Advice needed so employers can reduce risk of female workers developing breast cancer

Commenting on a study published today (Tuesday) on the Occupational and Environmental Medicine website, which found that frequent night shifts are linked to an increased risk of breast cancer, TUC General Secretary Brendan Barber said:

'This study confirms previous research which has shown that shift work is now the second biggest cause of work-related cancer deaths after asbestos.

'We need urgent advice from the HSE and government so that employers can reduce the risk of female workers developing breast cancer, for example by indentifying safer shift patterns.'

- The study is available at http://press.psprings.co.uk/oem/may/oem100240.pdf 

Breast cancer risk among women in the Danish military

"Conclusions The results indicate that frequent night
shift work increases the risk for breast cancer and
suggest a higher risk with longer duration of intense
night shifts. Women with morning preference who
worked on night shifts tended to have a higher risk than
those with evening preference."

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