Despite the UK Health and Safety Executive (HSE) accepting that shiftwork is a cause of 550 breast cancer deaths in women each year and many more cases, the Industrial Injuries Advisory Council has other ideas. Its May 2013 position paper notes:  “Although a causal association is not firmly established, collectively, the evidence suggests the possibility of a moderately elevated risk of breast cancer associated with prolonged (more than 20 years) night work.  After considering the evidence, the council concluded that there remains insufficient evidence to recommend any changes to the list of prescribed diseases for which people can claim Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit.”  A 2012 HSE report concluded that in Great Britain there are around 550 deaths each year from breast cancer in women who undertake shift work, and nearly 2,000 new cases registered. Health Survey for England data published in December 2014 and compiled by the Health and Social Care Information Centre, showed 33 per cent of men and 22 per cent of women of working age were doing shift work. They defined shifts as employment outside 0700-1900.

Shift working and breast cancer, IIAC position paper 30, 16 May 2013.