This paper is aimed at describing the state of the art with respect to the application of law 626/94, particularly with reference to the activities connected with the use of carcinogens at the workplace. To understand what is going on and what practical activities have been established we found it useful to look for practical examples in the field of carcinogenic risk assessment. We interviewed many colleagues and experts in a non-random sample of situations, and this paper briefly describes the methodological problems encountered and some specific results emerging from eight experiences. The examples described regard both large and small factories, in different fields of activity (chemical and pharmaceutical industries, transport, power production, ...), with different attitudes and traditions with regard to carcinogenic risk assessment, and also with different specific results in terms of risk evaluation. Two among the eight examples reported directly involved the activities performed by private consultants or territorial Public Services active in the field of prevention. The paper concludes with the indication of the problems encountered in the collection of information and with the suggestion that such experiences should be freely presented in the literature, thus offering an opportunity of public discussion and evaluation.