Campaign for a
study into cancer risks in the semiconductor industry
Unite the union is calling for a study into cancer risks in the
computer and semiconductor manufacturing industry following new
evidence from the United States which found 'significantly greater'
cancer deaths than expected based on the national average.
Taken with previous studies covering Scotland and the West
Midlands, Unite believes there is sufficient evidence to suggest
long term health risks to current and former workers in the
semiconductor, chip and computer sector where there is exposure to
chemicals, metals (especially arsenic, nickel and chromium), and
electromagnetic fields such as ultraviolet light, radiofrequency
and x-ray radiation.
Who wants a study?
As the union representing workers in the semiconductor industry
Unite is asking the main employers in the sector to fund a study.
The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) agree that a study in the UK
is necessary and estimates that such a study would last for
approximately four years and cost £400,000. If ten of the largest
UK semiconductor companies agreed to fund this research it would
cost them around £10,000 each for four years - barely the cost of
acompany car. The UK electronics industry is worth £23 billion a
year, the fifth largest in the world and employs 250,000 workers.
Unfortunately, the HSE has no teeth to force employers to pay for a
study.
Government support
Unite’s campaign for an
inquiry has been supported by the government and Lord Mackenzie,
the Health and Safety Minister has written to the main UK based
semiconductor companies asking them to make a financial
contribution to a study.
Unite will pay its share
Unite said it
will pay the same share as a participant company, provided
sufficient employers do the same, and fully cooperate in any study
that is initiated.
The employer's response
Semiconductor employers have said they do not agree there is a need
for a study as a matter of principle and they will not pay for a
study, though they say they will cooperate if someone else pays.
They want to wait for the outcome of other studies, particularly in
the US. Unite believes the industry is putting costs before
people’s lives and health.
Other current studies into cancer risks will not be
enough
There are two current studies into cancer
risks in the semiconductor industry, a further US study and a study
based in Scotland. Unite has serious misgivings about these
studies. The US study is being conducted in non-union sites without
any involvement of worker representatives. The Scottish study is
based on a small number of workers and only one workplace and it
will be too limited to tell us very much.
Get involved
If you work in the
semiconductor industry and would like to get involved in the
campaign there are many things you can do. Unite is organising a
petition to try and put pressure on employers to fund the study.
Contact your workplace rep.
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