Occupational diseases are diseases caused by factors harmful to he alth that occur in the work environment. The way in which work is performed may also be the cause of an occupational disease. How and when are occupational diseases diagnosed? What benefits are available to an employee diagnosed with an occupational disease?

Contents:

  1. Occupational diseases - diagnosis
  2. Occupational diseases - obligations of the employer
  3. Occupational diseases - benefits
  4. Occupational disease and retirement

Occupational diseasesis the price we pay for technical progress and the development of civilization. Contrary to appearances, occupational diseases are not a problem that we have been dealing with for a hundred or two hundred years.

The first mention of an occupational disease and the death it caused comes from Egypt around 2000 BC. The victim died due to inhaling silica dust that led to pneumoconiosis.

There are more similar examples. The manufacture of tools from copper and other non-ferrous metals led to poisoning with these metals. The harmful effects of lead (lead) have also been known. Hippocrates already wrote about it.

During the Renaissance, interest in work-related illnesses grew. Ellenborg's treatise of 1524 describes the mercury and lead on which gold miners fell.

The father of scientific occupational medicine is considered to be Bernardino Ramazzini (1633-1714), an Italian physician who described the he alth and disease risks associated with 52 professions.

In 1906, on the initiative of professor Luigi Devoto, the 1st International Congress of Occupational Diseases was held, and four years later, the professor founded the first clinic of occupational diseases in the history of medicine. In the 1920s, the first lists of occupational diseases appeared in many European countries, which were the basis for obtaining compensation for he alth damage incurred in connection with the performed work.

Occupational diseases - diagnosis

The diagnosis of an occupational disease in an employee or former employee may take place during the period of his employment or after termination of work, but on the condition of documenting the symptoms of disease in the period specified in the list of occupational diseases.

An employee who suffers an accident at work or falls ill with an occupational disease specified in the list of occupational diseases is en titled to benefits fromsocial security.

Suspicion of an occupational disease can be reported by any doctor, including a family doctor, who in a special form ("referral for examinations in connection with suspected occupational disease") indicates his concerns and sends it along with medical documentation to the nearest Provincial Center Occupational Medicine.

It can also be done by the employer and the employee himself - but only through the doctor who takes care of him / her.

In each case, if the WOMP certifying doctor diagnoses an occupational disease, he sends this information to the state sanitary inspector. If he agrees with the material collected by doctors and their decisions, they issue an administrative decision confirming an occupational disease.

People who contracted occupational diseases can count on help in the form of various benefits. However, the mere recognition of an illness does not mean that the patient has the right to them.

It is decided by the ZUS certifying doctor who takes into account the certificate of occupational disease, but determines to what extent it affects the patient's ability to perform work.

The medical examiner may decide that the occupational disease is not an obstacle to work. This opinion can be appealed against.

Occupational diseases - obligations of the employer

If an employee (or former employee) is diagnosed with an occupational disease, the employer is obliged to:

  • determine the causes of an occupational disease as well as the nature and extent of the risk of this disease, acting in consultation with the competent authority of the State Sanitary Inspection
  • immediately remove the factors causing the occupational disease and apply other necessary preventive measures
  • ensure the implementation of medical recommendations.

Occupational diseases - benefits

People who have lost their ability to work due to an occupational disease are en titled to one-off, short-term or long-term benefits.

Short-term benefitsis:

  • sickness benefit - if the incapacity for work was caused by an occupational disease, it is paid from the accident insurance. The allowance is granted regardless of the period of insurance coverage from the first day of incapacity for work due to an occupational disease. The allowance is not paid for periods of inability to work due to an occupational disease, for which the insured retains the right to remuneration, salary, scholarship or other benefit for the period of inability to work
  • rehabilitation benefit -is granted when, after the period of sickness benefit, the injured person is still incapable of work, but further treatment or rehabilitation give a chance to regain the ability to work
  • compensatory allowance - for a person whose remuneration has been reduced as a result of permanent or long-term he alth impairment

The sickness allowance and the rehabilitation benefit from the accident insurance are paid in the amount of 100% of the basis of the salary assessment. The basis for assessing these benefits is the amount which is the basis for assessing contributions for accident insurance.

  • one-off compensation is due to every insured person who has suffered permanent or long-term he alth impairment. An injury is determined by a ZUS certified doctor or a ZUS medical commission

People who have lost their ability to work as a result of an occupational disease are also en titled to cover the costs of treatment in the field of dentistry and preventive vaccinations as well as orthopedic supplies in the scope specified in the Act on social insurance against accidents at work and occupational diseases.

Long-term benefitsto:

  • disability pension - is granted to an insured person who becomes incapable of work due to an occupational disease
  • training pension - granted to a person who has been judged to retrain because, due to an occupational disease, he or she cannot work in the current profession
  • nursing supplement - it is intended for people who have been declared completely incapable of work and independent existence, or have reached the age of 75. This benefit is granted on the basis of a ZUS certifying physician's decision stating complete incapacity for work and independent existence, and for people who have reached 75 years of age, the nursing supplement is granted by the pension authority ex officio

Benefits for the family of a deceased person as a result of an occupational disease :

  • one-time compensation - for family members of the deceased insured person or pensioner who were en titled to a survivor's pension on the date of death of a person who fell ill with an occupational disease or was en titled to a disability pension
  • accident survivor's pension - it is payable after the insured or pensioner who died as a result of an accident at work or an occupational disease. The same persons are en titled to a pension as for persons en titled to a survivor's pension under the Pension Act
  • survivor's pension supplement -is intended for a complete orphan

Occupational disease and retirement

If a retired person is diagnosed with an occupational disease, he or she may apply for an occupational disease pension and then receive a pension increased by half of that pension.

Pursuant to the provisions of Art. 235 (1) of the Act of June 26, 1974 - Labor Code, an occupational disease is a disease included in the list of such diseases, if, as a result of the assessment of working conditions, it is possible to conclude without question or with a high probability that it was caused by factors harmful to he alth occurring in the work environment or in connection with the way work is performed.

About the authorAnna Jarosz A journalist who has been involved in popularizing he alth education for over 40 years. Winner of many competitions for journalists dealing with medicine and he alth. She received, among others The "Golden OTIS" Trust Award in the "Media and He alth" category, St. Kamil awarded on the occasion of the World Day of the Sick, twice the "Crystal Pen" in the national competition for journalists promoting he alth, and many awards and distinctions in competitions for the "Medical Journalist of the Year" organized by the Polish Association of Journalists for He alth.

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