How Can Nasal Cancer Be Prevented In The Workplace?

How Can Nasal Cancer Be Prevented In The Workplace?

Over the past few years the number of people in the UK suffering from Nasal Cancer have reduced slightly, but there is a lot more scope to reduce the affliction further if suitable protection and procedures are put in place to minimise the exposure of employees to certain substances which have been shown to increase the risk of nasal cancer.

Employers have a duty of care to look after the health and safety of their employees. This includes reducing or minimising risks of injury or illness and the best place to start with that is a risk assessment. This gives the opportunity to look at all potential dangers within a workplace – including the safety of the air that the employees and visitors breathe.

If it is established that certain substances that are known to increase the risk of nasal cancer or any other serious health condition are present, then there is a range of approaches that reduce the associated risks:

Substitution

If it is possible to achieve the same or an acceptably similar result while using a different product or substance, then removing the dangerous substance can be achieved relatively easily. In many cases however there is a clear reason as to why certain substances must be present and so other options about reducing risk can be put into place.

Personal Protective Equipment

If employees are to be exposed to potentially dangerous substances, they must be protected from them by use of special clothing or equipment. This must serve the purpose properly and should have been tested to ensure it reduces exposure significantly. Employees must be trained in how to use the equipment properly and how to ensure it is properly maintained.

Proper Maintenance of Equipment

Many of the machines used in these industries have protection for the user and nearby workers built in as standard, but if they are not properly maintained then the protection systems are put at risk of failure which can lead to dangerous materials leaking into areas that they shouldn’t. By ensuring all machinery and protective equipment is suitably maintained these risks can be significantly reduced.

Proper Training of employees

Whether it is how to wear or use personal protective equipment or how to safely use tools and machinery, ensuring that employees know how to operate items in the manner they were designed to be used can seriously reduce the risk of accidents and spillages / leaks of dangerous materials. Training about the chemicals or substances themselves is also crucial so that employees understand the potential dangers they could become exposed to in the case of an accident.

Health Surveillance

By monitoring the health and welfare of employees on a regular basis, any small changes in their well-being can be quickly identified and dealt with appropriately, before significant damage occurs. In the case of nasal cancer, regularly testing anyone who works in a high-risk industry or environment can reduce the risk of cancers going unnoticed, because as with many conditions such as this, the earlier it is spotted the earlier it can be dealt with. In many cases early intervention can make a huge difference to the outlook for those affected.

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