The STOP Principle in Preventing Workplace Carcinogenic Risks: A Qualitative Study in the Bergamo Province on the Use of an Interactive Tool to Inform Potential National Adoption.

Abstract

This study investigated the perspectives of companies in the Province of Bergamo regarding the use of an interactive tool designed to support the application of the STOP principle to prevent work-related cancerogenic exposure, with the aim to inform potential national adoption in Italy. A qualitative approach was used. Two online focus groups were conducted with five companies operating in high-risk sectors, involving 15 participants per session, including Health, Safety and Environment managers and workers' representatives. Three overarching themes emerged from the analysis: i) ease of use and perceived utility, ii) operational challenges, and iii) proposals for improvement. Applying the STOP principle through digital tools offers companies a concrete opportunity to enhance occupational cancer prevention in Italy, representing both a technical advance and a broader political and cultural commitment to systematic prevention.