S.I. No. 234/2003 - Social Welfare (Occupational Injuries) (Prescribed Diseases) (Amendment) Regulations, 2003

The Minister for Social and Family Affairs, in exercise of the powers conferred on her by sections 4 (as amended by section 12 of the Social Welfare (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act, 2002 (No. 8 of 2002)) and 66 (as amended by section 20 of the Social Welfare Act, 1994 (No. 4 of 1994)) of the Social Welfare (Consolidation) Act, 1993 (No. 27 of 1993), hereby makes the following Regulations:

Citation and construction.

1. (1) These Regulations may be cited as the Social Welfare (Occupational Injuries) (Prescribed Diseases) (Amendment) Regulations, 2003.

(2) These Regulations and the Social Welfare (Occupational Injuries) (Prescribed Diseases) Regulations 1983 and 1985 shall be construed together as one and may be cited as the Social Welfare (Occupational Injuries) (Prescribed Diseases) Regulations, 2003.

Definitions.

2. In these Regulations -

“the Principal Regulations” means the Social Welfare (Occupational Injuries) (Prescribed Diseases) Regulations, 1983 ( S.I. No. 392 of 1983 )).

“the Regulations of 1985” means the Social Welfare (Occupational Injuries) (Prescribed Diseases) (Amendment) Regulations, 1985 ( S.I. No. 102 of 1985 )).

Extension of prescribed diseases.

3. Part I of the Schedule to the Principal Regulations is amended by -

(a) the insertion in the first and second columns after paragraph A.14 (inserted by article 9 of the Regulations of 1985) of the following:

	“
	15. Carpal tunnel syndrome	(a) the use of hand-held power tools, but excluding those which are solely powered by hand, whose internal parts vibrate so as to transmit that vibration to the hand; or
		(b) repetitive and forceful work causing abnormal pressure on the wrist over a prolonged period.
	16. Lateral Epicondyl it is	Over a prolonged period, repeated and forceful rotational movements of the forearm with hand extended.
		”,

(b) the insertion in the first and second columns after paragraph C.29 (inserted by article 9 of the Regulations of 1985) of the following:

	“
	30. Latex Allergy	Exposure to latex in respect of work in human healthcare.
		”,

and

“ (i) glutaraldehyde

(j) latex in respect of work in human healthcare”.

	GIVEN under the Official Seal of the Minister for Social and Family Affairs this 11th day of June, 2003.
	MARY COUGHLAN
	Minister for Social and Family Affairs

EXPLANATORY NOTE

(This note is not part of the Instrument and does not purport to be a legal interpretation.)

These Regulations provide for the addition of three further diseases to the list of prescribed diseases for the purposes of the Occupational Injuries Benefit (OIB) Scheme.

The three diseases to be added are:

- Carpal Tunnel Syndrome;

- Lateral Epicondylitis; and

- Latex Allergy (in respect of work in human healthcare).

The Regulations also provide that for the purposes of the OIB scheme, exposure to the following shall be added to the list of prescribed causitive agents in relation to Occupational Asthma:

- Glutaraldehyde; and

- latex in respect of work in human healthcare.