Chemical Risk in the Workplace: What Changes with the MoVaRisCh 2026 Update

A proper chemical risk assessment is one of the most effective tools for protecting workers' health and ensuring regulatory compliance. The 2026 update of MoVaRisCh - Chemical Risk Assessment Model has introduced important changes that require companies to review assessments already carried out and, if necessary, update the DVR - Risk Assessment Document and prevention measures.

What Changes with MoVaRisCh 2026?

The update incorporates recent changes introduced by national and European regulations, including Italian Legislative Decree 135/2024 and EU Regulation 2020/878 on SDS - Safety Data Sheets. The new provisions can change risk classification even in companies where production processes and substances used have remained unchanged. The review concerns, for example, the updating of the SDS themselves and the introduction of new hazard classes for certain substances, meaning that a previous assessment may no longer adequately represent the actual level of worker exposure. Relying on Occupational Health Surveillance professionals therefore becomes even more essential.

What Are the Employer's Obligations?

Italian Legislative Decree 81/2008 remains the key reference, highlighting how employers must carry out an updated risk assessment whenever regulatory changes occur, the substances used change, or new information becomes available on hazards present in the workplace. Proper management of chemical risk requires activating Occupational Health Surveillance with the involvement of the Occupational Physician to adopt suitable adjustment, prevention and protection measures.

What Role Does Occupational Health Surveillance Play?

Occupational Health Surveillance makes it possible to monitor over time the health status of workers exposed to chemical agents, identifying potential issues early and defining a health protocol suited to the specific risks present in the company. Integrating health monitoring, DVR updates and risk assessment review improves safety management, helps prevent occupational diseases and strengthens regulatory compliance, reducing the risk of disputes and penalties.

What Can SAPRA Occupational Medicine Do?

Our task is to support companies in updating chemical risk assessments, verifying the compliance of Safety Data Sheets, and defining customized Occupational Health Surveillance programs. Our network of Occupational Physicians throughout the country also makes it possible to constantly monitor the health of workers exposed to chemical agents, update the Risk Assessment Document, and identify the most effective prevention measures, ensuring a safety management system that complies with regulations and is geared toward protecting health in the workplace.