OHS REPS @ WORK

VTHC Unions Support Daffodil Day Friday 24 August 2007

Occupational cancer needs better monitoring

Occupational cancer is the leading cause of workplace death. Every day around the world almost 2000 people are estimated to die from cancer caused by their job.

In Australia many workers are exposed to cancer-causing environments and substances, often with little or no awareness of the risk. At least ten per cent, and probably more, of cancer related deaths are occupational.

On Daffodil Day 2007 unions are calling for more funding to identify the causes of occupational cancer and better treatment and tracking of the disease such as through a properly resourced mesothelioma register.

While the cancer-causing properties of substances like asbestos are now well known, many more occupational cancer risks need to be monitored. Skin cancer is often linked to outdoor work.

VTHC Secretary, Brian Boyd, said more needs to be done to protect Australian workers.

“Recent ‘cancer-clusters’ have drawn attention to the risks of toxic work environments and highlight the need to better track and understand what the causes are.

“Tracking needs to be a priority. Unions had to fight hard to keep the mesothelioma register despite the important work it did in tracking asbestos-related disease.

“Unions are pushing for an approach to occupational cancer that identifies where cancers are caused and removing those sources, treating the disease when it occurs and ensuring that they are properly tracked in order to combat the disease.”

In Australia there are 88 000 new cases of cancer each year. The causes are becoming better understood but more needs to be done to eliminate the threat of cancer from people’s working lives.

International unions have launched a global campaign – Occupational Cancer/Zero Cancer to prevent occupational cancer.  Occupational cancer/Zero Cancer: A union guide to prevention (2007) [pdf]. International Metalworkers’ Federation.