Dáil Éireann debate -
Thursday, 26 Oct 1972

Vol. 263 No. 2

Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Industrial Injuries.

123.

Mr. Ryan

asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he will list the diseases prescribed under industrial injuries legislation in this country.

Mr. J. Brennan

As the reply is mainly in the form of a tabular statement I propose, with the permission of the Ceann Comhairle, to circulate it with the Official Report.

Following is the statement:

For the purposes of section 23 of the Social Welfare (Occupational Injuries) Act, 1966, Article 4 of the Social Welfare (Occupational Injuries) (Prescribed Diseases) Regulations 1967 (S.I. No. 78 of 1967) provides as follows:—

"(a) each disease or injury set out in the first column of Part I of the Schedule hereto is prescribed in relation to all insured persons who have been employed on or after 1st May, 1967, in insurable (occupational injuries) employment in any occupation set against such disease or injury in the second column of the said Schedule;

(b) pneumoconiosis is prescribed—

(i) in relation to all insured persons who have been employed on or after 1st May, 1967, in insurable (occupational injuries) employment in any occupation set out in Part II of the said Schedule; and

(ii) in relation to all other insured persons who have been employed on or after 1st May, 1967, in any occupation involving exposure to dust and who have not worked at any time (whether in insurable (occupational injuries) employment or not) in any occupation in relation to which pneumoconiosis is prescribed by virtue of paragraph (b) (i);

(c) byssinosis is prescribed in relation to all insured persons who have been employed—

(i) in insurable (occupational injuries) employment at any time on or after 1st May, 1967; and

(ii) for a period or periods (whether before, on or after 1st May, 1967) amounting in the aggregate to not less than ten years;

in any occupation in any room where any process up to and including the carding process is performed in factories in which spinning or manipulation of raw or waste cotton or of flax is carried on."

The schedule is attached hereto.

SOCIAL WELFARE (OCCUPATIONAL INJURIES) ACT, 1966

S.I. No. 16 of 1966

SCHEDULED DISEASES

SOCIAL WELFARE (OCCUPATIONAL INJURIES) (PRESCRIBED DISEASES) REGULATIONS, 1967

SCHEDULE.

PART I.

Description of each prescribed disease or injury, other than pneumoconiosis and byssinosis, and nature of employment in respect of which it is prescribed.

Description of disease or injury	Nature of occupation
Poisoning by:	Any occupation involving:
1. Arsenic or a compound of arsenic	The use or handling of, or exposure to the fumes, dust or vapour of, arsenic or a compound of arsenic, or a substance containing arsenic.
2. Benzene or a homologue.	The use or handling of, or exposure to the fumes of, or vapour containing, benzene or any of its homologues.
3. Beryllium or a compound of beryllium.	The use or handling of, or exposure to the fumes, dust or vapour of, beryllium or a compound of beryllium, or a substance containing beryllium.
4. Cadmium	Exposure to cadmium fumes.
5. Carbon bisulphide	The use or handling of, or exposure to the fumes or vapour of, carbon bisulphide or a compound of carbon bisulphide, or a substance containing carbon bisulphide.
6. Chlorinated naphthalene	The use or handling of, or exposure to the fumes of, or dust or vapour containing, chlorinated naphthalene.
7. Dicthylene dioxide (dioxan)	The use or handling of, or exposure to the fumes of, or vapour containing, dicthylene dioxide (dioxan).
8. Dinitrophenol or a homologue or by substituted dinitrophenols or by the salts of such substances.	The use or handling of, or exposure to the fumes of, or vapour containing, dinitrophenol or a homologue or substituted dinitrophenols or the salts of such substances.
9. Gonioma kamassi (African boxwood)	The manipulation of gonioma kamassi or any process in or incidental to the manufacture of articles therefrom.
10. Lead or a compound of lead	The use or handling of, or exposure to the fumes, dust or vapour of, lead or a compound of lead, or a substance containing lead.
11. Manganese or a compound of manganese.	The use or handling of, or exposure to the fumes, dust or vapour of, manganese or a compound of manganese, or a substance containing manganese.
Poisoning by:	Any occupation involving:
12. Mercury or a compound of mercury	The use or handling of, or exposure to the fumes, dust or vapour of, mercury or a compound of mercury, or a substance containing mercury.
13. Methyl bromide	The use or handling of, or exposure to the fumes of, or vapour containing, methyl bromide.
14. Nickel carbonyl	Exposure to nickel carbonyl gas.
15. A nitro-or animo-or chloro-derivative of benzene or of a homologue of benzene or poisoning by nitrochlor-benzene.	The use or handling of, or exposure to the fumes of, or vapour containing a nitro-or animo- or chloro- derivative of benzene or of a homologue of benzene or nitrochlorbenzene.
16. Nitrous fumes	The use or handling of nitric acid or exposure to nitrous fumes.
17. Phosphorus or phosphine or poisoning due to the anti-cholinesterase action of organic phosphorous compounds.	The use or handling of, or exposure to the fumes, dust or vapour of, phosphorous or a compound of phosphorous, or a substance containing phosphorous.
18. Tetrachlorethane	The use or handling of, or exposure to the fumes of, or vapour containing, tetrachlorethane.
19. Tri-cresyl phosphate	The use or handling of, or exposure to the fumes of, or vapour containing, tri-cresyl phosphate.
20. Tri-phenyl phosphate	The use or handling of, or exposure to the fumes of, or vapour containing, tri-phenyl phosphate.
21. Ankylostomiasis	Work in or about a mine.
22. Anthrax	The handling of wool, hair, bristles, hides or skins or other animal products or residues or contact with animals infected with anthrax.
23. Bursitis or subcutaneous cellulitis arising at or about the knee due to severe or prolonged external friction or pressure at or about the knee (Beat knee).	Manual labour causing severe or prolonged external friction or pressure at or about the knee.
24. Bursitis or subcutaneous cellulitis arising at or about the elbow due to severe or prolonged external friction or pressure at or about the elbow (Beat elbow)	Manual labour causing severe or prolonged external friction or pressure at or about the elbow.
25. (a) Carcinoma of the mucous membrane of the nose or associated air sinuses.	Work in a factory where nickel is produced by decomposition of a gaseous nickel compound which necessitates working in or about a building or buildings where that process or any other industrial process ancillary or incidental thereto is carried on.
(b) Primary carcinoma of a bronchus or of a lung.
26. Cramp of the hand or forearm due to repetitive movements.	Prolonged periods of handwriting, typing or other repetitive movements of the fingers, hand or arm.
	Any occupation involving:
27. Decompression sickness	Subjection to compressed or rarefied air.
28. (a) Dystrophy of the cornea (including ulceration of the corneal surface) of the eye.	The use or handling of, or exposure to, arsenic, tar, pitch, bitumen, mineral oil (including paraffin), anthracene, soot or any compound, product (including quinone or hydroquinone), or residue of any of these substances.
(b) Localised new growth of the skin, papillomatous or keratotic.
(c) Squamous-celled carcinoma of the skin, due in any case to arsenic, tar, pitch, bitumen, mineral oil (including paraffin), anthracene, soot or any compound product (including quinone or hydroquinone), or residue of any of these substances.
29. Glanders.	Contact with equine animals or their carcases.
30. Heat cataract	Frequent or prolonged exposure to rays from molten or red-hot material.
31. (a) Infection by Leptospira ictero- haemorrhagiae.	Farm work or any other occupation involving work in places which are, or are liable to be, infested by rats.
(b) Infection by Leptospira canicola,	Work at dog kennels or the case or handling of dogs.
32. Inflammation, ulceration or malignant disease of the skin or subcutaneous tissues or of the bones, or blood dyscrasia, or cataract, due to electromagnetic radiations (other than radiant heat), or to ionising particles.	Exposure to electro-magnetic radiations other than radiant heat, or to ionising particles.
33. Inflammation or ulceration of the mucous membrane of the upper respiratory passages or mouth produced by dust, liquid or vapour.	Exposure to dust, liquid or vapour.
34. Miner's nystagmus	Work in or about a mine.
35. Non-infective dermatitis of external origin (including chrome ulceration of the skin but excluding dermatitis due to ionising particles or electro- heat).	Exposure to dust, liquid, or vapour or any other external agent capable of irritating the skin (including friction or heat but excluding ionising particles or electromagnetic radiations other than radiant heat).
36. Primary malignant neoplasm of meso- thelium (diffuse mesothelioma) of the pleura or of the peritoneum.	(a) The working or handling of asbestos or any admixture of asbestos;
	(b) the manufacture or repair of asbestos textiles or other articles containing or composed of asbestos;
	(c) the cleaning of any machinery or plant used in any of the foregoing operations and of any chambers, fixtures and appliances for the collection of asbestos dust;
	(d) substantial exposure to the dust arising from any of the foregoing operations.
	Any occupation involving:
37. Primary neoplasm of the epithelial lining of the urinary bladder (papil- loma of the bladder), or of the epithe- lial lining of the renal pelvis or of the epithelial lining of the ureter.	(a) Work in a building in which any of the following substances is produced for commercial purposes:— (i) alpha-naphthylamine or beta-naphthylamine;
	(i) alpha-naphthylamine or beta-naphthylamine;
	(ii) diphenyl substituted by at least one nitro or primary amino group or by at least one nitro and primary amino group;
	(iii) any of the substances mentioned in sub-paragraph (ii) above if further ring substituted by halogeno, methyl or methoxy groups, but not by other groups;
	(iv) the salts of any of the substances mentioned in sub-paragraphs (i) to (iii) above;
	(v) auramine or magenta;
	(b) the use or handling of any of the substances mentioned in sub-paragraphs (i) to (iv) of paragraph (a), or work in a process in which any such substance is used or handled or is liberated;
	(c) the maintenance or cleaning of any plant or machinery used in any such process as is mentioned in paragraph (b), or the cleaning of clothing used in any such building as is mentioned in paragraph (a) if such clothing is cleaned within the works of which the building forms a part or in a laundry maintained and used solely in connection with such works.
38. Pulmonary disease due to the inhalation of the dust of mouldy hay or of other mouldy vegetable produce, and characterised by symptoms and signs attributable to a reaction in the peripheral part of the bronchopulmonary system, and giving rise to a defect in gas exchange (Farmer's lung)	Any occupation involving exposure to the dust of mouldy hay or other mouldy vegetable produce by reason of employment. (a) in agriculture, horticulture or forestry; or
(a) in agriculture, horticulture or forestry; or
(b) loading or unloading or handling in storage such hay or other vegetable produce; or
(c) handling bagasse.
39. Subcutaneous cellulitis of the hand (Beat hand)	Manual labour causing severe or prolonged friction or pressure on the hand.
40. Traumatic inflammation of the tendons of the hand or forearm, or of the associated tendons sheaths	Manual labour, or frequent or repeated movements of the hand or wrist.
41. Tuberculosis	Close and frequent contact with a source or sources of tuberculosis infection by reason of employment—
	(a) in the medical treatment or nursing of a person or persons suffering from tuberculosis, or in a service ancillary to such treatment or nursing;
	Any occupation involving:
	(b) in attendance upon a person or persons suffering from tuberculosis, where the need for such attendance arises by reason of physical or mental infirmity;
	(c) as a research worker engaged in research in connection with tuberculsois;
	(d) as a laboratory worker, pathologist or person taking part in or assisting at post-mortem examinations of human remains where the occupation involves working with material which is a source of tuberculous infection.

PART II.

LIST OF OCCUPATIONS IN RESPECT OF WHICH PNEUMOCONIOSIS IS PRESCRIBED.

1. Any occupation involving—

(a) the mining, quarrying or working of silica rock or the working of dried quartzose sand or any dry deposit or dry residue of silica or any dry admixture containing such materials (including any occupation in which any of the aforesaid operations are carried out incidentally to the mining or quarrying of other minerals or to the manufacture of articles containing crushed or ground silica rock);

(b) the handling of any of the materials specified in the foregoing subparagraph in or incidental to any of the operations mentioned therein, or substantial exposure to the dust arising from such operations.

2. Any occupation involving the breaking, crushing, or grinding of flint or the working or handling of broken, crushed or ground flint or materials containing such flint, or substantial exposure to the dust arising from any of such operations.

3. Any occupation involving sand blasting by means of compressed air with the use of quartzose sand or crushed silica rock or flint, or substantial exposure to the dust arising from such sand blasting.

4. Any occupation involving work in a foundry or the performance of, or substantial exposure to the dust arising from, any of the following operations:—

(a) the freeing of steel castings from adherent siliceous substance;

(b) the freeing of metal castings from adherent siliceous substance—

(i) by blasting with an abrasive propelled by compressed air, by steam or by a wheel; or

(ii) by the use of power-driven tools.

5. Any occupation in or incidental to the manufacture of china or earthenware (including sanitary earthenware, electrical earthenware and earthenware tiles), and any occupation involving substantial exposure to the dust arising therefrom.

6. Any occupation involving the grinding of mineral graphite, or substantial exposure to the dust arising from such grinding.

7. Any occupation involving the dressing of granite or any igneous rock by masons or the crushing of such materials, or substantial exposure to the dust arising from such operations.

8. Any occupation involving the use, or preparation for use, of a grindstone, or substantial exposure to the dust arising therefrom.

9. Any occupation involving—

(a) the working or handling of asbestos or any admixture of asbestos;

(b) the manufacture or repair of asbestos textiles or other articles containing or composed of asbestos;

(c) the cleaning of any machinery or plant used in any of the foregoing operations and of any chambers, fixtures and appliances for the collection of asbestos dust;

(d) substantial exposure to the dust arising from any of the foregoing operations.

10. Any occupation involving—

(a) work underground in any mine in which one of the objects of the mining operations is the getting of any mineral;

(b) the working or handling above ground at any coal or tin mine of any minerals extracted therefrom, or any operation incidental thereto;

(c) the trimming of coal in any ship, barge, or lighter, or in any dock or harbour or at any wharf or quay;

(d) the sawing, splitting or dressing of slate, or any operation incidental thereto.

11. Any occupation in or incidental to the manufacture of carbon electrodes by an industrial undertaking for use in the electrolytic extraction of aluminium from aluminium oxide, and any occupation involving substantial exposure to the dust arising therefrom.

12. Any occupation involving boiler scaling or substantial exposure to dust arising therefrom.