The EU’s planned chemicals legislation reform, REACH, should do much to help protect the health of workers who are exposed to dangerous substances.

To explore how REACH will affect existing worker protection legislation, the ETUC and its Research and Training Institute, the ETUI-REHS, are hosting a conference on “REACH and worker protection legislation: two complementary pieces of law for improved worker protection?” in Brussels on 19 September 2006.

A special focus will be put on the linkages between REACH and two sets of worker protection rules - the Chemicals and Carcinogens Directives.

The conference will give ETUC-affiliated unions and other economic, political and institutional players an opportunity to trade views ahead of November’s scheduled second reading in the European Parliament. It also aims to help inform the social dialogue in European industry.