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An onslaught of accident at work compensation claims could result because of the government's careless nature when it comes to workplace carcinogens.
There are a number of risks for workers as they go about their day to day tasks, from accidents at work such as slips and trips to work-related injuries such as Repetitive Strain Injury and work-related illnesses such as asthma. However, one of the most serious worries for some workers is contracting a terminal illness such as cancer as a result of exposure to dangerous substances at work.
A study carried out by researchers at Stirling University found that as many as 24,000 die from occupational cancer every year, four times as much as has been previously estimated by the Health and Safety Executive.
An estimate for the amount of deaths resulting from work-related cancers has stood at 6,000 for the last 25 years, suggesting that the HSE need to update their stats. The authors of this new study have put this underestimation down to the following reasons:
Their main concern is that Britain could have an epidemic of work-related cancers on their hands, costing the economy as much as £29bn every year. The researchers have also stressed the HSE's recommendations for action range "from complacent to non-existent".
Despite the fact that the head of the HSE's disease reduction programme told the BBC that cancer prevention is his top priority, Radio 4's File on 4 programme discovered that there is no complete register of exposures to carcinogens in the workplace. In addition to this, the investigation carried out by the BBC radio show found that the HSE has been dragging its heels when imposing restrictions on some chemicals that are known to cause cancer.
One work-related cancer for which there are many stringent health and safety measures in place is mesothelioma. This is the terminal cancer that is caused by dangerous asbestos fibres that are inhaled into the lungs.
Many workers especially labourers, mechanics, plasterers, engineers, electricians and shipyard builders are exposed to asbestos on a daily basis and can develop any number of industrial diseases from pleural plaques to asbestosis, however for those that develop mesothelioma, death is certain.
The Health and Safety Executive states the following on their website, "When work with asbestos or which may disturb asbestos is being carried out, the Asbestos Regulations require employers and the self-employed to prevent exposure to asbestos fibres.
"Where this is not reasonably practicable, they must make sure that exposure is kept as low as reasonably practicable by measures other than the use of respiratory protective equipment. The spread of asbestos must be prevented."
There are of course many other cancers that can develop as a result of jobs. For exanple, pub workers were exposed to the risk of lung cancer before the UK smoking ban was enforced and may be expected to make work-related compensation claims, and such cancers should now be the HSE's main focus.
Co-author of this new research, Professor Rory O'Neill, has commented, "The HSE has ignored work-related risks that have produced work-caused and work-related cancers over several decades and workers are still exposed now to many carcinogens in the workplace. Many of these exposures are not from yesteryear but from yesterday."
"Some of these carcinogens can cause cancers with relatively short exposure times and short latency periods. HSE has neglected whole sections of the workforce, especially women, exposed to many cancer-causing substances and processes."
Seeing as authorities such as the HSE are in place to try and reduce the amount of accident at work compensation claims, there is a strong general feeling that they should be exerting considerable effort to reduce the number of work-related illnesses that cause harm to workers and lead to hefty personal injury compensation claims.
To listen to the latest File on 4 show visit www.bbc.co.uk/radio4.
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