Taking place annually throughout November, Lung Cancer Awareness Month aims to encourage individuals displaying the common symptoms of lung cancer, such as a persistent cough, breathlessness, or unexplained weight-loss, to visit their GP. Encouraging people to recognise these symptoms and see their doctor sooner could save lives.
Lung cancer is the most common cause of death from cancer for both men and women and early detection makes it more treatable.
The campaign, backed by HSE and UKATA, encourages workers to be aware that certain work activities, such as exposure to asbestos, mild steel welding fume and heavy and prolonged exposure to silica, can cause lung cancer and other serious respiratory diseases.
Asbestos is a naturally occurring material and was regularly used in buildings from the 1950s until the late 1990s. It can still be found in many buildings built or refurbished before the year 2000, including domestic and non-domestic premises.
Asbestos exposure related lung cancer kills approximately 2,500 people each year.
Silica is a natural substance found in rocks, sand, and clay. Exposure to silica dust is generated from these materials during many construction tasks. Being the biggest risk to construction workers after asbestos, heavy and prolonged exposure to silica can cause lung cancer.
The Health & Safety Executive (HSE) estimate that over 500 construction workers died due to exposure to silica in 2005.
The latest statistics from Cancer Research UK show that there are around 34,800 lung cancer deaths each year.
Speaking on the campaign, Craig Evans, UKATA Chief Operating Officer said:
“The latest HSE annual statistics, show that there are an estimated 12,000 occupational lung disease deaths each year, asbestos-related lung cancer deaths make up 20% of this figure. Mesothelioma, another form of asbestos-related cancer, makes up an additional 20%.
Unlike mesothelioma, lung cancer can be cured, and it is vital that individuals see their GP if they are showing symptoms.
It is essential that everyone who may come across asbestos in their day-to-day work undertake ‘Asbestos Awareness’ training as a minimum to help keep themselves and others around them safe.”
Under health and safety law, employers are responsible for managing health and safety risks in their businesses, employees and the self-employed have important responsibilities too.
If you, or someone you know, work in a trade or industry where the health of your lungs may be affected, spread the word, share this information, and look after your lungs.
The HSE have published information on their website which individuals and employers may find useful to help prevent work-related lung disease, occupational cancer and employer’s responsibilities.
With nearly 200 members, to find a UKATA approved asbestos training provider near you, visit www.ukata.org.uk or for free advice, call the UKATA team on 01246 824437.
Established in 2008, UKATA is a highly respected, leading authority on asbestos training. Its passion is to both maintain and improve asbestos training, ensuring the highest standards are upheld by means of continual quality assessment.
UKATA continuously works within current legislation as a minimum, whilst collaborating with industry partners to ensure that the UK has the highest standards of asbestos safety.
UKATA freely shares knowledge and information both online and across social media, demonstrating that education remains its top priority.
Published on Tuesday 1st November 2022