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Occupational Illnesses & Workplace-Related Illnesses

It is important to analyze whether there is a connection between an illness and the work activities or the conditions in that work environment, so that the nature of the work can be established as the root cause of the illness in question. In this way, other employees can be protected against that illness or disease.

Occupational illness refers to an illness caused by work activities or conditions in the work environment.

Workplace-related illnesses refers to an illness or medical condition that occurs, worsens or is prolonged due to work activities or conditions in the work environment, but is not considered to be caused directly by work or conditions in the work environment.

Examples of occupational diseases are hearing loss caused by noise pollution in the workplace, respiratory diseases, skin diseases and diseases related to asbestos pollution.

 

Staff who consider themselves to be suffering from an occupational disease or a workplace-related illness must notify the employer and consult a doctor. It is important to inform the employer as soon as possible when symptoms appear in order to give them the opportunity to take measures necessary to prevent potential risk factors.

The Employer Keeps a Record of Occupational Illnesses and Incidents That Can Cause Damage to Health

The employer must keep a record of the illnesses that they have reason to suspect, or know, are rooted in specific work being done or other conditions in the workplace. They must also record incidents that could cause damage to health, such as chemical pollution that can have a detrimental effect on human health.

Risk assessment and prevention can prevent occupational illnesses and workplace-related illnesses. When an employee’s illness is suspected to be related to the work environment, it is important that the employer responds by identifying possible causes and takes the necessary precautions to prevent further spread of the illness within the employee group.

The AOSH keeps a registry of occupational diseases workplace-related illnesses reported to the administration by physicians. The purpose is to assess the incidence rate and spread of such illnesses and to identify their causes in the workplace, so that further cases of the disease can be prevented.

The AOSH does not decide which illnesses or symptoms can be confirmed as occupational diseases or workplace-related illnesses.

When registering, it is recommended to refer to a list that is based on the EU List of Occupational Diseases. However, this list is not exhaustive and certain disease categories that may sometimes be work-related are not included on that list.

A Physician Reports an Alleged Occupational Illness

A physician who discovers or suspects that an employee or group of employees has/have an occupational disease, a workplace-related illness or has/have suffered other harmful effects as a result of their work, shall without undue delay report it to the AOSH. These reports are independent of whether the occupational disease or the workplace-related illness is considered compensable.

Physicians shall, in the diagnosis and reporting of occupational diseases and workplace-related illnesses, maintain procedures in accordance with the provisions of the Regulation on the reporting and registration of occupational diseases.

Even if certain diseases are not found on the list of occupational diseases that must be reported, it is no less urgent to report them if a causal link to the workplace is suspected.

Reports can be submitted via the Saga System. The electronic form is number 225.

Occupational Illnesses That Must be Reported

The list is based on the EU List of Occupational Illnesses and is not exhaustive. The fundamental factor is that it is suspected that the illnesses can be traced to the work.

100 Acrylonitrile

101 Arsenic and its compounds

102 Beryllium (glucinium) or its compounds

01 Carbon monoxide

02 Carbon oxychloride

01 Hydrocyanic acid

02 Cyanides and compounds thereof

03 Isocyanates

105 Cadmium or its compounds

105 Chromium or its compounds

107 Mercury or its compounds

108 Magnesium or its compounds

01 Nitric acid

02 Nitrous oxide

03 Ammonia

110 Nickel or its compounds

111 Phosphorus or its compounds

112 Lead and its compounds

01 Sulfur oxide

02 Sulfuric acid

03 Carbon disulphide

114 Vanadium or its compounds

01 Chlorine

02 Bromine

04 Iodine

05 Fluoride and its compounds

116 Aliphatic or alicyclic hydrocarbons derived from petrol vapor or petrol

117 Halogen derivatives of aliphatic or alicyclic hydrocarbons

118 Butyl, methyl and isopropyl alcohol

119 Ethylene glycol, diethylene glycol, 1,4-butanediol, and nitrogen derivatives glycols and or glycerol

120 Methyl ether, ethyl ether, isopropyl ether, vinyl ether, dichloroisopropyl ether, guaiacol, methyl ether, and ethyl ether from ethylene glycol

121 Acetone, chloroacetone, bromoacetone, hexafluoroacetone, methyl ethyl ketone, methyl n-butyl ketone, methyl isobutyl ketone, diacetone alcohol, mesityl oxide, 2-methylcyclohexanone

122 Organophosphorus esters

123 Organic acids

124 Formaldehyde

125 Aliphatic nitrogen derivatives

01 Benzene or parts thereof (parts of which are defined by the equation: CnH2n-6)

02 Naphthalene or parts thereof (parts of naphthalene are defined by the equation: CnH2n-12)

03 Vinylbenzene and divinylbenzene

127 Halogen derivatives of aromatic hydrocarbons

01 Phenols or parts thereof, or halogen derivatives thereof

01 Naphthols or parts thereof, or halogen derivatives thereof

03 Halogen derivatives of alkylaryl oxides

03 Halogen derivatives of alkylaryl sulfonates

05 Benzoquinones

01 Aromatic amines or aromatic hydrazines or halogenated, phenolic, nitrified, nitrated or sulfonated derivatives thereof

02 Aliphatic amines and their halogen derivatives

127 Nitrogen derivatives of aromatic hydrocarbons

02 Nitrogen derivatives of phenols or parts thereof

131 Antimony and its derivatives

132 Nitric acid esters

133 Hydrogen sulphide

135 Encephalopathies caused by organic solvents

136 Polyneuritis caused by organic solvents

201 Skin diseases and cancers caused by:

201.01 Soot

201.03 Tar

201.02 Bitumen

201.04 Pitch

201.05 Anthracene or its compounds

201.06 Oil (mineral oil)

201.07 Crude paraffin

201.08 Carbazole or its compounds

201.09 Substances connected to coal mining

202 Occupational skin diseases caused by recognized allergy-provoking agents or irritants not included in other items

301 Respiratory diseases and cancer

301.11 Silicosis (stone lung)

301.12 Silicosis (stone long) associated with tuberculosis

301.21 Asbestosis

301.22 Mesothelioma caused by the inhalation of asbestos dust

301.31 Pneumoconiosis caused by dust from silicates

302 Complications of asbestosis in the pulmonary bronchi

303 Pulmonary bronchial disorders due to sintered metal

304.01 Extrinsic allergic alveolites

304.02 Pulmonary diseases caused by the inhalation of dust or thread from cotton, flax, hemp, bast, sisal and bagasse

304.04 Respiratory diseases caused by the inhalation of dust from cobalt, tin, barium and graphite.

304.05 Siderosis

305.01 Upper respiratory tract cancer caused by the inhalation of wood dust

304.06 Allergic asthma caused by the inhalation of substances that have been shown to be associated with certain types of work activities.

304.06 Allergic rhinorrhea caused by the inhalation of substances that have been shown to be associated with certain types of work activities.

306 Fibrosis associated with pleura leading to respiratory obstruction caused by asbestos

307 Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease or constriction among underground coal miners

308 Lung cancer caused by the inhalation of asbestos dust

309 Bronchopulmonary diseases associated with inhalation of dust or vapor from aluminum or its compounds

310 Bronchopulmonary diseases caused by slag

401 Infectious and parasitic diseases transmitted from animals, or human remains to humans

402 Tetanus

403 Brucellosis

404 Hepatitis viruses

405 Tuberculosis

406 Amoebiasis

407 Other infectious diseases caused by preventative measures against infectious diseases, healthcare activities, caregiving or other forms of assistance at home, including other comparable activities that carry a risk of infection.

502.01 Cataracts in the eye due to heat radiation

502.02 Blepharitis following ultraviolet radiation

503 Hearing impairment or deafness caused by noise

504 Diseases caused by changes in air pressure

505.01 Joint or bone diseases in the hand or wrist due to vibration caused by machinery or equipment

505.02 Angioneurotic diseases caused by vibration from machinery or equipment

506.10 Articular capsule diseases due to pressure

506.11 Bursitis below or above the patella

506.12 Bursitis in the elbow

506.13 Shoulder capsulitis

506.21 Diseases due to strain on the synovium

506.22 Diseases due to excessive strain on the periosteum

506.21 Diseases due to strain on muscles or tendons

506.30 Meniscus lesions following extended periods of work in a kneeling or squatting position

506.40 Nerve paralysis due to pressure

506.45 Carpal tunnel syndrome

507 Miner’s nystagmus

508 Diseases due to ionizing radiation.