Mesothelioma and asbestos-related cancer prevention saw major progress in Europe, as the European Commission adopted comprehensive new measures to better protect workers from asbestos exposure. Included in the advancements are guidelines for significantly lowering occupational exposure limits and an updated list of workplace asbestos-related diseases eligible for compensation, including several types of cancer.
Mesothelioma Compensation Coverage Expands
As part of the European Union’s comprehensive approach for an asbestos-free future, workers diagnosed with mesothelioma and related asbestos diseases now receive broader recognition for worker compensation. The new measures support and strengthen the revised 2023 “Asbestos at Work” Directive, which mandated lower occupational exposure limits and other risk reduction measures. Based on that action, member states had already been required to incorporate stronger protections into national law by December 21, 2025.
Last week, the European Commission updated its occupational diseases recommendation, adding to mesothelioma, lung cancer, asbestosis, and other illnesses, to include cancer of the larynx, cancer of the ovary, pleural plaques with lung impairment, and non-malignant pleural effusion as diseases caused by asbestos exposure at work. The Commission called on Member States to include these conditions in national compensation systems and urged countries to ensure that workers diagnosed with colon, rectal, or stomach cancer can also receive compensation when a link to workplace asbestos exposure is proven.
European Commission’s Actions Address Mesothelioma and Other Workplace Cancers
Around 75 percent of workplace cancers in the EU are linked to asbestos, making these expanded protections critical for worker health. The new risk reduction measures are hoped to lower the number of mesothelioma diagnoses, promote consistent disease recognition across Member States, and strengthen support for affected workers.
The guidelines were created with input from trade unions, employer organizations, companies, national authorities, and health and safety experts. They include practical information for managing asbestos-related risks in industries including construction, renovation, and maintenance. Member States are also being encouraged to improve diagnosis, research, and data collection, as asbestos exposure remains one of the EU’s leading causes of occupational cancer.
U.S. measures to prevent mesothelioma and other asbestos-related diseases lag significantly behind European protections, lacking comprehensive federal asbestos workplace exposure limits comparable to the EU’s revised Directive or systematic national compensation systems for asbestos-related occupational diseases. As Europe continues to work toward an asbestos-free future, OSHA regulations haven’t seen a significant update in decades.
If you or someone you love has been diagnosed with mesothelioma, asbestos-related lung cancer, or another asbestos-related disease, the Patient Advocates at Mesothelioma.net can help. Contact us today at 1-800-692-8608 to learn more.
