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27 April, 2007A global "zero cancer" campaign aimed at tackling the number one workplace killer was launched today, one day prior to April 28 Workers' International Memorial Day.
GLOBAL: Speaking at a World Health Organisation seminar on the prevention of occupational and environment cancer in Geneva, Anita Normark, General Secretary of the Building Workers' International launched the global "zero cancer" campaign and called on workplace regulators and employers to do more to end the worldwide epidemic of occupational cancer, which claims at least one life every 52 seconds. Occupational cancer is the most common work-related cause of death, ahead of other work-related diseases and accidents.
"Bad, and often illegal, working conditions cause ill health that mean disaster for hundreds of thousands of families every year," said Normark. "The social invisibility of the impact of working conditions on our health creates a vicious circle where diseases are not recognised as occupational, so they are not recorded, notified, treated or compensated and, worst of all, they are not prevented," said Normark.
A coalition of 11 global unions together representing over 300 million members in more than 150 countries has produced a new cancer prevention guide, which reveals that over 600,000 deaths a year -- one death every 52 seconds -- are caused by occupational cancer, making up almost one-third of all work-related deaths.
IMF General Secretary Marcello Malentacchi added: "This epidemic has to stop. Trade unions in hundreds of countries have joined the campaign. We'll be calling for widespread workplace mapping, inquiries and surveys, and a big drive to get rid of the top killers, such a achieving a global ban on asbestos."
Occupational Cancer/Zero Cancer: a union guide to prevention, provides information about workplace cancer risks and advice on practical steps workers and unions can take to make workplaces safer and is available at: www.imfmetal.org/cancer
"Bad, and often illegal, working conditions cause ill health that mean disaster for hundreds of thousands of families every year," said Normark. "The social invisibility of the impact of working conditions on our health creates a vicious circle where diseases are not recognised as occupational, so they are not recorded, notified, treated or compensated and, worst of all, they are not prevented," said Normark.
A coalition of 11 global unions together representing over 300 million members in more than 150 countries has produced a new cancer prevention guide, which reveals that over 600,000 deaths a year -- one death every 52 seconds -- are caused by occupational cancer, making up almost one-third of all work-related deaths.
IMF General Secretary Marcello Malentacchi added: "This epidemic has to stop. Trade unions in hundreds of countries have joined the campaign. We'll be calling for widespread workplace mapping, inquiries and surveys, and a big drive to get rid of the top killers, such a achieving a global ban on asbestos."
Occupational Cancer/Zero Cancer: a union guide to prevention, provides information about workplace cancer risks and advice on practical steps workers and unions can take to make workplaces safer and is available at: www.imfmetal.org/cancer