Night work 12-hour shifts can trigger cancer – AWU praises new UN Report

The Australian Workers' Union has welcomed a United Nations report released at the end of last year warning that shift work can be an important factor in causing certain cancers.

" Our union has for many years strongly and publicly warned our members that there are calculated risks in 12 hour shifts - we believe that 12 hour shifts involving night work especially may burden our members' health, " Paul Howes, AWU National Secretary said.

While most of us are on vacation today many workplaces demanding continuous production with 12 hour shifts are operating right through this summer break - this UN report will be significant for these industries.

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An authoritative monograph about to be issued by an arm of the United Nations' World Health Organisation - based in Lyon France - has stated that shift work that involves circadian disruption is 'probably carcinogenic to humans'.

" Until quite recently various consultants, researchers and academics have been in 'two minds' about this issue while the AWU has identified this as a problem and gone out if its way to inform and educate our members about the risks.

" We believe that our union must play a major role in promoting the best possible OHS standards in the workplace.

" The AWU has always invested in top class policy work on workplace health issues by ensuring we have on our staff Australia's pre-eminent OHS researcher, Dr Yossi Berger, who has spent more than 20 years advising workers and their unions on these issues.

This new report from the United Nations' World Health Organisation International Agency for Research on Cancer will be of particular interest to AWU members in mining, resources, manufacturing and service industries where 12 hour shifts and night work are common.

" We think that the union and employers should take this new UN report and begin high quality and practical risk assessments related to workload and fatigue - as part of these assessments we must consider what bearing they have on the work-family balance to ensure a quality home life for our members and their families."

The WHO's International Agency for Research on Cancer issued this report preceding the forthcoming Monograph on cancer hazards associated with shift work on December 5, 2007.

...and what the media said about the AWU's stance

• Over working causes cancer - The Brisbane Courier Mail

• Cancer risk prompts call for review of shift work - Sydney Morning Herald

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The Australian Workers' Union
Ph:  (02) 8005 3333
Members Hotline: 1300 885 653
Fax: (02) 8005 3300
members@awu.net.au

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