Cancer is caused by exposure to harmful materials and certain types of radiation. Workers in some jobs are at more risk of being exposed to these cancer-causing agents. It’s the responsibility of both employers and workers to make sure everyone stays safe.

The risks

At the worksite workers can be exposed to carcinogenic material through:

• Inhalation
• Absorption through the skin
• Ingestion

Workers and family members can also be exposed through “take home” exposure. Workers who work with carcinogenic material should always change into their street clothes before leaving work. Bringing home your work clothes can also bring carcinogenic materials into your home.

In many cases, certain types of cancer(s) are associated with specific occupations or carcinogens. The table below lists some of the carcinogens, the cancers they cause, and the occupations in which workers are most commonly exposed.

How to reduce the risks

If workers could be exposed to airborne hazards in the workplace, the employer must develop and implement an exposure control plan (ECP). This plan must identify the workers at risk of exposure and the controls that are required to protect those workers. Exposure to carcinogens must be kept as low as reasonably achievable. The controls will be unique to each worksite and work environment. When choosing risk controls, consider the following questions. These are grouped according to type of control. The types of control are listed here in order of effectiveness.