§ Mr. Kirkwoodasked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether there are any forms of repetitive strain injury which are not prescribed industrial diseases; and what criteria are used to exclude any diseases not so prescribed.
§ Mr. Newton"Repetitive strain injury" is a term used to describe a range of conditions, some ill-defined, affecting the hand, arm, shoulder or neck, caused or aggravated by repeated movements.
Two forms are prescribed as industrial diseases: cramp of the hand or forearm due to repetitive movements (Prescribed Disease A4) and traumatic inflammation of the sheaths of the hand or forearm or of the associated tendon sheaths (Prescribed Disease A8). Benefit can also be paid for carpal tunnel syndrome if it occurs as a result of Prescribed Disease A8.
The criteria for prescription are set out in section 76(2) of the Social Security Act 1975. A disease may be prescribed if it can be shown on the balance of probabilities to be a risk of a particular occupation and if 437W individual cases can be attributed with reasonable certainty to the nature of the occupation. The Government are advised on the prescription of industrial diseases by the Industrial Injuries Advisory Council which has concluded that there is insufficient evidence at present to warrant the prescription of any further forms of repetitive strain injury. The council will continue to keep new evidence under review.