Top occupational disease risks in forestry, mining, pulp and paper sectors revealed

Workplace Safety North (WSN) and the Occupational Cancer Research Centre (OCRC) has launched three new posters which showed the top occupational disease risks in the industries of forestry, mining, as well as pulp and paper.

“These risks are based on data from the Occupational Disease Surveillance System, which monitors disease outcomes among over two million workers in Ontario,” said Paul Demers, OCRC director.

“Each sector’s rankings are based on an increased risk of disease compared to other workers in the disease surveillance system,” he added.

What are the top occupational disease risks in the three industries?

The top occupational disease risks in the mining sector are the following:

1. Silicosis and Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis
2. Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
3. Laryngeal Cancer
4. Lung Cancer
5. Leukemia and non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma
6. Pancreatic Cancer
7. Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD)
8. Colorectal Cancer
9. Oral Cancer
10. Raynaud’s Syndrome
11. Acute Myocardial Infarction

For the forestry sector, the top occupational disease risks are:

1. Carpal Tunnel Syndrome:
2. Laryngeal Cancer
3. Asthma
4. Oral Cancer
5. Acute Myocardial Infarction
6. Lung Cancer
7. COPD
8. Raynaud’s Syndrome: Reduced blood flow to hands or feet, often caused by vibrating equipment and exposure to cold temperature, can affect workers in wood industries.

The pulp and paper sector have the following occupational disease risks:

1. Asbestosis
2. Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
3. Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis
4. COPD
5. Acute Myocardial Infarction
6. Raynaud’s Syndrome
7. Colorectal Cancer

The three industries also have noise-induced hearing loss as a top disease based on the approved claims of the Ontario Workplace Safety and Insurance Board (WSIB). The health data came from various sources such as the Ontario Cancer Registry, Ontario Health Insurance Plan (OHIP), as well as hospital records from 1964 to 2020.

Occupational diseases are health problems that can affect workers due to the nature of their work. An occupational illness occurs when a person gets sick because of exposure to certain things while working such as chemicals or germs which may affect their body’s normal functions and make them less healthy.

In 2022, there were 40,185 approved occupational disease claims while occupational illness claims totalled to $82.5 million according to the WSIB.

“Understanding and addressing occupational disease risks is crucial in safeguarding the health of workers in the mining, forestry, and paper and converting industries,” said Demers.

“By implementing health and safety measures, conducting regular training, and promoting a culture of awareness, we can create safer workplaces for all employees,” he added.