Definition: Occupational diseases

Category: Living conditions

The EODS Phase 1 covers incidence data for the reference year (first reference year : 2001) and prevalent cases leading to the death of the victim in the reference year. Other prevalent non-fatal cases, which have changed status in the reference year, are covered in Phase 1 in an optional pilot way by the Member States that can realise it. Later on, in a further Phase 2, they will be covered on a more systematic way with specifications defined on the basis of the evaluation of the Phase 1 pilot data.

Inclusion criteria for recognised cases : 

All cases of occupational diseases which are in accordance with the list of disease specific entities and which fulfil the disease specific inclusion criteria in Annex A of this document. The EODS Phase 1 covers prospective (incident) data for the reference period, i.e.; those occupational diseases recognised in the year (first reference year : 2001). This includes all cases, which have been recognised as an occupational disease for the first time in year (first year : 2001):
- as a temporary occupational disease ;
- as a permanent occupational disease ;
- only post-mortem.

This excludes cases which were finally not recognised as an occupational disease, even they were reimbursed for cost under the health at work insurance scheme, e.g., in relation to medical examinations.

The EODS Phase 1 covers also prevalent cases previously recognised as temporary or permanent disease, i.e., before the reference year, for which the person died because of the occupational disease during the reference year (first year : 2001).

Only in an optional and pilot way only for the Member States wishing so, the EODS Phase 1 covers also prevalent cases, which have changed status from a temporary to a permanent occupational disease during the reference period. This concerns all those occupational diseases previously recognised as temporary diseases, i.e., before the reference year (first year : 2001), which are now settled with a permanent degree of disability level.

Only in an optional and pilot way only for the Member States wishing so, the EODS Phase 1 covers prevalent cases with a permanent disability (those occupational diseases previously recognised with a permanent degree of disability, i.e., before the reference year), where the level of disability has been changed during the reference period (first year : 2001).