Our five-year Occupational Disease and Illness Prevention Strategy represents SAFE Work Manitoba's commitment to addressing the illnesses that are having the greatest impact on Manitoba workers.
From 2000 to 2015, more than 200 Manitobans lost their lives to cancer, lung diseases and other illnesses because they were exposed to harmful substances in their workplaces. Most of these deaths were linked to asbestos exposure or exposure to other toxic gases, fumes and dusts that occurred many years ago and developed into diseases later in the workers' lives.
Still more Manitobans cope with serious, work-related health conditions, including respiratory issues, skin disorders and noise-induced hearing loss. Toxic chemicals, noise, biological agents, hot and cold stresses, and radiation are all examples of hazards that can cause occupational diseases and illnesses.
This strategy focuses on four tactics to strengthen occupational disease and illness prevention in Manitoba workplaces:
- Monitoring workers' exposures to physical and chemical hazards
- Identifying exposure levels and effective safety controls based on evidence from the monitoring
- Educating and building awareness among all Manitobans about occupational disease and illness prevention
- Strengthening partnerships to prevent occupational disease and illness
Download the strategy to find out more about occupational disease and illness prevention in the workplace, and read the news release.
