asked the Minister for Labour the steps he is taking to safeguard Irish workers from becoming more exposed to dangerous substances which could have an adverse effect on their health; and if he intends to introduce suitable legislation to deal with this problem particularly in cases where some types of lubricating oils may be suspected of causing cancer.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Protection of Industrial Workers.
33.
The industrial inspectorate of my Department watch for possible sources of danger to the health of industrial workers and give advice on how to avoid health hazards from dangerous substances. A team of inspectors has been engaged on a survey of environmental health hazards to workers in factories and the survey data is examined by medical advisers so that the workers concerned may be given advice on how to avoid contamination.
During the past year I have made regulations under the Factories Act dealing specifically with the protection of workers' health from risks caused by carcinogenic substances, radioactive materials and asbestos. I have power under the Factories Act to make regulations dealing with substances such as certain types of lubricating oils which could possibly cause cancer but the difficulty is to identify with certainty, the types of oils concerned.
Following the recognition of oils such as cutting oils, soluble oils and oils used in metal rolling and hardening as possible sources of danger, the manufacturers of lubricating oils have reformulated their products and the oils which are marketed at present in this country are claimed to be free from cancer producing agents. However, the problem is complex and is still the subject of international research. One of the major difficulties is the long period of exposure which may elapse before the presence of cancer can be diagnosed with certainty.
Has the Minister a list of the firms where such products are in use and are they visited regularly? Has he advised regular medical check-ups on personnel?
That is mainly what I said in the reply.
Has the Minister got a list of the places where workers are more exposed to them?
We have.