International Law Firm Warns Employers to Consider Night-Shift Dangers

An international law firm, Eversheds, has warned owners of establishments to heed the warning of looking into the safety of their employees who work nigh shifts, as otherwise they would have to pay for this in litigation charges.

The word of caution was a result of a research by the International Agency for Research on Cancer, which concluded that breast cancer risk increases from working night-shifts. The study also showed that women who were nurses or flight attendants for more than 30 years have an even increased risk.

Influenced by the results of the research, the Danish Government has deemed cancer caused as a result of night-shift working as an industrial injury.

A reimbursement for the damages caused was made to approximately 40 women who suffered from breast cancer after they had worked late shifts for 20 to 30 years, as the government failed to identify any other reason that could have led to the disease.

Brendan Padfield who is the Head of Personal Injury at Eversheds has warned employers to be wary of the dangers even though the UK government has not disclosed any plans to take cue from the Danish Government.

The Health and Safety Executive is yet to confirm the findings of the research and issue any guidelines. However, Brendan Padfield has said that employers cannot turn a blind eye to the conclusions of the research and take refuge in excuses because an EU government has already paid damages for some of these claims. Workplace Law Group specialises in employment law, health and safety and premises management. – click on NEBOSH training courses to ensure your organisation meets its basic commitments to providing a safe work environment for your staff.

He also said that cancer takes time to show its effects just like asbestos-related diseases and so employers who assess the risk now will be able to benefit later on.