IIAC Press Release - 11th January 2007
Completion of the Review of the Scheduled List of Prescribed Diseases
Jim Murphy announced today publication of the report of the Industrial Injuries
Advisory Council (IIAC) on "Completion of the Review of the Scheduled
List of Prescribed Diseases".
The report summarises the findings and recommendations of the Council initially
published in a series of previous reports that marked the completion of each
stage of the Review. In addition, it includes the Council’s findings
and recommendations on the diseases not covered in previous reports.
Prescribed Diseases A3 (Dysbarism) and A9 (Miner’s nystagmus), D1 (pneumoconiosis
due to causes other than asbestos), D2 (Byssinosis), D4 (allergic rhinitis),
D5 (non-infective dermatitis), D6 (nasal carcinoma), D7 (occupational asthma),
D10 (primary carcinoma of the lung) and D11 (primary carcinoma of the lung
accompanied by silicosis) are considered in this report.
IIAC found insufficient new evidence to warrant a full review of any of these
prescribed diseases and recommended that the terms of prescription for all
but miner’s nystagmus should remain unchanged. In reviewing A9, Miners’
nystagmus, IIAC found no new research and enquiries established that the mining
conditions causing the condition (prolonged work in extremely poor light),
have not been present for decades. Therefore, IIAC recommends removal of the
condition from the list of prescribed diseases.
The report concludes by pointing out that the Council will continue to monitor
the scientific and medical evidence to ensure that the terms of prescription
remain appropriate and new diseases are investigated.
Jim Murphy has thanked the Council for its report and acknowledged its achievement
on the completion of the review of the scheduled list. He is considering the
report’s recommendation.
Note to editors:
- The Industrial Injuries Advisory Council, began its comprehensive review of the scheduled list of Prescribed Diseases at the request of the then Secretary of State DSS, in February 1997. The terms of reference were to examine the diseases prescribed in the Social Security (Industrial Injuries) (Prescribed Diseases) Regulations 1985 (as amended); to ensure statutory requirements continue to be satisfied and to ensure that the schedule was up to date in the light of current scientific knowledge The full list of Prescribed Diseases and the IIAC reports of is available on the IIAC website www.iiac.org.uk.
- The Industrial Injuries Advisory Council is an independent body which advises the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions on the Industrial Injuries scheme which provides weekly compensation for people injured at work because of industrial accidents and prescribed diseases. The Council's Reports are made to the Secretary of State who lays them before Parliament. Regulations leading to changes are then submitted to the Council for their consideration before being laid before Parliament.
- The full text of the Council's Report will appear on the Council's web site
- Role of the Industrial Injuries Advisory Council
The Industrial Injuries Advisory Council is an independent statutory body set up in 1946 to advise the Secretary of State for Social Security on matters relating to the Industrial Injuries scheme. The majority of the Council's time is spent considering whether the list of prescribed diseases for which benefit may be paid should be enlarged or amended.
- The Council's Research Working Group meets quarterly to review new scientific evidence about diseases which they are monitoring and other diseases where new evidence of a possible occupational link requires consideration.
- Composition of the Council:
The Council currently has 16 members including the chairman. It consists of medical specialists, epidemiologists, and legal experts, and, by statute, an equal number of employers' and employees' representatives (currently 4 each). Appointments are made to the Council by the Secretary of State following an open selection procedure under the guidance of the Office of the Commissioner for public Appointments.
- The Council's remit:
The Council has three roles:
- to advise on the prescription of industrial diseases
- to advise on Regulations under the Social Security Administration Act 1992 and the Contributions and Benefits Act 1992
- to advise on the Industrial Injuries Benefit scheme itself.
- Legal requirements for prescription of diseases
The Social Security Contributions and Benefits Act 1992 states that the Secretary of State may prescribe a disease where he is satisfied that the disease:
- ought to be treated, having regard to its causes and incidence and any other relevant considerations, as a risk of the occupation and not as a risk common to all persons; and
- is such that, in the absence of special circumstances, the attribution of particular cases to the nature of the employment can be established or presumed with reasonable certainty.
- In other words, a disease may only be prescribed if there is a recognised risk to workers in an occupation, and the link between disease and occupation can be established or reasonably presumed in individual cases. The Council looks for a workable definition of the disease and a practical way in which demonstrate in the individual case that the disease can be attributed to occupational exposure with reasonable confidence. There are two ways in which a disease can be attributed to occupation with reasonable confidence - clinical features or epidemiological evidence of a doubling of risk. Clinical features of a disease may allow attribution to occupation in some cases, e.g. an employee's dermatitis may improve when they are away from work. In the case of doubling of risk, the Council looks for epidemiological evidence that the disease is twice as likely to occur in that occupation compared to the general population. The Council makes decisions based on robust evidence, typically from different sources and with a sound scientific basis.
For further media enquiries please contact:
Press Office 020 7238 0866
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Website: iiac.org.uk
Industrial Injuries Advisory Council
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1 -11 John Adam Street
London WC2N 6HT
Telephone: 0207 962 8066
