Health and Safety The Kingsom Kingdom, based in London, recently published a report stating that about 8,000 Britons die each year from occupational cancers and about 14,000 new cases annually. Many diseases are caused by dangerous substances found in the workplace and are completely preventable.
One of these toxic substances and a relatively common occupational hazard is asbestos. This carcinogenic mineral used in building material, insulation, shipbuilding and other industry and rest throughout the 19 th century and most of the 20. It was ultimately prohibited to cause lung cancer and mesothelioma, a rare cancer of the protective membrane of the lungs, heart, chest and abdomen, but is still present in older structures and machinery.
Mesothelioma is a cancer almost exclusively attributed to prolonged exposure to asbestos. It is a cancer that takes decades to develop - on average 40 years - however, it is terribly difficult to diagnose because symptoms do not manifest until the disease has reached stage three or four. The mesothelioma prognosis is often grim, with doctors predicting little over a year and a half of life after diagnosis, even with treatment.
Other carcinogenic chemicals listed by the HSE include arsenic, benzene, beryllium and chromium. The management of some organic solvents and fertilizers can also contribute to cancer development. manufacturing jobs tend to have higher rates of carcinogen exposure, especially glass, metal and oil industry.
The workplace of the United Kingdom exposure limits dictate the maximum permissible exposure levels for most hazardous substances. However, these levels are not necessarily safe, and workers can still develop the disease at these levels of exposure.
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