§ Mr. FlynnTo ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many workers have died of asbestos-induced diseases attributable to their exposure at work in each year since 1979.
§ Mr. NichollsThree diseases are known to be associated with asbestos: asbestosis, mesothelioma, and lung cancer. 503W The incidence of lung cancer is heavily influenced by other factors, most notably smoking, and it is not possible to give accurate figures for asbestos-related lung cancer deaths. Asbestosis is uniquely caused by asbestos exposure, but it is estimated that about 100 cases of mesothelioma may occur each year from other causes.
The following table lists the number of death certificates mentioning mesothelioma or asbestosis for the years 1979 to 1988. The figures for 1989 are not yet available.
Year Mesothelioma Asbestosis Total 1979 434 102 536 1980 458 102 560 1981 472 137 609 1982 504 128 632 1983 573 121 694 1984 624 129 753 1985 615 140 755 1986 700 166 866 1987 807 144 951 1988 815 146 961
§ Mr. FlynnTo ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will initiate a study on the health effects of the use of toxic chemicals in the micro-electronics industry in England.
§ Mr. NichollsThe Health and Safety Executive is aware of the concerns surrounding the use of hazardous substances in the micro-electronics industry and is working with the micro-electronics semiconductor manufacturing joint working group to develop guidance relevant to the industry. Guidance in special gases has already been published and further guidance on hazardous substances and monitoring is in preparation.
The Health and Safety Executive is also assessing the feasibility of conducting a study of the reproductive health of women working in the semiconductor industry in the United Kingdom including sites in England and Scotland.
§ Mr. FlynnTo ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many occupational hygiene health audits have been carried out in Wales under the Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Act since legislation came into force; and how many firms in Wales have yet to conduct control of substances hazardous to health audits.
§ Mr. NichollsThere is no requirement under the Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations for companies to carry out occupational hygiene health audits.
§ Mr. FlynnTo ask the Secretary of State for Employment how may control of substances hazardous to health audits have been conducted on companies registered to make micro-electronics in Scotland.
§ Mr. NichollsThere is no requirement under the Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations to notify to the Health and Safety Executive the completion of the assessments required under those regulations. The information requested is therefore not available.
§ Mr. FlynnTo ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will conduct an investigation into the health effects of use of acids and toxic chemicals at the Seagate Microelectronics plant in Scotland.
504W
§ Mr. NichollsIn May 1989, the HSE investigated a complaint about the storage and use of chemicals at Seagate Microelectronics and concluded that the complaints were substantially unjustified. It is not considered that any further investigation outside normal inspection activities at Seagate Microelectronics is appropriate at this stage.
§ Mr. FlynnTo ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will initiate a study into the health effects on workers of working in the Scottish microelectronics industry.
§ Mr. NichollsThe Health and Safety Executive is aware of the concerns surrounding the use of hazardous substances in the micro-electronics industry and is working with the micro-electronics semiconductor manufacturing joint working group to develop guidance relevant to the industry. Guidance in special gases has already been published and further guidance on hazardous substances and monitoring is in preparation.
The Health and Safety Executive is also assessing the feasibility of conducting a study of the reproductive health of women working in the semiconductor industry in the United Kingdom, including the sites in England and Scotland.