Protecting Yourself Against Carcinogens
The activities most exposed to carcinogenic substances include agriculture, mining and the chemical industry. Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) can be valuable for protecting workers in these sectors as long as it is selected and used appropriately.
According to International Labour Organisation (ILO) data, agriculture, mining, and the chemical industry are some of the activity groups with the highest exposure to recognised cancer-causing substances. Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) can be valuable to protect workers against this type of risk as long as it is selected and used adequately, says Javier Díaz Alonso, Technical Manager of the Association of Personal Protective Equipment Companies (ASEPAL).
In the selection process, “it’s essential to accurately assess the type and magnitude of risks the workers are exposed to, so we can select the correct type of PPE necessary for protection.”
Also, “you have to choose the equipment taking into account both the particularities of the task to be carried out and of the workers themselves, as it will be the latter who has to be able to wear the PPE selected for the entire duration of the exposure.” Finally, they have to use the equipment “following the instructions expressly given in the manufacturer’s information leaflet.”
Díaz points out that selecting and using the necessary PPE can be a complex process, and many uncertainties can arise. “In these cases, it’s decisive to have a supplier who is an expert in marketing the product, to provide workers with the type of equipment that best meets all these requirements.”
The Importance Of Collaboration
José Antonio Cano Granjo represents the Business Organisations of External Prevention Services, ANEPA-ASPA. As the activities with the highest risk from carcinogenic and mutagenic substances, he highlights “those involving exposure to diesel engine fumes, hardwood dust, respirable crystalline silica dust, asbestos, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, benzene, hexavalent chromium and its compounds, and ultraviolet radiation.”
He points out that preventive measures should focus on “correctly identifying and evaluating risks, finding alternatives to carcinogenic or mutagenic substances, hygiene and individual protection measures, regular health monitoring, and information and training for workers.” He also says that minimising risks calls for “close collaboration and coordination between specialised bodies such as external prevention services and their industrial hygiene professionals, and companies and workers, to build a true preventive culture.”