A study conducted by individuals with jobs in occupational health has found no evidence of increased levels of cancer among workers at a cement plant in Wales. The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) conducted a public health investigation into operations at the Hanson Cement plant in Padeswood, Flintshire.
Specialists with occupational health jobs were called into to look at the industrial facility after concerns were raised by the local community.
Recently, a draft version of the final report was presented, bringing together the findings of the individual areas of the investigation. It is expected that the complete report will be published in April this year.
Commenting on the inquiry by the HSE, head of operations for the organisation in Wales Jane Lassey noted that specialists with jobs in occupational health have looked at both historical and current operations at the site, which is located in the north-east of Wales.
She added: “We visited the site to review the current controls in place to reduce occupational health risks from dust and asbestos and also reviewed historical records of air monitoring surveys and health checks carried out on employees.
“The evidence from HSE’s investigation indicates that the risks from exposure to hazardous substances are generally well controlled at the site, and current occupational health provision exceeds what the law requires.”
Ms Lassey went on to state that during the investigation, specialists with occupational health jobs found no evidence of raised levels of cancers among employees at the site in the past 12 years.
According to the HSE employee, the organisation’s role in the investigation is now closed.
Meanwhile, Professor David Russell, head of the Centre for Radiation Chemical and Environmental Hazards (Wales), remarked: “Previous reports have shown that air quality in Flintshire has been good and is improving.”
He added that the report shows that pollutants have been decreasing at a national level and this also applies to Hanson Cement.