The figure below provides an example of a systematic approach to occupational diseases, starting from individual suspicion of an occupational disease and notification to the final decision on whether or not the diseases will be recognized by the social security institution. The decision on such recognition depends on causality between the disease and the workplace in order for the disease to be classified as occupational.

The legal framework must clearly define the recognition procedure of reported cases of occupational diseases. This procedure can be based on individual (medical and technical) assessments. Data relating to exposures in the workplace supplied by the prevention department, as well as scientific surveys on occupational risks, are also useful in the recognition procedure. A national list of occupational diseases containing the precise recognition criteria, supplemented by a complementary system of recognition for diseases which are not on the list, is in most cases an efficient way to have clear and validated recognition criteria; it can also be based on the individual assessment of cases by experts; a combination of these two systems is also possible (national indicative list/ILO/EU and investigation on a case-by-case basis).

Modern social security systems that provide integrated services of occupational risk prevention, rehabilitation and compensation put prevention first, followed by treatment/ rehabilitation and compensation. This approach can be applied to both, occupational accidents and diseases. As regards the rehabilitation process, these principles are described in the ISSA Guidelines on Return to Work and Reintegration.

In addition to timely access to acute treatment and medical rehabilitation, vocational services focusing on individual prevention measures should be included.

Financial compensation shall be part of the benefits of social security if an occupational disease is not curable or the vocational reintegration of the victim is incomplete leading to a loss in earning capacity.