New list of work-related diseases to help with prevention and compensation

Safe Work Australia has published an up-to-date list of diseases and associated work-related exposures in the ‘Deemed Diseases in Australia’ report, which provides information to help anyone involved in the prevention or compensation of occupational disease.

“Compared to work-related injuries, it is more difficult to prove that a disease was contracted in, or caused by, particular employment,” said Safe Work Australia CEO Michelle Baxter.

“So most Australian jurisdictions have special provisions in their workers compensation legislation deeming certain specified occupational diseases as being caused by specified work-related activities.”

Baxter said in many cases these lists had not been updated since they were introduced and did not include some diseases that now have strong evidence of a causal link to work-related exposures.

“The Deemed Diseases in Australia report is the result of a thorough review of the latest scientific evidence on the causal link between diseases and occupational exposure by an independent consultant in epidemiology and occupational medicine, Professor Tim Driscoll,” said Baxter.

“While the report was developed primarily for use by jurisdictions, Safe Work Australia agreed to publish the report as it provides useful evidence-based information for anyone involved in the prevention or compensation of occupational disease.”

The project involved consultation via the representative membership of Safe Work Australia with the agency agreeing that impact assessments and public consultation are more appropriately undertaken by those jurisdictions considering revising their own deemed diseases lists.

The report is available on the Safe Work Australia website.

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