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The University of New South Wales

Cluster Investigation Study Report released:

NEW: Investigation of a suspected cluster of work-related cancer at the Morven Brown Building, University of New South
Wales Stage 1 report released
   (14/10/2008).

Report (PDF format - 4.4 MB).

Update on Morven Brown Building epidemiological study,
University of New South Wales

Project Summary
The project is a detailed investigation of a possible cancer cluster involving staff at the Morven Brown Building, University of New South Wales, with associated review of relevant past and current exposures and work practices.
 
The project will involve:

  • review of past exposures to hazardous substances, as well as relevant physical and biological hazards, and work practices relevant to these exposures;
  • review of current exposures to hazardous substances, as well as relevant physical and biological hazards, and work practices relevant to these exposures;
  • reviewing the literature to identify cancers associated with the identified main exposures;
  • attempting to identify all incident cases of cancer amongst current and former UNSW staff of the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences (or the equivalent in the past) who have worked in the Morven Brown Building at some time from the beginning of 1996 to the present by matching their names with information at State and Territory cancer registries;
  • interviewing cases who contact the investigator and agree to be interviewed;
  • reviewing the literature to identify work-related exposures associated with the identified cancers;
  • comparison of the rate of cancer (overall and for specific cancers, if relevant) in the relevant staff with an age and sex-matched Australian population;
  • an overall assessment of the likelihood that occupational exposures have contributed to the past and/or current employees having a higher than expected rate of one or more cancers; provision of recommendations based on the above information.

Documents

  1. Nov 2007 Staff Presentation by Dr Tim Driscoll (pdf format)
  2. Project Plan by Dr Tim Driscoll (pdf format)
  3. Stage 1 report released 14/10/2008 (pdf format)

The project is being conducted by:

Organisation

ELMATOM Pty Ltd
49 Taleeban Rd
Riverview NSW 2066
Australia
 
Project team

Dr Tim Driscoll (project leader)
Mr Gary Foster (occupational hygienist)
Ms Felicity Driscoll (project officer)
 
For project specific questions:
Dr Tim Driscoll (project leader)
Email: elmatom@optushome.com.au
Tel: (02) 980-30301
 
UNSW contact:
Dr Sarah Maddison, Senior Associate Dean
Email: sarah.maddison@unsw.edu.au
Tel: (02) 9385-2380

Date: 20/02/2008