Businesses are today urged to save lives by accessing free practical resources to reduce the terrible toll of work-related lung cancer.
A staggering 260,000 people die annually from lung, trachea and bronchus cancers caused by carcinogenic exposures at work.
Ahead of #WorldLungCancerDay, being held on Wednesday 1st August, the Institution of Occupational Safety and Health (IOSH) and Asbestos Disease Awareness Organization (ADAO) have joined forces to encourage employers to take action.
In Britain alone, asbestos-related cancer kills 5,000 people every year, with silica dust claiming 800 lives and diesel engine exhaust emissions taking the lives of more than 600.
To tackle this significant health issue, IOSH has developed free practical resources as part of its No Time to Lose campaign.
Craig Foyle, IOSH President, said: “Occupation-related lung cancer is preventable. IOSH has developed a range of resources, from factsheets explaining how to develop a prevention strategy to toolbox talks, leaflets and posters to help engage and educate the workforce.
“We’re also encouraging businesses worldwide to sign-up to our pledge to protect employees from carcinogenic exposures. The pledge is a six-step action plan which captures what organisations are doing, or planning to do, to tackle harmful exposures.
“I encourage businesses to get involved in the campaign on World Lung Cancer Day as there really is ‘No Time to Lose’.”
Linda Reinstein, Co-founder of ADAO, based in the USA and a No Time to Lose campaign supporter, said: “The Asbestos Disease Awareness Organization (ADAO) supports the great efforts of IOSH’s No Time to Lose campaign to prevent occupational cancer by providing businesses with free practical resources to take action.
“I look forward to working with IOSH by sharing resources from the No Time to Lose campaign and our ‘Know Asbestos’ campaign on World Lung Cancer Day. By working together, we can raise awareness and save lives from asbestos-related cancer.”
More than 100 leading businesses from around the world have already signed-up to IOSH’s No Time to lose pledge, including Laing O’Rourke, MTR Corporation Ltd and JMS Mining Services.
Organisations such as professional bodies, charities and educational establishments can also support the campaign by providing a supporting statement. No Time to Lose currently has over 250 supporters globally who have committed to raising awareness of occupational carcinogens.
To find out more about IOSH’s No Time to Lose campaign and to get free resources to prevent exposure to asbestos, silica dust and diesel engine exhaust emissions, go to www.notimetolose.org.uk.
