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Petroleum industry employees have better health than the general Australian community, according to a report released by Monash University.

The 15^th Health Watch study, which builds on the results of the preceding 14 reports, shows that the chance of developing most types of cancer (cancer incidence) is no different for men and women in the petroleum industry compared with other Australians.

The study provides insights into the influences on employee health, such as the relationship between the incidence of various cancers and working in the industry, and the measurable effects of smoking and drinking. The findings of the study assist the petroleum industry to develop workplace policies and programs that are providing safe and healthy working environments.

The research covers over 20,000 past and present employees during their time in the industry and tracks them when they leave or retire to examine death and cancer rates.

It found that where cancers and deaths do occur, the overall death rates for men and women in the petroleum industry workforce are much (20 per cent) lower than the national rates, and significantly lower for men in all major disease categories.

Importantly, the chance of dying or of getting cancer or heart disease are similar no matter where employees worked in the industry including upstream production sites, refineries, fuel terminals and airports.

In terms of lifestyle factors influencing employee health, the latest report shows that smoking has a powerful influence on ill health and mortality, and that quitting smoking noticeably reduces the risks. It is estimated that smoking has played a part in about 50 per cent of deaths among Health Watch members who smoke.

Compared to the general Australian population, members of Health Watch also have a reduced risk now of leukaemia, including lower rates than nationally for one leukaemia type known to be associated with benzene exposure, called Acute Myeloid Leukaemia (AML).

The Health Watch report is funded by the Australian Institute of Petroleum and was undertaken by the Monash Centre for Occupational and Environmental Health, a leading international centre for epidemiological programs and collaborative research at Monash University.

A number of AMMA members are represented on the Health Watch Advisory Committee and have employees participating in Health Watch.