The findings of Phase 1 of the UK Health and Safety Executive’s project to estimate the current burden of occupational cancer specifically for Great Britain were published in 2007. The report concluded: “5.3% (8023) cancer deaths were attributable to occupation in 2005 (men: 8.2% (6366); women 2.3% (1657)). Attributable estimates for total cancer registrations are 13694 (4.0%); and for men: 10074 (5.7%) and women 3620 (2.1%). Occupational attributable fractions are over 2% for mesothelioma, sinonasal, lung, nasopharynx, breast, non-melanoma skin cancer, bladder, oesophagus, soft tissue sarcoma and stomach cancers.” HSE’s previous top line figure for occupational cancer deaths each year was just 6,000, based on the 1981 Doll/Peto report. The new figures were criticised for missing out many cancers entirely and under-estimated the extent of exposures and the numbers exposed to risks. Still, for well over a decade HSE had been basing its cancer strategy on adherence to a long-discredited under-estimate of occupational cancer risks.

HSE news release, 31 October 2007. Research Report 595 – The Burden of Occupational Cancer in Great Britain, HSE, 6 November 2007.  Main report – Results for bladder cancer, leukaemia, cancer of the lung, mesothelioma, non-melanoma skin cancer and sinonasal cancer. Methodology. Technical Annex 1: Leukaemia. Technical Annex 2: Sinonasal cancer. Technical Annex 3: Non-melanoma skin cancer.  Technical Annex 4: Mesothelioma.  Technical Annex 5: Bladder cancer. Technical Annex 6: Lung cancer.