Hidden occupational cancer epidemic kills hundreds of thousands each year

[Guest guest]

[occ-env-med-l] ILO report: Hidden occupational cancer epidemic

kills hundreds of thousands each year

A new cancer prevention guide, reveals that over 600,000 deaths a

year – one death every 52 seconds – are caused by occupational

cancer, making up almost one-third of all work-related deaths. "

Hidden cancer epidemic kills hundreds of thousands each year

PRESS RELEASE

23 March 2007

GLOBAL -- A worldwide epidemic of occupational cancer is claiming at

least one life every 52 seconds, but this tragedy is being ignored

by both official regulators and employers.

This stark warning comes from a global union coalition, which this

week launched stage one of a " zero cancer " campaign to tackle what

it says is the No.1 workplace killer worldwide.

Marcello Malentacchi, General Secretary of the International

Metalworkers' Federation, says: " Occupational cancer is the most

common work-related cause of death, ahead of other work-related

diseases and accidents, but it is not taken seriously by regulators

or employers. "

A new cancer prevention guide, reveals that over 600,000 deaths a

year – one death every 52 seconds – are caused by occupational

cancer, making up almost one-third of all work-related deaths. The

guide was produced as part of the first ever international zero

occupational cancer campaign, involving 11 global trade union

organisations together representing over 300 million members in more

than 150 countries.

Malentacchi says: " Asbestos alone accounts for an estimated 100,000

deaths each year and yet there is no worldwide ban on its use.

Despite occupational cancer being the single largest cause of work-

related deaths, the risks have been downplayed by governments,

health and safety enforcement agencies and employers. The end result

has been a wholly preventable epidemic of cancers. "

Malentacchi adds: " This epidemic has to stop. Trade unions in

hundreds of countries will be joining the campaign. We'll be calling

for widespread workplace mapping, inquiries and surveys, and a big

drive to get rid of the top killers, such a achieving a global ban

on asbestos. So far only a small minority of countries have signed

up to the International Labour Office conventions on occupational

cancer and asbestos. "

Occupational Cancer/Zero Cancer: a union guide to prevention,

published today, provides information about workplace cancer risks

and advice on practical steps workers and unions can take to make

workplaces safer and is being distributed with action guidelines to

unions worldwide.

Notes to editors:

1. Occupational Cancer/Zero Cancer: a union gude to

prevention is published in English on the IMF website at

www.imfmetal.org/cancer Copies in French, Spanish and Russian

will follow.

2. According to the International Labour Organisation (ILO)

estimates that occupational cancer causes over 600,000 deaths a

year – one death every 52 seconds – making up almost one-third of

all work-related deaths.

3. A World Health Organisation (WHO) study concluded 20-30

per cent of males and 5-20 per cent od females ion the working-age

population could have been exposed to an occupational lung cancer

risk during their working lives.

4. The European Union's CAREX database of occupational

exposures to carcinogens estimated that in the early 1990s 22-24

million workers in the then 15 EU member states were exposed to

carcinogens classified as group 1 by the International Agency for

Research on Cancer – those known to cause cancer in humans.

5. The zero cancer coalition includes the International Trade

Union Confederation (ITUC), Building Workers' International (BWI),

Education International (EI), International Federation of Chemical,

Energy, Mine and General Workers' Union (ICEM), International

Federation of Journalists (IFJ), International Textile, Garment and

Leather Workers' Federation (ITGLWF), International Transport

Workers' Federation (ITF), International Union of Food,

Agricultural, Hotel, restaurant, Catering, Tobacco and Allied

Workers' Associations (IUF), Public Services International (PSI),

UNI Global Union (UNI) and the International Metalworkers'

Federation (IMF).

6. ILO's 1974 occupational cancer convention (C.139) has only

been ratified by 35 countries worldwide. ILO's 1986 asbestos

convention (C.162) is ratified by fewer countries still, with just

29 countries signed up.

For further details, interviews or photos please contact:

Anita Gardner, IMF Press, on: + 41

79 815 72 51

(English)

agardner@...