Recent reports revealed that NSW government is being forced to launch an investigation at Port Waratah Coal Services' Kooragang Island terminal in NSW Hunter region.

Findings in a study have claimed that the employers working at the site and even those who had been employed at the coal loading facility, are at high risk of developing cancer. The possibilities of these workers to be diagnosed with cancer are up to two to three times more than that of other NSW and Australian residents.

University of Newcastle has revealed the findings of the report, which included 859 workers, employed for the past 23-years. It was further administered that many of them were diagnosed with melanoma, prostate and bowel cancer types.

It has been recovered that the study was conducted on behalf of the company, as it had asked the university to carry out the study encountering concerns raised by the employees.

Consultant Occupational and Environmental Physician Ian Gardner said, “None of the cancers were known to be associated with occupational or environmental exposures. But public health authorities say further investigation is needed”.

On the other hand, the company has confirmed that it has already started implementing safety and precautionary measures recommended.