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Disorders and occupational cancer. Mental and behavioural disorders have for the first time been specifically included in the ILO list. This list also has open items in all the sections dealing with the aforementioned diseases. The open items allow the recognition of the occupational origin of diseases not specified in the list if a link is established between exposure to risk factors arising from work activities and the disorders contracted by the worker.

The criteria used by the tripartite experts for deciding what specific diseases be considered in the updated list includes that: there is a causal relationship with a specific agent, exposure or work process; they occur in connection with a specific work environment and/or in specific occupations.

They occur among the groups of workers concerned with a frequency which exceeds the average incidence within the rest of the population; and there is scientific evidence of a clearly defined pattern of disease following exposure and plausibility of cause.

This new list of occupational diseases reflects the state-of-the-art development in the identification and recognition of occupational diseases in the world of today. It indicates clearly where prevention and protection should take place. This ILO list represents the latest worldwide consensus on diseases which are internationally accepted as caused by work. This list can serve as a model for the establishment, review and revision of national lists of occupational diseases.

The world’s working population and their families will benefit from this new list.

1. Occupational diseases caused by exposure to agents arising from work activities

1.1. Diseases caused by chemical agents

1.1.1. Diseases caused by beryllium or its compounds

1.1.2. Diseases caused by cadmium or its compounds

1.1.3. Diseases caused by phosphorus or its compounds

1.1.4. Diseases caused by chromium or its compounds

1.1.5. Diseases caused by manganese or its compounds

1.1.6. Diseases caused by arsenic or its compounds

1.1.7. Diseases caused by mercury or its compounds

1.1.8. Diseases caused by lead or its compounds

1.1.9. Diseases caused by fl uorine or its compounds

1.1.10. Diseases caused by carbon disulfi de

1.1.11. Diseases caused by halogen derivatives of aliphatic or aromatic hydrocarbons

1.1.12. Diseases caused by benzene or its homologues

1.1.13. Diseases caused by nitro- and amino-derivatives of benzene or its homologues

1.1.14. Diseases caused by nitroglycerine or other nitric acid esters

1.1.15. Diseases caused by alcohols, glycols or ketones

1.1.16. Diseases caused by asphyxiants like carbon monoxide, hydrogen sulfide, hydrogen cyanide or its derivatives

1.1.17. Diseases caused by acrylonitrile

1.1.18. Diseases caused by oxides of nitrogen

1.1.19. Diseases caused by vanadium or its compounds

1.1.20. Diseases caused by antimony or its compounds

1.1.21. Diseases caused by hexane

1.1.22. Diseases caused by mineral acids

1.1.23. Diseases caused by pharmaceutical agents

1.1.24. Diseases caused by nickel or its compounds

1.1.25. Diseases caused by thallium or its compounds

1.1.26. Diseases caused by osmium or its compounds

1.1.27. Diseases caused by selenium or its compounds

1.1.28. Diseases caused by copper or its compounds

1.1.29. Diseases caused by platinum or its compounds

1.1.30. Diseases caused by tin or its compounds

1.1.31. Diseases caused by zinc or its compounds

1.1.32. Diseases caused by phosgene

1.1.33. Diseases caused by corneal irritants like benzoquinone

1.1.34. Diseases caused by ammonia

1.1.35. Diseases caused by isocyanates

1.1.36. Diseases caused by pesticides

L1.1.37. Diseases caused by sulphur oxides

1.1.38. Diseases caused by organic solvents

1.1.39. Diseases caused by latex or latex-containing products

1.1.40. Diseases caused by chlorine

1.1.41. Diseases caused by other chemical agents at work not mentioned in the preceding items where a direct link is established scientifically, or determined by methods appropriate to national conditions and practice, between the exposure to these chemical agents arising from work activities and the disease(s) contracted by the worker

1.2. Diseases caused by physical agents

1.2.1. Hearing impairment caused by noise

1.2.2. Diseases caused by vibration (disorders of muscles, tendons, bones, joints, peripheral blood vessels or peripheral nerves)

1.2.3. Diseases caused by compressed or decompressed air

1.2.4. Diseases caused by ionizing radiations

1.2.5. Diseases caused by optical (ultraviolet, visible light, infrared) radiations including laser

1.2.6. Diseases caused by exposure to extreme temperatures

1.2.7. Diseases caused by other physical agents at work not mentioned in the preceding items where a direct link is established scientifically, or determined by methods appropriate to national conditions and practice, between the exposure to these physical agents arising from work activities and the disease(s) contracted by the worker

1.3. Biological agents and infectious or parasitic diseases

1.3.1. Brucellosis

1.3.2. Hepatitis viruses

1.3.3. Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)

1.3.4. Tetanus

1.3.5. Tuberculosis

1.3.6. Toxic or inflammatory syndromes associated with bacterial or fungal contaminants

1.3.7. Anthrax

1.3.8. Leptospirosis

1.3.9. Diseases caused by other biological agents at work not mentioned in the preceding items where a direct link is established scientifically, or determined by methods appropriate to national conditions and practice, between the exposure to these biological agents arising from work activities and the disease(s) contracted by the worker

2. Occupational diseases by target organ systems

2.1. Respiratory diseases

2.1.1. Pneumoconiosis caused by fibrogenic mineral dust (silicosis, anthraco-silicosis, asbestosis)

2.1.2. Silicotuberculosis

2.1.3. Pneumoconiosis caused by non-fi brogenic mineral dust

2.1.4. Siderosis

2.1.5. Bronchopulmonary diseases caused by hard-metal dust

2.1.6. Bronchopulmonary diseases caused by dust of cotton (byssinosis), flax, hemp, sisal or sugar cane (bagassosis)

2.1.7. Asthma caused by recognized sensitizing agents or irritants inherent to the work process

2.1.8. Extrinsic allergic alveolitis caused by the inhalation of organic dusts or microbially contaminated aerosols, arising from work activities

2.1.9. Chronic obstructive pulmonary diseases caused by inhalation of coal dust, dust from stone quarries, wood dust, dust from cereals and agricultural work, dust in animal stables, dust from textiles, and paper dust, arising from work activities

2.1.10. Diseases of the lung caused by aluminium

2.1.11. Upper airways disorders caused by recognized sensitizing agents or irritants inherent to the work process

2.1.12. Other respiratory diseases not mentioned in the preceding items where a direct link is established scientifically, or determined by methods appropriate to national conditions and practice, between the exposure to risk factors arising from work activities and the disease(s) contracted by the worker

2.2. Skin diseases

2.2.1. Allergic contact dermatoses and contact urticaria caused by other recognized allergy provoking agents arising from work activities not included in other items

2.2.2. Irritant contact dermatoses caused by other recognized irritant agents arising from work activities not included in other items

2.2.3. Vitiligo caused by other recognized agents arising from work activities not included in other items

2.2.4. Other skin diseases caused by physical, chemical or biological agents at work not included under other items where a direct link is established scientifically, or determined by methods appropriate to national conditions and practice, between the exposure to risk factors arising from work activities and the skin disease(s) contracted by the worker

2.3. Musculoskeletal disorders

2.3.1. Radial styloid tenosynovitis due to repetitive movements, forceful exertions and extreme postures of the wrist

2.3.2. Chronic tenosynovitis of hand and wrist due to repetitive movements, forceful exertions and extreme postures of the wrist

2.3.3. Olecranon bursitis due to prolonged pressure of the elbow region

2.3.4. Prepatellar bursitis due to prolonged stay in kneeling position

2.3.5. Epicondylitis due to repetitive forceful work

2.3.6. Meniscus lesions following extended periods of work in a kneeling or squatting position

2.3.7. Carpal tunnel syndrome due to extended periods of repetitive forceful work, work involving vibration, extreme postures of the wrist, or a combination of the three

2.3.8. Other musculoskeletal disorders not mentioned in the preceding items where a direct link is established scientifically or determined by methods appropriate to national conditions and practice, between the exposure to risk factors arising from work activities and the musculoskeletal disorder(s) contracted by the worker

2.4. Mental and behavioural disorders

2.4.1. Post-traumatic stress disorder

2.4.2. Other mental or behavioural disorders not mentioned in the preceding item where a direct link is established scientifically, or determined by methods appropriate to national conditions and practice, between the exposure to risk factors arising from work activities and the mental and behavioural disorder(s) contracted by the worker

3. Occupational cancer

3.1. Cancer caused by the following agents

3.1.1. Asbestos

3.1.2. Benzidine and its salts

3.1.3. Bis-chloromethyl ether (BCME)

3.1.4. Chromium VI compounds

3.1.5. Coal tars, coal tar pitches or soots

3.1.6. Beta-naphthylamine

3.1.7. Vinyl chloride

3.1.8. Benzene

3.1.9. Toxic nitro- and amino-derivatives of benzene or its homologues

3.1.10. Ionizing radiations

3.1.11. Tar, pitch, bitumen, mineral oil, anthracene, or the compounds, products or residues of these substances

3.1.12. Coke oven emissions

3.1.13. Nickel compounds

3.1.14. Wood dust

3.1.15. Arsenic and its compounds

3.1.16. Beryllium and its compounds

3.1.17. Cadmium and its compounds

3.1.18. Erionite

3.1.19. Ethylene oxide

3.1.20. Hepatitis B virus (HBV) and hepatitis C virus (HCV)

3.1.21. Cancers caused by other agents at work not mentioned in the preceding items where a direct link is established scientifically, or determined by methods appropriate to national conditions and practice, between the exposure to these agents arising from work activities and the cancer(s) contracted by the worker

 4. Other diseases

4.1. Miners’ nystagmus

4.2. Other specific diseases caused by occupations or processes not mentioned in this list were a direct link is established scientifically, or determined by methods appropriate to national conditions and practice, between the exposure arising from work activities and the disease(s)

Dr.Nayab Sultan