Only seven migrant workers accepted free screenings on occupational diseases during a four-day check-up launched by the Occupational Disease Precaution Clinic of Xiangfan, Hubei Province.

The clinic decided Monday to extend the screen by two days, ending May 7, the Chutian Metropolis Daily reported.

Exposure to industrial dust, noise, high temperatures, radiation and toxic substances can cause occupational diseases. In the city of Xiangfan, the factors that threaten workers' health exists in nearly 1,000 enterprises, related surveys show.

However, many workers, especially migrant workers who come from the countryside, are unfamiliar with disease causes and don't know how to prevent diseases, the head of the clinic said.

Some migrant workers fear discharge when they are diagnosed with occupational diseases, so they are unwilling to undergo check-ups. In addition, some enterprises don't provide physical examinations for their employees because they will be fined by government departments based on the number of workers suffering from work-related diseases, he added.

According to the occupational diseases prevention law in China, employers have to provide physical examinations to employees under threat of occupational diseases. Enterprises have no right to dismiss suspected occupational disease patients, as well as employees who have not accepted physical examinations, until they leave hazardous posts.

(CRI May 7, 2008)