Scottish Local Authority Gets Behind Nation's Anti Work-Related Cancer Campaign

East Ayrshire Council (EAC) has taken the unprecedented step of becoming the first Local Authority to pledge its support to the Institution of Occupational Safety and Health's (IOSH) No Time to Lose Campaign

The anti work-related cancer campaign, the purpose of which is to increase awareness of the exposure to cancer-causing substances in the workplace and also to encourage employers / organisations to take action to prevent such, has already attracted in excess of fifty pledges and considerably more endorsements.

When an organisation makes a pledge, they agree to assess whether their working environments and or activities may cause occupational cancer. If so, they must develop and deliver a work-related cancer prevention strategy.

The Campaign operates by highlighting five risk factors for occupational cancers - diesel engine exhaust emissions, solar radiation, asbestos, silica dust and shift work.

Commenting, David Doran, EAC's Health and Safety Manager, stated:

"I'm proud we have become the first Scottish local authority to sign up to this excellent campaign, which is a clear demonstration of our commitment to reducing the number of people affected by this silent killer.

"The importance of safeguarding the health and safety of all our employees at work cannot be overstated and we'll do everything we can to make sure our employees have access to the right information, advice and support they need as we highlight and promote No Time to Lose."

Also commenting, IOSH's Head of Research and Information Services IOSH, Jane White, stated:

"We are delighted that East Ayrshire Council has made a pledge to our No Time to Lose campaign. Organisations in all industries should ensure their staff are covered by a culture of care. This includes taking whatever steps they can to prevent them from coming into contact with a potentially-deadly carcinogen."

Similarly, earlier this month, All-Party Parliamentary Group on Skin (APPG) member endorsed the IOSH campaign

Commenting, Richard Jones, Head of Policy and Public Affairs at IOSH, stated:

"It is fantastic news that APPGs are joining the mounting chorus of organisations, including businesses, politicians and regulators, in supporting action on preventing occupational cancers.

"With their help we can all tackle these entirely preventable deaths, with the aim of making work-related cancer a thing of the past."
It's estimated that across the world 666,000 people die each year from work-related cancers.

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