseases over a 40-year period.

The agreement, clarified by the Council and Parliament on 24 June, sets legally binding limits for cobalt at 0.01 mg/m³ for inhalable fractions and 0.0025 mg/m³ for alveolar fractions. Industry will have six years to comply. Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) were capped at 0.00007 mg/m³, while 1,4-dioxane will be limited to 7.3 mg/m³. Welding fumes are now explicitly covered, forcing employers to implement mandatory protective measures for all welding operations.

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With cobalt, PAH and welding fumes now facing tighter EU limits, employers must ensure their hazardous substance risk assessments are up to date. A free COSHH toolkit provides 43 editable templates and checklists to help you comply with COSHH regulations quickly and confidently. Over 37,000 UK businesses already rely on it. Get the free COSHH Toolkit

Across the European Union, more than 2.5 million workers are affected. Following formal confirmation, member states will have roughly two years to transpose the directive into national law.

Parallel to the Brussels-level push, national guidelines on personal protective equipment for extreme weather hardened in late June. Under Germany's occupational health and safety act and the workplace ordinance, employers must now conduct a risk assessment for any outdoor work. When strong sunlight and heat are present, technical and organisational measures take priority. If those prove insufficient, the employer must supply UV-protective clothing, headgear with neck flaps, sunscreen of at least SPF 50, and suitable eye protection.

For indoor workplaces, graduated rules apply: at 26 degrees Celsius, measures such as drinking water or fans should be introduced; at 30 degrees, the employer is legally required to implement them. Workspaces exceeding 35 degrees without additional safeguards are considered unfit for work.

On 24 June, the German statutory accident insurance body DGUV published an updated industry rule for office operations — regulation 115-401 — covering ergonomics at screen workstations, work organisation, noise protection, and indoor climate. The revision strengthens physical safety standards.

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The updated DGUV regulation for office operations is a reminder that safety documentation must keep pace with regulatory changes. Yet many employers only realise they have gaps in their risk assessments when an incident occurs. A free toolkit provides 41 templates covering fire safety, manual handling, first aid and lone working to help you stay ahead. Download the free Risk Assessment Toolkit

Yet even as workplace protections advance, criticism is mounting over proposals to relax Germany's Working Hours Act. Trade associations including the AOP-GA initiative warned on 23 June that moving away from the eight-hour day and extending daily shifts could increase health risks. The predicted consequences include more mental illnesses, higher staff turnover, and a rise in early retirements.

A 2026 ruling by Germany's Federal Labour Court underscores the need for caution: errors in mass redundancy notifications render dismissals permanently invalid. The decision highlights how formal protective standards remain a pillar of labour law, even as debates over working time flexibility intensify.