Summary: 

A research centre focused on occupational cancer

The Occupational Cancer Research Centre (OCRC), established in 2009, is the first of its kind in Canada. The establishment of the OCRC grew out of the recognized need to re-emphasize research on the causes and prevention of occupation-related cancers after decades of diminished effort in most countries.

The OCRC will work to fill the gaps in our knowledge of occupation-related cancers and use these findings to inform preventive programs to control workplace carcinogenic (cancer-causing) exposures and improve the health of workers.

A substantial and unacceptable burden

Nearly 60 occupational exposures have been classified as definite or probable human carcinogens (cancer-causing) and over a hundred more are suspected carcinogens. There are many workplace substances that cause cancer in animals that have not been carefully evaluated in humans.  Occupational exposures may account for 20 to 30% of the cancers among blue collar workers.