Assemblyman Seodongyong, Over 20% of School Meal Workers Show Findings in Midterm Lung Cancer Screening Results

8 Suspected Lung Cancer Cases in Gyeongbuk, 10 in Gwangju, 5 in Ulsan, 14 in Jeonnam, 17 in Chungnam, Total 61

"Urgent Need for Detailed Examinations and Follow-up Actions for Suspected Lung Cancer School Meal Workers" Emphasized

[Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters, Reporter Heo Seon-sik] According to the health examination status data for school meal workers submitted by the Ministry of Education to Assemblyman Seo Dong-yong (The Democratic Party, Suncheon-Gwangyang-Gokseong-Gurye District), a member of the National Assembly Education Committee, 1,653 out of a total of 8,301 examinees, or 19.9%, were diagnosed with abnormal findings.

In 2021, the government recognized lung cancer among school meal workers as an industrial accident. Accordingly, to verify the actual condition of lung cancer among school meal workers and to establish health protection measures, each metropolitan and provincial office of education was instructed to conduct lung cancer health examinations within this year and submit the results to the Ministry of Education by February 28, 2023.

Currently, 17 metropolitan and provincial offices of education are conducting examinations individually. Aggregating the examination results from six offices of education?Gyeongbuk, Gwangju, Daegu, Ulsan, Jeonnam, and Chungnam?that submitted interim reports, Gwangju Office of Education found that 141 out of 508 examinees (27.8%) had abnormal findings; Daegu Office of Education, 442 out of 1,269 (34.8%); Ulsan Office of Education, 111 out of 525 (21.1%); Jeonnam Office of Education, 405 out of 1,726 (23.5%); and Chungnam Office of Education, 437 out of 1,497 (29.2%) had abnormal findings.

Gyeongbuk Office of Education reported that among 2,776 examinees, 454 had received examination results from hospitals by August 31, with 117 showing abnormal findings, and they are continuing to collect results.

Although the final results have not yet been released, experts explain that even based on the results so far, the incidence rate of lung cancer among meal service workers is likely to be significantly higher compared to women of the same age group in the general population.

In particular, among workers with abnormal findings, a total of 61 workers?8 in Gyeongbuk, 10 in Gwangju, 7 in Daegu, 5 in Ulsan, 14 in Jeonnam, and 17 in Chungnam?were diagnosed as suspected or highly suspected of lung cancer, highlighting the urgent need for immediate follow-up measures and countermeasures.

As of September 14, 2022, according to the Korea Workers' Compensation and Welfare Service’s status on industrial accident claims for lung cancer among school meal workers, there have been 79 claims filed, 50 approved, 7 denied, and 21 pending. Among these, five school meal workers who were recognized as industrial accident cases have died to date.

Assemblyman Seo Dong-yong stated, “Regrettably, the interim lung cancer examination results for school meal workers are serious.

Even before the final results are out, precise examinations and follow-up responses for workers suspected of lung cancer must be expedited,” he emphasized.

He also announced that at a policy forum to be held tomorrow (September 30) with school meal workers, they will review the status of industrial accident damages in school kitchens, including lung cancer, and discuss countermeasures such as the reasons for delays in inspecting and improving ventilation facilities in school kitchens, budget allocation for increasing kitchen staff, and establishing staffing standards, together with officials from the Ministry of Education, Ministry of Employment and Labor, offices of education, and labor unions.

Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters, Reporter Heo Seon-sik hss79@asiae.co.kr

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.