STUC Rejects HSE Microchip Cancer Study

The Scottish Trades Union Congress (STUC) is to raise formally its concerns about the Health and Safety Executive's 'no risk' claim about cancer rates at a Greenock microelectronics factory.

STUC said it intended to write to HSE chair Judith Hackitt 'seeking an explanation how the HSE justifies issuing a press release with the heading 'Research indicates no increased cancer risk at Greenock factory' when the report quite clearly states that incidences for some types of cancer were higher than they had anticipated.'

Dr John Osman, a co-author of the report and HSE's chief medical adviser, launched the report on cancer rates at the National Semiconductor UK (NSUK) plant. He said: "The research does not establish a link between cancer and employment at NSUK. I hope both present and former employees will find some comfort in these results. They have waited patiently to discover the outcome of this research and I hope this report offers some clarity and reassurance."

This good news message was reflected in headlines in the local and national press. But STUC says in reality the study found worrying excesses of cancers, notably female lung and breast cancers and male colorectal and brain cancers.

An STUC statement said: "From our early study of the findings it is quite clear that there is an increased risk of some types of cancer, including lung cancers in women, yet the HSE in their release and media interviews were running a line that the results were not unexpected given the size of the workforce and the surrounding community."

STUC added that HSE's claims the excesses were not significant would not be shared 'by those who have contracted cancer, and the families of those who have died, for the rest of their days."Giving the company advance sight of the report, but leaving the families to hear about it through the media was 'shameful", STUC added.

Source: Risks

See also Hazards Magazine: Anatomy of a cancer cover-up

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