Workplace cancer warning highlights six job hazards

Cancer Council Australia used Tradies National Health Month on 12 August 2026 to warn workers about hidden workplace cancer risks.

Diesel exhaust, silica dust, asbestos, welding fumes, wood dust and sun exposure were among the hazards highlighted for Australian tradies.

In 2024, 6.7% of deaths from lung cancer in Australia were due to occupational exposures and hazards.

According to Cancer Council Australia, tradies are the profession most likely to encounter cancer-causing agents on the job.

Melissa Treby, chair of Cancer Council’s Occupational and Environmental Cancer Committee, said some of the biggest risks on worksites are not easy to spot.

Diesel engine exhaust exposure

Diesel engine exhaust is the second most common carcinogen workers are exposed to in Australia.

Estimates show 1.2 million Australian workers are exposed to diesel engine exhaust every day.

Treby said burning diesel fuel releases airborne chemicals that can raise the risk of lung cancer and other long-term illness.

Tradies often work around heavy machinery and construction or mining vehicles powered by diesel fuel.

Signs of a diesel problem include soot on walls, a smoky haze during engine use, and blue or black exhaust smoke.

However, Treby warned the risk remains even when those visible signs do not appear.

She urged workers not to leave engines idling, to install emission-reduction devices, and to switch to electric or gas engines where possible.

Silica dust in stone and concrete

Silica occurs naturally in sand, stone, rock, gravel and clay.

It is also found in artificial stone, benchtops, bricks, tiles and concrete used across Australian building sites.

When workers cut, grind, drill or polish those materials, they release fine silica dust that can enter the lungs.

In 2024, Australia banned the use, supply and manufacture of engineered stone to reduce exposure to silica dust diseases.

Some engineered stone products contain up to 95% silica.

Treby said inhaling silica dust can lead to lung cancer, silicosis, kidney disease and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

Mining and construction workers are among the trades with the greatest silica dust exposure.

Asbestos, welding fumes and wood dust

Asbestos remains a risk in Australia because one in three homes still contain it.

Treby said plumbers, chippies and sparkies may encounter asbestos during renovation, maintenance or repair work.

Welding fumes can increase the risk of lung cancer on worksites where welding happens in enclosed or poorly ventilated areas.

Ultraviolet radiation from a welding arc can also cause melanoma of the eye.

Wood dust and formaldehyde create another set of cancer risks for carpenters, joiners and other timber workers.

Long exposure has been linked to cancers of the nasal cavity, sinuses and nasopharynx, as well as leukaemia.

Sun protection for outdoor tradies

Outdoor workers need sun protection whenever the UV level reaches 3 or higher.

Cancer Council Australia recommends five forms of protection: protective clothing, broad-spectrum water-resistant SPF 50 or SPF 50+ sunscreen, a broad-brimmed hat, shade and sunglasses.

Employers must protect the health and safety of workers and others at the workplace.

Workers must also take reasonable care for their own safety and avoid putting others at risk.

Treby said employers must control these hazards, while workers should follow reasonable instructions and workplace safety policies.