HSE attacked over cancer risks

The HSE has been accused of failing to protect thousands of workers in the micro-electronics industry from cancer-causing chemicals.

Inspections of semiconductor plants by the HSE are "superficial", "substandard" and "seriously flawed", according to Andrew Watterson from the University of Stirling and Joseph LaDou from the University of California.

Last year, the HSE launched an investigation into the industry after it found higher cancer rates among women who worked at the National Semiconductor plant at Greenock. Inspectors were sent to plants across the UK to assess risks from the toxic chemicals that are used to make semiconductors.

But writing in the International Journal of Occupational and Environmental Health, Watterson and LaDou criticise the inspections, saying: "The HSE is creating the illusion that the semiconductor industry in the UK is being rigorously inspected and regulated."

They added: "The shortcomings in the HSE appear to be the result of apathy, complacency, underfund-ing and an industry fairly secure in the belief that it will not be regularly or rigorously inspected, and even if it will, not much in terms of punitive action will occur."

The HSE has strongly denied the allegations.

The website of the International Journal of Occupational and Environmental Health is at www.ijoeh.com