Bank told to inspect new office again after employees develop lung nodules

A bank in Changshu, Jiangsu province, has been urged to set up a task force after many of its employees were found to have developed lung nodules during physical checkups, the city government said on Saturday.

More than 100 employees of Changshu Rural Commercial Bank's financial technology headquarters, which is based in Suzhou Industrial Park, were found to have developed lung nodules－small masses of tissue in the lung－and three had been diagnosed with lung cancer, Beijing Youth Daily reported on Friday.

The bank has been instructed to arrange additional environmental inspections by third-party institutions appointed by its employees after the results of two environmental inspections arranged by the company came back normal, the city government said in a statement issued on Saturday.

It said it is arranging for medical experts from Suzhou and Changshu to review employees' health checkup reports, chest X-rays and past medical history and provide medical advice.

The newspaper reported that employees had complained of "a strong, pungent smell" after moving into a newly renovated office in May last year and that renovation work continued during weekdays, when staff members had to work.

Employees had received individual annual health checkup reports in June, but they realized the problem was more widespread in mid-August after the institution that conducted the checkups explained the situation to them, it said.

The bank then organized a health lecture for employees with the theme, "it is normal to have lung nodules and you should pay more attention to your lifestyle", the report added.

The bank said in a statement issued on Friday that the results of an environmental inspection it conducted before the office was put into use in July last year were up to standard.

It then hired another company to conduct a further inspection, with the results, released in September, again up to standard, it said.

The bank has installed air purifiers and invited doctors to offer consultations to employees, it added.