Report References to occupational exposures the management of chemical risks is generally poorer. The report also expresses concern about multiple exposures on emerging biological, physical and psychosocial emerging risks. Challenges faced by workers health • Failures to realize the right to information • Inaccessible remedies, justice and accountability • Opaque supply chains and the transfer of hazardous work • Restrained freedom of association In both areas of private liability — the Environmental Liability Act and Law on Pharmaceuticals — a shift in the burden of proof to reflect a victims-based approach is welcomed. However, in the area of occupational health and safety, the Special Rapporteur heard of the immense challenges still faced by workers who fall ill from toxic chemicals to access any remedy. • Inaccessible remedies, justice and accountability The Special Rapporteur is particularly concerned that European Union business enterprises, beyond Germany businesses, are exporting their manufacturing activities — and the risks to workers of toxic chemicals — to developing countries. Post-production, European Union businesses can import a product that claims to be “free of hazardous substances” even though hazardous substances were used in the supply chain outside the European Union. • Limited progress in prevention of exposure • Exploitation of those most at risk This practice is comparable to the supply chain of clothing that originates, for example, from a garment factory in Bangladesh that fails to respect workers’ rights, including against sexual violence, and unlawfully targets labour leaders with intimidation, threats and violence. It is also similar to the global trade and supply chain in cobalt, a key component in rechargeable lithium- • Opaque supply chains and the transfer of REACH may not adequately protect workers, because the risks of daily exposure are primarily assessed for industrial chemicals at higher tonnage thresholds, whereas the majority of chemicals to which workers are exposed are at the lower thresholds. Since the level of hazardous substance exposure for workers is at much higher levels than the permissible exposure levels for consumers, information about adverse effects of chronic exposure is critical. In Germany, 16,165 suspected cases of occupational skin disease were recorded in 2004, representing a quarter of all registered occupational diseases. Other skin diseases include chemical burns ranging from rashes to full thickness skin damage requiring grafts. Chromate is the most dominant allergen, followed by epoxy resins and cobalt in the German construction industry. The German trade union IG Bergbau, Chemie, Energie says that information needs to feature more prominently on the European Chemicals Agency database, so workers can better access health and safety information. Although asbestos is prohibited in Germany, it is still found in buildings and ships. Specialized training and qualifications are required to dispose of asbestos safely, for instance, in demolition or renovation, particularly for informal workers. It was brought to the Special Rapporteur’s attention that Germany has not put in place any specific measures to protect informal workers from the risks of hazardous substances. Currently the trade union IG Bauen-Agrar-Umwelt is campaigning for informal and migrant workers to receive basic health and safety instructions prior to working. BASF informed the Special Rapporteur of its global standards for workers’ safety. BASF assured the Special Rapporteur that all plants were built according to the same standards and safety levels for workers. The company’s goal is to reduce work-related accidents by 80 per cent by 2020. A/HRC/39/48 49