The institution has a system in place that facilitates an efficient and timely recognition of occupational diseases. It ensures that a process is set up to assess the causality between a professional activity and a disease.
Guideline code
PREV_03300
Mechanism
Mechanisms
- The management follows the recognition procedure established by the board and in line with the national legal framework.
- This procedure can be based on 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; 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).
- Recognition of the occupational origin of the disease presupposes examination by the institution of the existence of a causal link between the disease and the work done. During the investigation process, the organization will work with the worker, his/her employer and the occupational health service the company depends on. Data relating to exposures in the workplace supplied by the prevention department, as well as scientific surveys on occupational risks, are also useful for the recognition procedure.
- As soon as a case of an occupational disease is reported, the management should:
- Ensure that the decision on recognition is taken swiftly and within a reasonable time frame so that the victim receives the social security support and the benefits related to such recognition as soon as possible;
- Ensure that treatment costs of workers concerned are covered during the recognition process;
- Inform in an appropriate manner physicians, social partners and the relevant public authorities as well as other relevant social security organizations of cases of occupational diseases, thus facilitating the reporting process.
- The management should provide experts responsible for recognition within the institution access to both medical and legal expertise.
- The department dealing with the recognition of occupational disease cases should record the outcome of every case in a comprehensive database (information on the victim, type of disease, exposure, decision, benefits awarded).
- The department dealing with the recognition of occupational disease cases should verify that the technical examination of the workplace matches with the occupational health examination. In case of exposure to hazardous substances with a prolonged latency, the institution should make use of evidence-based research to determine the latency duration relevant for a claim.
Structure
Structure
- The board sets the target that all possible cases of occupational disease shall be reported.
- The board defines the recognition procedure for reported cases of occupational disease in line with the national legal framework. This includes a policy to facilitate an efficient and timely recognition process of occupational diseases.
Title HTML
Guideline 25. Recognition of occupational diseases
Type
Guideline_1
Weight
37