HC Deb 27 October 1976 vol 918 cc279-82W
Mrs. Wise

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what representations he has received asking for additions to the list of prescribed industrial diseases since February 1974.

Mr. Orme

Representations have been made about Bell's palsy, bronchitis and emphysema, cardiac disease in viscose rayon workers, Dupuytren's contracture, nasal cancer in boot and shoe workers and Raynaud's disease. The schedule of prescribed diseases is kept under continuing review and additions are considered where there is evidence that the requirements of Section 76(2) of the Social Security Act 1975 may be met. In general terms, the requirements are that the disease must be a particular risk of occupation and not one common to all persons and that in particular cases the connection with employment can be established or presumed with reasonable certainty.

Mrs. Wise

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many diseases have been added to the list of prescribed industrial diseases since 1955; and if he will list them.

Mr. Orme

Nine diseases have been added to the list since 1955. They are:

  • Disease No. 40—Poisoning by cadmium.
  • Disease No. 21(b)—Infection by leptospira canicola.
  • Disease No. 43—Farmer's lung.
  • Disease No. 44—Diffuse mesothelioma of the pleura or of the peritoneum.
  • Disease No. 45—Adeno-carcinoma of the nasal cavity or associated air sinuses.
  • Disease No. 46—Infection by brucella abortus.
  • Disease No. 47—Poisoning by acrylamide monomer.
  • Disease No. 48—Occupational deafness.
  • Disease No. 49—Viral Hepatitis.
  • Details of the occupations for which these diseases are prescribed are given in 280 Leaflets NI2 and NI207, of which I am sending my hon. Friend copies.

In addition, the prescription conditions of 11 diseases on the list have been widened. Regulations will shortly be introduced to add angiosarcoma of the liver and osteolysis of the terminal phalanges of the fingers arising out of exposure to vinyl chloride monomer as prescribed diseases.

Mrs. Wise

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what was the total expenditure in respect of benefits for prescribed industrial diseases in 1975.

Mr. Orme

The various benefits payable under the Industrial Injuries Scheme are not separated for accounting purposes between amounts paid for industrial accidents and those paid for industrial diseases. However, it is estimated that the benefit expenditure on prescribed diseases for the financial year April 1975 to March 1976 was of the order of £42 million.

Mrs. Wise

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will list in the Official Report the prescribed industrial diseases.

Mr. Orme

Listed below are the prescribed industrial diseases:—

  1. 1. Poisoning by lead or a compound of lead.
  2. 2. Poisoning by manganese or a compound of manganese.
  3. 3. Poisoning by phosphorus or phosphine or poisoning due to the anti-cholinesterase action of organic phosphorus compounds.
  4. 4. Poisoning by arsenic or a compound of arsenic.
  5. 5. Poisoning by mercury or a compound of mercury.
  6. 6. Poisoning by carbon bisulphide.
  7. 7. Poisoning by benzene or a homologue.
  8. 8. Poisoning by a nitro- or amino- or chloro-derivative of benzene or of a homologue of benzene, or poisoning by nitrochlorbenzine.
  9. 9. Poisoning by dinitrophenol or a homologue or by substituted dinitrophenols or by the salts of such substances.
  10. 10. Poisoning by tetrachloroethane.
  11. 11. Poisoning by tri-cresyl phosphate.
  12. 12. Poisoning by tri-phenyl phosphate.
  13. 13. Poisoning by diethylene dioxide (dioxan).
  14. 14. Poisoning my methyl.
  15. 15. Poisoning by chlorinated naphthalene.
  16. 16. Poisoning by nickel carbonyl.
  17. 17. Poisoning by nitrous fumes.
    18. 281
  18. 18. Poisoning by gonioma kamassi (African boxwood).
  19. 19. Anthrax.
  20. 20. Glanders.
  21. 21.
    1. (a) Infection by leptospira icterohaemorrhagiae;
    2. (b) Infection by leptospira canicola.
  22. 22. Ankylostomiasis.
  23. 23.
    1. (a) Dystrophy of the cornea (including ulceration of the corneal surface) of the eye;
    2. (b) Localised new growth of the skin, papillomatous or keratotic;
    3. (c) Squamous-celled carcinoma of the skin.
    Due in any case to arsenic, tar, pitch, bitumen, mineral oil (including paraffin), soot or any compound, product (including quinone or hydroquinone), or residue of any of these substances.
  24. 25. Inflammation, ulceration or malignant disease of the skin or subcutaneous tissues or of the bones, or blood dyscrasia, or cataract, due to electro-magnetic radiations (other than radiant heat), or to ionising particles.
  25. 26. Heat cataract.
  26. 27. Decompression sickness.
  27. 28. Cramp of the hand or forearm due to repetitive movements.
  28. 31. Subcutaneous cellulitis of the hand (beat hand).
  29. 32. 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).
  30. 33. 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).
  31. 34. Traumatic inflammation of the tendons of the hand or forearm or of the associated tendon sheaths.
  32. 35. Miner's nystagmus.
  33. 36. Poisoning by beryllium or a compound of beryllium.
  34. 37.
    1. (a) Carcinoma of the mucous membrane of the nose or associated air sinuses;
    2. (b) Primary carcinoma of a bronchus or of a lung.
  35. 38. Tuberculosis.
  36. 39. Primary neoplasm of the epithelial lining of the urinary bladder (papilloma of the bladder), or of the renal pelvis or of the ureter or of the urethra.
  37. 40. Poisoning by cadmium.
  38. 41. Inflammation or ulceration of the mucous membrane of the upper respiratory passages or mouth produced by dust, liquid or vapour.
  39. 42. Non-infective dermatitis of external origin (including chrome ulceration of the skin but excluding dermatitis due to ionising particles or electro-magnetic radiations other than radiant heat).
  40. 43. Pulmonary disease due to the inhalation of the dust of mouldy hay or other mouldy 282 vegetable produce and characterised by symptoms and signs attributable to a reaction in the peripheral part of the broncho-pulmonary system, and giving rise to a defect in gas exchange (farmer's lung).
  41. 44. Primary malignant neoplasm of the mesothelium (diffuse mesothelioma) of the pleura or of the peritoneum.
  42. 45. Adeno-carcinoma of the nasal cavity or associated air sinuses.
  43. 46. Infection by brucella abortus.
  44. 47. Poisoning by acrylamide monomer.
  45. 48. Substantial permanent sensorineural hearing loss due to occupational noise amounting to at least 50 dB in the better ear, being the average after exclusion of hearing losses not due to occupational noise, or pure tone losses measured by audiometry over the 1, 2 and 3 kHk frequencies (occupational deafness).
  46. 49. Viral hepatitis.
  47. In addition to these numbered diseases, there are the prescribed industrial diseases of pneumoconiosis and byssinosis. I am writing to my hon. Friend giving details of the occupations for which the various diseases are provided.