Bridge workers fear cancer cluster

[creampie]

A cluster of cancer cases has been discovered among Sydney Harbour Bridge maintenance workers, a union says.

The CFMEU said there had been at least eight recent known cases of cancer, including five deaths, and believed the number could be higher.

Workers and the union met with NSW Roads and Traffic Authority (RTA) management on Thursday and told them they were concerned about the prevalence of cancer, the CFMEU said in a statement.

It said RTA management had agreed to "investigate if there is a cancer cluster on the bridge" and review current work practices to ensure they were not contributing to the problem.

Comment has been sought from the RTA.

The workers include riggers, painters, carpenters and crane operators who continually maintain the structure, which is the world's widest long-span bridge.

It is feared lead paint may be the cause of the cancers.

CFMEU State Secretary Mal Tulloch said two cancer sufferers were still working on the bridge while they contracted the disease.

"These guys love working on this iconic site and they recognise that it is a dangerous occupation to be painting and sand-blasting 100 metres above Sydney Harbour," he said in a statement.

"But getting ill because you are inhaling lead particles is totally preventable and the RTA needs to show it is serious by acting on this quickly."

Mr Tulloch also said there may be more affected workers.

"We are concerned the increased casualisation of Sydney Harbour Bridge workers is covering up the true extent of the issue," he said.

"When casual workers get sick, they leave so we have no way of tracking the true extent of the problem."

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