Aim of special session What practical advice can Occupational health practitioners give to those at risk and to management for employees:

1. with no obvious risk factors for cancer other than shiftwork,

2. for those with risk factors (strong FHx, gene markers of susceptibility, obesity, benign breast disease, HRT, late menopause, early menarche, late first birth… for breast cancer),

3. those with cancers under treatment or in remission in relation to nightwork,

Also is there a threshold effect? (years of exposure, number of shifts, hours of nightwork),

Is there any need for concern or preventive measures?:

• Should shift lengths be shorter?;

• Should rest breaks should be included; and

• how should researchers educate shift workers and employers as to how sleep-wake cycles are controlled and

• How can we maximise sleep quality, sleep duration, and alertness at work?

Speakers Prof Eva Schernhammer, Associate Professor, Harvard School of Public Health, Boston, USA,

Professor Johnni Hansen Danish Cancer Registry; johnni@cancer.dk.

Prof Lin Fritschi, Curtain University Australia/lin.fritschi@curtin.edu.au.

Prof Damien McElvenny IOM UK; Damien.McElvenny@iom-world.org.

Prof Shelly Tse Lap Ah, Associate Professor, Centre for Occupational and Environmental Health Studies (COEHS), The Chinese University of Hong Kong/shelly@cuhk.edu.hk