The Hazards Campaign is a network of
resource centres and campaigners
on health and safety at work

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Workers'
Memorial Day

International Workers Memorial Day 28 April 2008

'Good Occupational Health for All Workers'

Corporate Killing: Facts and Figures
A Hazards Campaign briefing document

Page 1 Introduction
Page 2 Real UK estimates of death at work
Page 3 Deaths due to work related illness
Page 4 Made ill by work
Page 5 Deaths in your region - official figures
Page 6 Work-Related Deaths Worldwide

Page 3 Deaths due to work related illness

Hazards estimates 50,000 killed by occupational illnesses

HSE Estimates

6,000 deaths from all occupational cancers assuming 4% caused by work but 'based on old research and is currently being updated.' Range 3,000 to 12,000, this includes 4,000 from asbestos.

4,100 - Asbestos-Related Disease
Around 4,000 cancers due to asbestos (mesothelioma 2,037 in 2005 plus about the same number due to asbestos related lung cancer) plus 100 from asbestosis. http://www.hse.gov.uk/statistics/causdis/asbfaq.htm

200 - Pneumoconiosis

4,000 Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD)
HSE estimates around 15% of COPD deaths each year may be work related -
4,000

This gives a total official estimate of about 10,200 people dying from work-related illnesses.

Hazards estimates

Occupational Cancer. Hazards estimate based on extensive current research is that between 8-16% of all cancers are work-related. Taking 12% as mid point, gives 18,000 work cancer deaths each year http://www.hazards.org/cancer/hsecriticism.htm

Respiratory Illness Hazards estimate 15-20% of obstructive lung disease could be work related causing about 6,000 deaths per year.

Heart Disease. Hazards estimate that 20% of heart disease deaths are work related - especially through stress - which gives up to 20,000 deaths per year.

Plus deaths from other work-related illnesses estimated at 6,000

This gives a total estimate of up to 50,000 killed by occupational illnesses

Made ill by work

Advice centres, victim support groups, local and national campaigns, other sources of information and support The Hazards Campaign is a national network established in 1988, financed by donations from supporting groups and individuals. It draws together Hazards Centres, Occupational Health Projects, health and safety groups and Trades Union Councils' Safety Committees, specific campaigns and individual health and safety activists. Specific campaign groups include the Construction Safety Campaign, bereaved relatives groups, asbestos support groups, RSI support groups, pesticide sufferers groups, campaigns against hazards affecting black and ethnic minority groups and toxic waste groups.

The campaign works by: sharing information and skills; campaigning on specific issues; acting as a national voice; issuing press releases; holding conferences; establishing national initiatives, including Workers Memorial Day; lobbying MPs, MEPs and statutory bodies. The Campaign organises the annual Hazards Conference and holds meetings about five times a year which are open to anyone sharing the aims of the campaign.

The Hazards Campaign, c/o Greater Manchester Hazards Centre, Windrush Millennium Centre, 70 Alexandra Road,
Manchester, M16 7WD . website www.hazardscampaign.org.uk