The Cancer Association of South Africa (Cansa) says road tar workers, employees in synthetic chemical industries and beauty salons, and painters are some of the occupations at a higher risk of developing cancer.
This month the spotlight has been placed on workplace cancer-causing agents.
According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), 19% of all cancers are attributable to the environment, which includes the work setting, amounting to about 1.3 million deaths each year.
Occupation-related cancer exists in air pollution, UV radiation and indoor radon and according to the WHO, lung cancer, mesothelioma, and bladder cancer are the most common types of occupational cancers.
The WHO says one in 10 lung cancer deaths are closely related to risks in the workplace and 132 chemicals and compounds are implicated in occupational cancers.
The most common examples of chemicals and compounds found in South African employment arenas include asphalt fumes (coal tar pitch) posing danger for road tar workers; benzene for workers who work with petrochemical compounds such as diesel fumes; hexavalent chromium for those who work with compounds including electroplating, welding, and chromate painting; formaldehyde - workers in synthetic chemical industries and in beauty salons; and coke oven emissions - workers in the steel industry.
Painters are exposed to hydrocarbon and chlorinated solvents, dyes polyesters and phenol-formaldehyde, which may cause lung cancer.
Occupational exposure to benzene may occur in the chemical and petroleum industries, which may cause leukaemia.
Cansa research head Melissa Wallace said: “Cansa wants to encourage employers and workplaces to implement safe working spaces and circumstances for all employees, making sure their health is a top priority.
“Being mindful of workplace health hazards is the first step in ensuring that you create a healthy environment for all.
“We believe that if sunscreens for a certain category of workers exposed to ultraviolet radiation are not supplied to the employee, the employer may be exposed to certain sanctions as well
as running the risk of legal action.
“It is easy to make a difference and to keep your employees safe,” said Wallace.
“Cansa advises workers to report unsafe or unhealthy conditions to the employer.”