Vancouver, B.C., April 21 1997 - To further the goal of preventing occupational injury and disease through research, the Workers' Compensation Board of British Columbia has made a major grant to BC Cancer of $1.25 million, WCB President Dale Parker announced today. Understanding the causes of occupational injury and disease is an essential step towards creating safer, healthier workplaces. 

The five-year grant will be used to create a database on occupational cancer rates in specific industries and jobs; identify cancer-causing agents and risk factors in certain workplaces, jobs, and geographical areas; and for field studies.

"The WCB is committed to supporting research that will help make workplaces safer and develop effective rehabilitation strategies," said Parker. "To achieve this, we need to involve the expertise of our partners both in the workplace and the research community."

Compared to physical hazards, the risk of occupational disease is not always obvious in workplaces. However, the dangers are every bit as real. In 1996, the WCB accepted 6,600 claims for occupational disease. Of the 102 fatal claims accepted by the WCB in 1996, 62 were injury-related and 38 were occupational-disease related. An additional two claims were accepted for silicosis.

The BC Cancer grant is provided through Finding Solutions, a WCB grant program designed to support research and education projects that prevent or reduce workplace risks, evaluate rehabilitation efforts, or promote awareness of hazards.

"The knowledge gained through this research and other projects supported by Finding Solutions, is vital to our understanding of the causes of occupational injury and disease," said Pat Wolczuk, WCB Grants and Awards Advisory Committee Coordinator. "If we can identify hazards before they become evident, then the WCB can take an assertive, proactive approach to develop solutions."

The WCB has provided funding for BC Cancer research projects since 1982, supporting projects such as an analysis of cancer risk by industry; a study of detection of occupational cancer risks; and the geographic distribution of cancer rates. The latest five-year grant will continue to assist the Occupational Oncology Research Program, geared to finding solutions for work-related cancer.

"Thanks to WCB's foresight and funding, and help from other partners in industry, BC Cancer has the strongest occupational cancer prevention program in Canada, " says Dr. Don Carlow, president and chief executive officer of BC Cancer. "Our researchers have significantly advanced our understanding of occupational cancer risks and they've created excellent models for evaluating risks.

"This continuing support will allow us to work more closely with the WCB to improve the health of workers in B.C. through early detection of occupational risks and prevention," says Dr. Nhu Le, principal investigator for the Occupational Oncology Research Program. "We will be able to have some measure of control over the incidence of occupational cancers. That's not always the case with cancers that are associated with lifestyle, such as those caused by smoking. So this program will have direct benefits on the population."

Preventing workplace accidents and illnesses is an important goal for not only the WCB, employers, and workers, but for all B.C. residents, said Minister of Labour, John Cashore.

"The promotion of safe and healthy workplaces is a critical area of broad public policy, and it is something which is of benefit to all of us, both as individuals and as taxpayers," Cashore said.

BC Cancer is three organizations: the BC Cancer Agency provides a comprehensive system of cancer control to the people of B.C.; the BC Cancer Research Centre conducts basic science research; and the BC Cancer Foundation is the chief fundraiser.

Serving more than 1.5 million workers and 150,000 employers, the Workers' Compensation Board of B.C. is a provincial statutory agency governed by a Panel of Administrators. The WCB is committed to a safe and healthy workplace and to providing safe, effective return-to-work rehabilitation and fair compensation to workers injured or suffering occupational disease in the course of their employment.

FOR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT: 

Karen Zukas
Manager, Public Affairs
Prevention Division, WCB
Tel: 604 276-5159 or toll free in B.C. at 1 888 621-SAFE (7233) local 5077

Libby Brown
Director, Communications and Public Relations
BC Cancer
Tel: 604 877-6107