An occupational illness is a health condition or disorder that is caused by the work environment or related activities.
They can be disruptive, disabling and sometimes fatal.
From cancer to heart disease to respiratory issues, illness of many types can be related to our work.
It is important to know the hazards of your job, and take whatever precautions are required to work safely and stay healthy on the job.
Learn more using the resources in the sections below:
Work-related cancer is any cancer that results from exposure to cancer-causing agents* at work.
*also known as carcinogens.
Examples of work-related cancer include:
Most work-related cancers do not appear until years after exposure to the carcinogen.
Even if you were exposed many years ago, your cancer may still be related to your work.
Learn more about work-related cancers using the following resources:
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…or visit our Work-related Cancer page.
Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is a general term for conditions affecting the heart or blood vessels.
It can be related to workplace stress and exposures as well as poor lifestyle choices such as smoking and drinking.
Use the following resources to learn more about the causes, symptoms and prevention of these work-related cardiovascular illnesses:
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Respiratory illnesses potentially related to your work include:
Pneumoconiosis* • Occupational Asthma • Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD)
• Lung Cancer • Mesothelioma •
as well as others
*Asbestosis, Silicosis, Byssinosis
Use the links above to learn more about specific illnesses or the following resources to learn more about the causes, symptoms and prevention of respiratory illnesses:
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Noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL) is the depletion of one’s hearing as a result of prolonged exposure to high levels of noise.
Learn more about NIHL using the links to the featured resources below:
An infographic presenting the types and effects of noise, control measures and goals, as well as the benefits of noise control.
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Learn more about NIHL on our Noise-induced Hearing Loss page.
Work-related skin conditions are caused / made worse by exposure to / contact with substances such as chemicals.
Skin conditions can also result from having wet hands for long periods of time.
Dermatitis (also known as eczema) is by far the most common, but urticaria and skin cancer are also problems.
Note: Use the dots above to view all related resources.
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