Occupational disease risks in key industries: Protecting workers’ health

By Dr. Paul Demers, director, Occupational Cancer Research Centre
Workplace Safety North
December 14, 2023
Category: Health & Safety
Region: Canada, Canada East

Occupational diseases are health problems that can affect workers because of the type of work they do. An occupational illness happens when someone gets sick from being exposed to things like chemicals or germs at work, which can affect the body’s normal functions and make the worker less healthy. …Workplace Safety North (WSN) and the Occupational Cancer Research Centre (OCRC) explored the top occupational disease risks in three different industries: mining, forestry, and pulp and paper. …“Each sector’s rankings are based on an increased risk of disease compared to other workers in the disease surveillance system,” says Paul Demers, OCRC Director. …In the forestry sector, workers face unique health risks related to outdoor work and specific industry processes. …In the pulp and paper sector, specific risks are associated with the materials and processes involved. 

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