Cancer from rubber fear

A survey carried out for the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) as part of the Disease Reduction Programme Cancer Project has found that rubber manufacturers are not adequately protecting workers from exposure to hazardous substances, including carcinogens (cancer-causing substances).

Among the findings of the survey, A small survey of exposure to rubber process dust, rubber fume and N-nitrosamines, are that dermal exposure risks at rubber compounding are not being adequately controlled, local exhaust ventilation (LEV) is inadequate and that assessments required under the Control of Substances Hazardous to Health (COSHH) Regulations are not suitable and sufficient in the rubber industry.

Although exposures are typically well below the Workplace Exposure Limit (WEL), the survey found that carcinogens (cancer-causing substances) are not being controlled as low as reasonably practicable (ALARP) as required under the COSHH regulations.

The survey can be found on the HSE website at: www.hse.gov.uk/research/rrpdf/rr819.pdf