asked the Minister for Labour if he will introduce routine monitoring of workers exposed to carcinogens.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Protection of Workers Exposed to Carcinogens.
7.
Existing regulatory provisions relating to the protection of workers from exposure to carcinogens include the Factories (Carcinogenic Substances) Regulations, 1972, and the Factories (Asbestos Processes) Regulations, 1975. The application of those provisions is enforced by my Department's industrial inspectorate and occupational medical services division.
Officers of the Department are participating in work within the European Community designed towards the introduction of improved standards of protection for workers exposed to carcinogens. The general approach is to prevent exposure as far as practicable and, where this is not possible, to apply appropriate controls. It is expected that this work will be completed to coincide with the designated European Year against Cancer in 1989. I have instructed my Department to prepare a programme of activities related to carcinogens at the workplace to be undertaken in conjunction with that European initiative.
Would the Minister agree that workers exposed to carcinogens suffer genetic damage and various types of cancer? Would he inform the House if any register of deaths from carcinogens has been set up? If not, do the Department propose to set up such a register?
I do not have specific details relating to the number of deaths from carcinogens, but if the Deputy communicates with the office, they will make available to him the very detailed information I have here.
Does the Minister know the number of deaths that have occurred in recent years from such exposure?
I have not the exact number.
A final supplementary question. Would the Minister consider setting up a register to establish the relationship between various types of cancer and different occuptions in which carcinogens are used? Has he any plans for setting up that type of study?
There are a number of EC directives for the protection of workers from exposure to carcinogens. There are some regulations in the Factories Acts which I have already outlined. These are enforced by the inspectorate of the Department. From the information available to me here, I am not aware if there is a specific register but I shall bring the views of the Deputy to the Minister's attention and he will communicate direct with him.