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Carcinogens and mutagens
[ch 6: pages 100-101]Cancer-causing substances (carcinogens) in the workplace can be eliminated by changing processes, substituting for other substances or, where that is not possible, ensuring that levels are reduced as far as possible and workers are fully protected from any contact with a cancer-causing agent.
Examples of where a cancer-causing agent cannot be removed, but exposure by a worker to any risk can be removed, are radiographers and radiation, quarry workers to silica and bus mechanics to diesel exhaust fumes.
Employers should only use a carcinogen if there is no reasonable alternative and they are required to remove or reduce exposure “as far as is reasonably practical”.
With regard to new substances, trade unions support the “precautionary principle” which means that if there is a reasonable possibility that a substance may cause harm then there should be a presumption that it will, and therefore it should be controlled. They have also called for an enforcement-led campaign by the HSE and local authorities aimed at ensuring that employers who continue to expose their workers to carcinogens are prosecuted. Exposure to a workplace exposure limit (WEL) is not acceptable when removal or substitution is an option.
A TUC bulletin on carcinogens can be downloaded from the TUC website (https://www.tuc.org.uk/sites/default/files/Carcinogens.pdf).
ETUC campaign on occupational cancers
In 2016, the European Trade Union Congress (ETUC) launched a new campaign to strengthen the law on protecting workers from occupational cancer. It called for the 25-year-old European Union (EU) Carcinogens and Mutagens Directive to be updated. Occupational cancer is the biggest work-related cause of death in the EU, according to the ETUC, with cancer-causing substances (carcinogens) threatening the health of one in five workers. It identified a list of over 50 priority substances for which it says limit values must be included in a revised and updated directive.
Carcinogens in workplaces include silica and diesel engine exhaust, night work and new substances like synthetic nano-particles, while mutagens – which can affect the next generation – include endocrine disruptors (see also page 102).
The ETUC made clear that all exposures are preventable and the trade union target is to eliminate occupational cancer throughout Europe. Workplace trade union safety reps and health and safety committees have an important role in demanding that dangerous substances and processes are eliminated or substituted with less dangerous ones; and that work organisation is improved to avoid or minimise exposures to night and shift work.
It called for workers exposed to carcinogens to have health surveillance after, as well as during, their employment; for the Hairdressers' Agreement between employers and unions to be made a binding directive; for sun radiation to be included in the scope of the directive on artificial optical radiation; for rules to limit night work; and for Member States to have in place national plans for the safe removal of all asbestos.
The list of ETUC priority carcinogens can be found at: https://www.etui.org/Publications2/Reports/Carcinogens-that-should-be-subject-to-binding-limits-on-workers-exposure.
No time to lose
The health and safety professionals’ organisation IOSH is currently running a campaign to get carcinogenic exposure issues more widely understood and help businesses take action. More information on the campaign can be found at: www.notimetolose.org.uk.