New
course to help construction workforce spot dangers and mitigate risks of
developing occupational cancers

The
Considerate Constructors Scheme has
announced a new e-learning course ‘Occupational
Cancers’, designed to help the construction industry’s workforce to improve
its understanding of occupational cancer risks and how to mitigate them.

With
40% of all deaths from occupational cancers arising within the construction
industry, the need to support the workforce in this area has never been so
critical.

The
main causes of occupational cancers in construction work are exposure to silica
dust, asbestos, diesel exhaust emissions and UV radiation, with those working
in construction:

• 100
  times more likely to die from an occupational disease than a workplace
  accident (BOHS, 2016)
• 6
  times more likely to develop skin cancer than the general population (HSE,
  2018)
• Dying
  by cancers caused by silica dust – over 500 workers a year (HSE, 2005)

The
‘Occupational Cancers’ e-learning module is made freely available to the entire
construction industry via the Scheme’s Best
Practice Hub. It follows the successful series of e-learning courses on
other cross-industry issues, including Air Pollution,
Drugs and
Alcohol and Mental
Health.

The
Scheme’s e-learning courses have received unprecedented engagement, with over
53,000 people working in construction taking the courses so far.

Edward
Hardy, Chief Executive of the Considerate Constructors Scheme said: “There is
no doubt that the shocking number of deaths and long-term illnesses caused by
significant exposure to carcinogens in the workplace needs greater attention by
everyone. We must continue to improve our standards in how we raise awareness
and understanding of the risks and how to take measures to, where possible
eliminate them, or at the very least minimise them.

“We
call on everyone across our industry to take the ‘Occupational
Cancers’ course and to encourage colleagues, friends and family members to
do the same.

“The
Hub also features the ‘Spotlight
on…occupational cancers’ campaign which provides excellent examples of best
practice in tackling this issue provided by construction sites, companies and
suppliers to the industry across the length and breadth of the UK and Ireland.
We anticipate more examples of best practice being shared across the coming
months in order to drastically reduce the impact of carcinogens on our
workforce.” 

Click here to take the
‘Occupational Cancers’ e-learning.