Commission Continues Fight Against Occupational Diseases
Date: 24-9-2003 - Brussels
The European Commission is calling on Member States to take the necessary measures to prevent a number of illnesses that can be commonly linked to the workplace. Such measures should also enable sufferers to claim compensation.
"Occupational diseases blight the lives of sufferers," said Anna Diamantopoulou, Commissioner for Employment and Social Affairs. "We are recommending that Member States not only take preventive measures, but support the Commission in the collection of data to allow us to have a clear picture of this problem for the whole of Europe."
There is a lack of comparative data on occupational diseases across the EU. However, Eurostat has identified pulmonary disorders as the third most common work-related health problem, particularly in the extractive industries, where the prevalence rate is 672, compared to an average of 296 in the active population. (Prevalence rate = (number of health problems suffered over the last 12 months/number of employees in the reference population) x 100000).
Diseases such as respiratory ailments caused by the inhalation of dust from cobalt, tin, barium and graphite, or lung cancer following the inhalation of asbestos dust are included in the schedule.
This new list updates the existing schedule, dating from 1990, to take into account scientific and technical progress, which has led to a greater understanding of how certain occupational diseases emerge. It also responds to the emphasis put on the prevention of occupational diseases in the Community Strategy on Health and Safety at Work 2002-2006.
Member States are also invited to draw up quantified national objectives with a view to reducing rates of recognised occupational diseases, and to promote an active role for national healthcare systems, particularly improving diagnosis.
The Commission is also putting forward a second list of diseases which are suspected to be occupational in origin and which may be included in the full list at a later date.
Useful links:
Text of the recommendation
http://europa.eu.int/comm/employment_social/news/2003/sep/occ_disease_en.html
Community Strategy on Health and Safety at Work 2002-2006
http://europa.eu.int/comm/employment_social/news/2002/mar/new_strategy_en.html