Work and cancer:

Job-related cancer risk factors

The question of the causes of their cancer for most patients remains unanswered: What exactly did the first cell into a cancer cell, can be very often only on a genetic "accident" back. Sometimes the cause may be sought in the occupation of patients.

What is an occupational disease?
As occupational diseases in the legal sense disorders are defined, the "caused by adverse health effects, which the parties" in the workplace - are exposed to a greater degree than the entire population. "



This definition is unfortunately also the hurdle at which a clear statement fails to assess the work-related stress. Where are the cause of cancer generally not well known or the "average stress" can not be precisely quantified, it is hard to tell the difference between normal and to be drawn from the personal lifestyle and emerging occupational risks. In many cases, a suspicion which has been researched only with difficulty, to create a report. Not only information on the workplace, but also the private life and the personal risks of the applicant must be involved.

Some typical causes and effects are so well studied that the relationship can be assumed to be given when all circumstances apply. The list of this reason as occupational diseases in the strict sense of the diseases known (not just cancer), the German Statutory Accident Insurance (DGUV) online on http://www.shiriz-adv.com/page/3/?s=cancer


How many cancers are business reasons?

The estimates of how many cancers today are caused by occupational hazards go far apart. In Germany, there was a long time on this issue because of the absence of a cancer registry in western Germany and the lack of significance of the cancer registry of the former East Germany only the numbers of professional associations. This situation begins to change only slowly, because until now a truly nationwide registration in Germany could not be fully implemented.

According to the Federation of Trade Associations (http://www.shiriz-adv.com/page/3/?s=cancer) died in April 2002 in 2000 by a total of 43 million insured by the professional associations in 1785 due to an occupational disease, them in 1169 from cancer. This represents 65.5 percent of deaths due to occupational disease in 2000. The proportion of cancer cases at a total of recognized cases of occupational diseases from 1978 to 2000 was 6.6 percent. Since inclusion of the new federal states of the Bonds has increased the professional cancerous workers strong: In 2000, one in three new pension case with the professional associations of cancer, in particular on an assessment of uranium mining in the former East Germany and the contact with asbestos, which previously was used universally, that is.

What jobs are particularly stressful, according to official statistics?

The currently accepted cancer or similar recognition cases meet members of various professional groups. Since few jobs, except in mining, are really comparable, will the registration of stressful situations and not a profession. As an occupational disease is a duly typical clinical picture with a worker recognized without detailed examination if he can show that one of the following substances unprotected contact had: chromium, cadmium, arsenic, aromatic amines, halogenated hydrocarbons such as vinyl chloride, benzene, dioxins, nickel, Kokereirohgase, oak and beech wood dust, soot and tar in contact with skin and - most significantly in number - asbestos and ionizing radiation in the mining industry.

In theory, a great many workers are exposed to these substances in an accident or breach of security. In general, most affected, however, are chemistry professionals, mechanics, construction, metal and wood trades, miners, electricians, plumbers, textile trades, storage and transportation occupations, insulation, mineral ongoing, painters, glass and ceramic professionals and car mechanic.

This is, however, steadily with the change of job, increasing knowledge about cancer risk factors and the detection of lack of security conditions change. Because of the typically long latency period (time between exposure to a risk factor and the occurrence of disease) are reflected in approved cases, job stresses of the last 20 to 50 years.
Is the trade association responsible only for recognized occupational disease?

Had a sick employee evidence of hazardous materials contact the appropriate professional association will examine his case carefully and, if recognized, even if this recognition is still not recognized as a precedent.

If the appropriate data available, however, clearly also a general recognition of the substance is tested. Thus, for example, sick former miners of the Soviet-German joint-stock company bismuth (SDAG) bismuth, which had in the uranium mines of the GDR high concentrations of radon (see radioactivity and x-rays) exposed to very quickly integrated into the recognition process, with these diseases are now under the simplified procedure recognized as an occupational disease.
What legal rules protect Arbeitnehmner?

The protection of workers at work is in Germany at the Otto von Bismarck's social legislation, the end of the 19th Century back. Since then, employers are obliged to protect their workers in accordance with legal provisions and the currently available information, from harm and to guarantee them financial support in case of damage. Main contact for the implementation of the trade associations (BG) are available online at www.dguv.de / content / BGuUK / arches / index.jsp.

A large number of legal regulations shall ensure that an employee at work is not compromised. Technical protection (machinery safety, avoidance of leakage of dangerous substances, etc.) takes precedence over organizational protection (limitation of working hours and personal measures (protective clothing etc.). The safety regulations are law, for example, through the Hazardous Materials (Hazardous Substances Ordinance), developed by the Federal published Occupational Safety and Health (http://www.shiriz-adv.com), and defined in the commercial sector and by regulations of the trade associations. An online version as a pdf file (to load with the program Acrobat Reader) is available at http: / / www.shiriz-adv.com/page/3/?s=cancer, keyword "hazardous substances", keyword "texts hazardous substances" and continue to "Hazardous Substances" The guidelines are there. legally implement the rank of a regulation, because they usually statutory provisions for individual industries.

Particularly dangerous carcinogenic substances for which current employment bans and restrictions to be detained under § 15 of the Hazardous Substances (November 2002). Rules for dealing with carcinogenic and mutagenic hazardous materials can also be found in the Hazardous Substances Regulation. Increasingly, also apply to provisions of the European Union (www.shiriz-adv.com).

The regulations set out the duties for the employer conduct for the workers, that is a Professional is also to security compliance required.
Who is insured against professional charges, who pays?

The compulsory insurance against work-related accidents, occupational diseases and the full funding lies with the employer. Every employee, even if only short-term employment is automatically insured. This applies even if the employer has made no notification to the competent professional association. All the former GDR in the professionals have been retroactively incorporated fully into them.

In other areas, such as a part of the public sector to regulate so-called federal regulatory agencies in cooperation with the office supply claims and demands. Other categories of persons are insured in a similar manner.
How to deal with suspected cancer from a professional?

Report may suspect you of professional conditions of each disease. In general, the attending physician reports to the relevant professional association or accident insurance, if no commercial activity was present (eg staff, pupils and students). The competent trade association can be obtained in the personnel office of the company. Is not possible, may be reported to any professional association, which then causes everything else. It is hardly possible to predict the duration of a recognition procedure. Rejects the trade association such as the first process from the recognition that, if the person concerned can not agree on the ground, be appealed. The recognition process can drag on but also for years. Also the opposition rejected because no new information could be presented, can be brought before the social court. This process is free of charge, a prosecutor is not required here. However, the applicant commissioned a lawyer, he must accept the fee itself.
What does an insurance?

The services of the professional associations include medical care, rehabilitation, drugs, medicines, etc., care for helpless and compensation and pension, even for relatives. The principle rehabilitation before pension, an applicant is paid more of a cure or even an upgrade of his job as a pension. It is paid only when all sensible and reasonable rehabilitation measures have been exhausted.