A Health and Safety Executive (HSE) investigation study found elevated rates of four cancers among workers and former employees at National Semiconductor’s plant in Scotland’s Silicon Glen. HSE undertook the study after pressure from a group of women workers who linked their cancers to the Greenock factory. A year previously, it had been revealed that the company had spied on the group, known as Phase 2, and had used company ringers and a dirty tricks campaign in an attempt to discredit them. The controversy continued for many years. After a follow up study in 2010, the HSE published this note on is website: “A study of cancer among the current and former employees of NSUK was published in 2010. This updated a previous study published in 2001 and did not support earlier concerns about a link between working at NSUK and developing cancer.” This statement was criticised publicly by unions as “bogus”. The STUC said the updated report infact “clearly states that incidences for some types of cancer were higher than they had anticipated.”

Cancer among current a former workers at National Semiconductor (UK) Ltd, Greenock: results of an investigation by the Health and Safety Executive, HSE, December 2001.