Return to Work after Cancer has been released today by the Institution of Occupational Safety and Health (IOSH) ahead of World Cancer Day on Saturday 4 February.
It says that producing tailored plans and individual risk assessments, including flexible working, carefully-managed workloads and good communication, can help with managing the process.
The guidance has been issued following the publication of a research report, which highlighted the specific health and safety risks brought about by staff who continue working or return after an absence.
Half of people diagnosed with cancer in the UK now survive for at least ten years after diagnosis, according to Cancer Research UK.
The IOSH-commissioned research, called Return to work after cancer: occupational safety and health considerations, was led by Dr Joanne Crawford from the Institute of Occupational Medicine (IOM). It also involved Dr Fehmidah Munir, Reader in Health Psychology, and Dr Hilary McDermott, Senior Lecturer in Psychology, both from the National Centre for Sport and Exercise Medicine at Loughborough University, as well as colleagues at occupational health organisation Affinity Health at Work.
The team identified that the barriers affecting people staying in work or returning successfully include the job role itself, such as physical and psychological factors, and symptoms of the illness and treatment, like fatigue.
With that in mind, the guidance and the report recommend risk assessments cover the psychological demands of the work, the risks of infection, access requirements like parking facilities and breaks in the working day among many other factors.
Kate Field, Head of Information and Intelligence at IOSH, said: "It is important that organisations -- human resources, line managers and of course occupational safety and health practitioners -- take these issues into account when supporting those diagnosed with cancer.
"The research also adds weight to the evidence that organisations need good rehabilitation processes in place to provide effective support and ensure a successful return to work which includes regular communication and flexible working. This is true whatever the type of ill-health, physical or mental."
Dr Joanne Crawford, who led the research team at the IOM, said: "As more of us are returning to work after cancer, looking after the health and safety of those returning to work is essential.
"Our project highlighted the importance of identifying and managing risk for those returning to work through individualised risk assessments and flexibility in the return process and other areas of good practice."
Dr Hilary McDermott said: "People returning to work following cancer treatment are individuals so their treatment requires an individual approach.
"Although there is evidence available in relation to managing the general process of returning to work, prior to this study there was limited information available in relation to safety and health involvement in this process.
"The case studies aimed to identify what employers can do to facilitate return to work and what is good practice in dealing with OSH issues for cancer sufferers returning to the workplace."
Julie Farmer, Groups Manager at IOSH, returned to work after undergoing treatment for cancer and has also supported colleagues through the process. She said communication was crucial to the return being successful.
She said: "Going back to work is valuable for all concerned. You need the normal stuff to continue. It was my only way of keeping a bit of control and beating it.
"Communication is the key; having open discussions and taking away the fear that it exerts can help to beat it. It takes courage but you must be comfortable talking to your manager. You and your manager should use available resources and take the journey together."
The return to work guidance has been added to IOSH's online OH (occupational health) toolkit, a free resource to assist employers manage occupational health problems.
A webinar with comments and advice from Julie Farmer and Kate Field is on IOSH's YouTube channel.
IOSH also provides free practical materials to help businesses prevent cancer caused by carcinogens in the workplace as part of its No Time to Lose campaign.
It is estimated that occupational cancer claims 666,000 lives a year worldwide.
The Institution is encouraging businesses around the globe to use its resources to manage harmful substances such as diesel engine exhaust emissions, solar radiation and silica dust, and to put in place prevention strategies to help beat cancer caused by work.