Source · Select Committees · Work and Pensions Committee
Recommendation 4
4
Paragraph: 30
Recent HSE data on the relative risk of mesothelioma deaths shows elevated rates for women...
Conclusion
Recent HSE data on the relative risk of mesothelioma deaths shows elevated rates for women whose last occupation was education and teaching. However, limitations in death certificate information means that the earlier occupational history of these people—which may be key to understanding the cause of their disease—is not known. Moreover, the long latency period before asbestos-related illness develops means that HSE data on relative occupational risk tells us little about asbestos exposures in work settings today. We know relatively little about current levels but, worryingly, we heard accounts from several sources of recent exposures in the workplace and in the home. Our view is that HSE’s efforts to develop the evidence on current asbestos exposure levels in non-domestic buildings are relatively piecemeal. A more structured approach to collecting data and assessing current exposure levels is needed.
Paragraph Reference:
30
Government Response
Acknowledged
HM Government
Acknowledged
Death certificates only record the last occupation of the deceased, which places limitations on producing mortality statistics on conditions with long latency periods such as mesothelioma. To obtain a fuller or even complete occupational history for the deceased would require that: • Additional occupation information be collected by the death registration and coronial systems, or • The Office for National Statistics (ONS) link the death registration data it holds to other sources to try and obtain this information The collection of additional occupational information through the death registration and/or coronial process would be challenging, could introduce bias, and is beyond ONS’s control; it would require collaboration with the Department for Health and Social Care, the General Register Office and Ministry of Justice, and require their buy in to change processes and systems. As such this approach is not recommended.