Occupational cancer

The extent to which cancer is caused by work is a growing area of debate. The Health & Safety Executive (HSE) estimates that around 7,000 cancer deaths per year are attributable to work, although this is widely regarded as an under-estimate. The proportion of cancers estimated as being attributable to IARC category 1 and 2A carcinogens is remarkably high for some cancers, particularly in males eg Bladder 11.6%, lung 21.6%, sinonasal 64.3% (source: “The burden of occupational cancer in Great Britain” HSE Research Report 595, contact us for further details).

The difficulties in estimating the number of deaths caused by workplace exposures are paralleled in the difficulties faced by the parties involved in compensation claims for potentially occupationally caused cancer – developing knowledge of risks, exposures to multiple substances and confounding factors such as smoking.

Pragma Consulting have provided evidence in several cancer claims (particularly bladder cancer claims) and can assist with:

• Identification and quantification of workplace exposures
• Advice on ‘employer’s date of knowledge’ – particularly important in this field where knowledge is continuing to develop rapidly
• Guidance on relevant legislation and control standards at the time of exposure.
• Advice on appropriate precautions relevant to the standards at the time of exposure

Please contact us for a preliminary discussion regarding our experience in these complex cases.

If you would like us to explain how our skills are relevant to your objectives then please use either the contact page or call Ian Glendenning on (01777) 816 506