Sunday, February 28, 2021 10,000 Cancer Cases per Year Linked to Work Newsletters Alberta Local 63 BC Local 68 Manitoba Local 152 Ontario Construction Saskatchewan Local 151 Sectors Construction Exposure to carcinogens at work likely causes 10,000 cases of cancer in Canada every year, according to a study by the Occupational Cancer Research Centre. There are 13 top carcinogens to blame: arsenic, asbestos, benzene, chromium (VI), diesel exhaust, second-hand smoke, nickel compounds, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, radon, night shift work, silica (crystalline), solar UV radiation, and welding fumes. The biggest culprits were • Solar UV radiation – 4,600 non-melanoma skin cancers • Asbestos – 1,900 lung cancers, 430 mesotheliomas, 45 laryngeal cancers, 15 ovarian cancers • Diesel exhaust – 560 lung cancers and 200 bladder cancers • Crystalline silica – 570 lung cancers Workers in construction and manufacturing have particularly high instances of occupational cancer. Given that we spend one-third of our lives at work, it’s no surprise that so many fall ill from workplace exposure, and it highlights the need to constantly work to make workplaces safer. The authors of the report recommend strengthening occupational exposure limits, reducing/eliminating the use of cancer-causing substances, and creating registries of workplace expo-sure to allow for better tracking. Source: thesafetymag.com You might be interested in Why We Work Safely 5 Jun 2026 Standing Your Ground, and Staying Steady on the Job 4 Jun 2026 CLAC Partners with Alberta Government to Advance Skilled Trades Training and Accelerate Certification 4 Jun 2026 Strathcona Mechanical Workers Ratify New Agreement Providing Wage, Scheduling Improvements 3 Jun 2026