For the first time this year, over 1,100 meal makers in Ulsan underwent lung health examinations – a fifth of whom revealed irregularities such as lung nodules. Five of them were identified with possible lung cancer. Recently, a female in her 50s who had been employed at the school cafeteria for 15 years was diagnosed with cancer and is scheduled to undergo surgery soon; she had not experienced any unusual signs or symptoms. The lunch members went through chest CT scans and 21% of them possessed pulmonary abnormalities such as nodules on the lungs.
Five people were diagnosed with suspected combination. According to the national cancer registration statistics for 2019, the incidence of lung cancer among ordinary women is 37.4 per 100,000 people, 28 times higher than this. This is a concerning development and it is important to take necessary actions to prevent the progression of the disease.
A total of 170 people have completed medical checkups, but the number of patients may increase further after the final tally is completed. It is essential to identify the root cause of this problem and take steps to address it.
Research has shown that using oil to fry and bake food at high temperatures for long hours produces fine particles called cooking fumes, and prolonged exposure increases the likelihood of causing lung cancer. This is especially true in the case of school cafeterias where the food is cooked in large quantities and the temperature and duration of cooking is usually quite high in closed spaces.
To address this issue, the guidelines of the Ministry of Employment and Labor suggest that the Office of Education should quickly inspect and improve the facilities in the cafeteria. This includes ensuring that the cafeteria is well-ventilated, that the cooking oil is changed regularly, and that the workers are adequately trained and equipped to handle the high temperatures of cooking. Additionally, the ministry suggests that the schools should also make an effort to reduce the overall amount of oil used in cooking and to reduce the temperature and duration of cooking.
By following these guidelines, the schools and the cafeteria staff can take proactive steps to reduce the risk of lung cancer and ensure the health and safety of the students.
This year, the Ulsan Metropolitan Office of Education has taken a significant step in ensuring the safety and well-being of school lunch workers by conducting its first-ever test in this regard. It is a much-needed move, especially in light of the incident that happened in February last year in Suwon in which a school meal worker was diagnosed with lung cancer. This was the first time that a work accident was recognized in this particular profession, and it highlighted the importance of taking proactive measures to ensure the safety of school lunch workers. The test conducted by the Ulsan Metropolitan Office of Education is aimed at preventing such incidents in the future, and it is hoped that it will bring about positive changes in the working conditions of school lunch workers.