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Work and  Cancer

Last updated on: 02/11/2011

A certain number of pathologies may be attributable to work. These are recognised as forms of occupational illness and entail a right to compensation for the damage caused. Some of these pathologies involve cancers.
There are many varied risk factors (chemical, physical and biological agents). Workers face higher exposure to certain carcinogenic risk factors than the general population as a whole due to higher concentration levels of the pollutants to which they may be exposed and often long exposure periods. Estimates suggest that the number of such cases in France is between 2.3 and 5 million.

Two measures in the 2009 - 2013 Cancer plan highlight the substantial level of work required in this area:

• measure 9: "Improve observation and monitoring of cancers related to the working environment"

• measure 12: "Strengthen prevention programmes for cancers related to the environment, particularly in the workplace"

The same applies to the National Health Environment Action Plan 2 (2009-2013). Sheet 4 focuses on reducing "exposure to carcinogenic, mutagenic or reprotoxic substances in the workplace", sheet 16 on "training and information" in "workplace health" and action 54 on "strengthening scientific expertise capacities in workplace health".

Workplace

Asbestos

L’exposition aux risques et aux pénibilités du travail de 1994 à 2003 : Premiers résultats de l’enquête Sumer Dares 2003 (310.48 kB)

PNSE 2 - fiches 4 et 16, action 54

Afsset Plan santé au travail 2010-2014 (PST2)

Afsset Plan santé au travail 2005-2009 (PST1)

Rapport InVS Estimation du nombre de cas de certains cancers attribuables à des facteurs professionnels

Synthèse sur la sinistralité de la branche Accidents du travail et maladies professionnelles du régime général de la sécurité sociale pour 2006

Société de Pneumologie de Langue Française Questionnaire de repérage des expositions professionnelles chez les sujets atteints de cancer bronchique primitif

INRS Cancers professionnels : des propositions pour l'action