The Industrial Injuries Advisory Council (IIAC) has decided there is not a case for recommend recognising welding-related lung cancers as a prescribed industrial disease. An IIAC information note concludes: “After reviewing the limited evidence available on this subject, the Industrial Injuries Advisory Council (IIAC) decided not to make any recommendations for changes to the list of prescribed diseases for which people can claim Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit (IIDB).” In 1990, the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) found that exposure to certain chromium and nickel salts as a welder was a proven cause of cancer in humans. It also found there was limited evidence of welding fumes and gases being a cause of cancer in humans.

Lung cancer and welding, IIAC information note, 20 December 2013.
Chromium, nickel and welding, IARC monograph 49, 1990.