Reducing the Burden of

Occupational Disease Mike Slater

President Elect 2013/14

There are currently approximately 12,000 deaths each year due to occupational respiratory diseases

Deaths from work related respiratory disease are equivalent to 30 Boeing 777’s full of passengers every year

32 people per day - But we don’t hear anything about it in the news

About 8,000 cancer deaths and 13,500 new cases of cancer each year could be due to work

An estimated 1.1 million people who worked in 2011/12 were suffering from a work-related illness

An estimated 1.1 million people who worked in 2011/12 were suffering from a work-related illness

And it’s not just about fatalities Occupational disease affects quality of life

An estimated 1.1 million people who worked in 2011/12 were suffering from a work-related illness

Let’s look at some of the main cause of occupational disease

Silica released during stone cutting activities

Source: HSE

Now you see it

Bakers are about 80 times more likely to develop occupational asthma than the average British worker

Nanotechnology

Nanotechnology

And new technology and processes can present new problems

Recycling

Fracking

And it’s not just chemicals agents – here the worker is exposed to noise and vibration

“Current trends indicate that in 2060, there will be 13,000 deaths from preventable occupational cancers, if we do nothing”

Lesley Rushton (BOHS Annual Conference 2013):

“Current trends indicate that in 2060, there will be 13,000 deaths from preventable occupational cancers, if we do nothing”

Lesley Rushton (BOHS Annual Conference 2013):

“HSE .. (should continue) .. to

seek new and innovative ideas

for interventions that maximise

its impact on the continuing high

levels of work-related ill health.”

Employers

Recognise Evaluate Control

Recognise Evaluate Control

Occupational Hygiene

Sometimes there’s an obvious solution…..

… but employers don’t always know where to find them. Occupational hygienists can help

Nanotechnology

Nanotechnology

And with new problems, occupational hygienists have the skills to develop solutions

HSE

Government Employers

Professionals

President-elect@bohs.org http://www.bohs.org Twitter: @bohsworld http://www.slideshare.net/mikeslater