HSE calls a stakeholder conference in a bid to reduce the risk of exposure to chemical carcinogens in the workplace

E024:07 20th June 2007

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has invited technical experts, academics, union representatives, industry experts, industry associations and government departments to what will be a very crucial conference to launch a renewed effort to reduce the risk of exposure to chemical carcinogens in the workplace.

The key stakeholder conference which will take place on 25-26th June will seek agreement on criteria for setting priorities for future activities and possible interventions to tackle the risk of exposure to chemical carcinogens.

Steve Coldrick, Head of the Disease Reduction Programme, HSE explains, "We want to engage with our key stakeholders and industry experts to inform our decisions on future priorities and work streams. The risk of exposure to chemical carcinogens cannot be reduced by the efforts of one organisation or party. We need to rally support from all those with influence in our bid to make workplaces healthier."

Over the last few years HSE has undertaken research to develop further understanding of issues relating to handling, control and exposure to chemical carcinogens. Work to update HSE's estimate of the burden of occupational cancer began in 2003/4 and has involved many national and international experts. This work, along with existing knowledge that HSE already holds, will be presented and discussed at the workshop.

The work to update the estimated occupational cancer burden has in its first phase focussed on the 6 cancers (mesothelioma, lung, bladder, nose and naval cavities, non-melanoma skin and leukaemia) identified by experts as being most associated with workplaces.

Final results of this first phase will be subject to scientific scrutiny when it is published in late summer 2007. Further work on other cancers associated with workplaces will follow in a second phase of research which will be commissioned by HSE this summer.

Notes to editors

1. In 2002 HSE/C agreed its chemicals strategy in which programmes of work were set up to address disease reduction and management in 3 areas - cancer, respiratory disease and skin. Work to realise the strategy first began to take shape under the then Chemicals Programme in 2003/4 and since 2005 under the Disease Reduction Programme. The work on chemical carcinogens within the DRP is one facet of HSE's overall activity on chemicals and carcinogens.
2. Control of Substances Hazardous to Health (COSHH) Regulations is the main legislation dealing with occupational exposure to chemicals including those that have or may have the potential to cause cancer. It promotes substitution wherever possible and takes account of the Chemicals Agents Directive and the Carcinogens Directive.
3. The emerging EU regulation on the Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and restriction of Chemicals (REACH) has far reaching provisions and may lead over the next 3 - 10 years to the loss of some carcinogens from the workplace and improved risk management. This came into force on 1st June 2007.

Press enquiries

All enquiries from journalists should be directed to the HSE Press Office