A report in Hazards magazine claimed industrial chemicals are poorly controlled as a result of inaction or opposition to controls by regulators and industry. The report cites international evidence, and highlights the Prevent Cancer Campaign launched by the Canadian union CAW (now Unifor) in 1997. It quotes CAW’s then national health and safety director Cathy Walker: “We need reductions in the allowable exposure limits which have proven to be so inadequate. We need zero tolerance for exposures to carcinogens. Government must compel industry to replace carcinogens with non-toxic substances by stringent regulations and tough enforcement.” She said chemicals should not be given the benefit of the doubt. “Many questions still have to be answered. But we need not wait until every ‘i’ is dotted to being taking defensive action.”

Industrial genocide: Why industry defends the use of cancer causing chemicals in the workplace, Hazards, number 62, April-June 1998 [not online]. Archive of CAW prevent cancer campaign materials.