Legal Definitions - industrial disease

An industrial disease refers to a health condition or illness that is directly caused by, or significantly worsened by, the specific working conditions, substances, or processes encountered in a particular industrial or occupational environment. It is often used interchangeably with occupational disease, emphasizing the link between a person's employment and the development of their illness.

Here are some examples illustrating industrial disease:

• Example 1: A long-term employee at a large manufacturing plant, where heavy machinery operates continuously, begins to experience significant and permanent hearing loss. Despite wearing some protective gear, the constant, high-decibel noise over many years has damaged their auditory system.

  Explanation: This is an industrial disease because the hearing loss is a direct result of prolonged exposure to the specific hazardous condition (excessive noise) inherent in their industrial work environment, rather than a general health issue.

• Example 2: Decades after working as a miner, an individual is diagnosed with pneumoconiosis, a chronic lung disease caused by the inhalation of mineral dust. During their time in the mines, they were regularly exposed to fine dust particles in the air.

  Explanation: This illustrates an industrial disease because the lung condition was directly contracted due to the specific harmful substance (mineral dust) present in their mining occupation, highlighting the causal link between their work and the illness.

• Example 3: A worker in a chemical processing facility develops severe, chronic dermatitis on their hands and forearms. Their job involves regularly handling various industrial solvents and chemicals, even with the use of gloves, and medical tests confirm the skin condition is an allergic reaction to specific compounds they encounter at work.

  Explanation: This is an industrial disease because the dermatitis is a direct consequence of exposure to particular chemicals and substances that are part of their industrial work duties, demonstrating how the work environment caused the health issue.