War on work cancers

MP Debbie Abrahams has helped to launch a new campaign to beat occupational cancers.

The House of Commons event organised by the Institution of Occupational Safety and Health is hoping to cut deaths from work-related cancers.

The Oldham East and Saddleworth MP joined industry leaders, academics and occupational safety and health specialists for the launch of the No Time To Lose campaign.

She said: “With a staggering two-thirds of a million annual global deaths down to work-related cancer, the time has now come and the world must act.

“The call is a positive one. We can and must do more to tackle occupational disease and to manage health in the same way we manage safety as part of an overall culture of care.”

A study into occupational cancer in the UK found that placing more limits on carcinogens in the workplace would have a positive impact. Dr Lesley Rushton, lead researcher, found that by increasing compliance with limits would cut cancer deaths in the UK by an estimated 700 a year.