The Industrial Injuries Advisory Council (IIAC) has recommended adding lung cancer in coke oven workers to the list of prescribed industrial diseases for which state benefits are payable. In a 1986 review, it declined to make this recommendation. IIAC’s 2011 report noted: “The Council recommends that lung cancer associated with (i) at least five years in total of work at the top of a coke oven or (ii) at least 15 years in total of coke oven work, should be added to the list of prescribed diseases. For workers who move between these coke oven jobs, and whose employment in top oven work amounts to less than five years in total, we recommend that each year of top oven work be counted as contributing three years towards the greater target of 15 years, as set out in further detail in our report.” The recommendation was accepted by government, and added to the listing of prescribed disease D10, primary carcinoma of the lung.

Lung cancer in coke oven workers, Cm 8163, IIAC, 13 September 2011.