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WEDNESDAY, JUNE 7, 1978
WORKMEN'S COMPENSATION (AMENDMENT) (NO. 2) BILL PASSED
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LUNG WILL
WORKERS SUFFERING FROM SILICOSIS AND ASBESTOSIS DISEASES WHICH ARE JOINTLY KNOWN AS PNEUMOCONIOS IS BECOME ELIGIBLE FOR COMPENSATION AS A RESULT OF A BILL PASSED IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY,
THE COUNCIL APPROVED THE WORKMEN'S COMPENSATION (AMENDMENT) (NO. 2) BILL 1978, WHICH ADDS THE TWO LUNG DISEASES TO THE LIST CF OCCUPATIONAL DISEASES COVERED BY THE WORKMEN'S COMPENSATION
ORDINANCE.
THE BILL ALSO PROVIDES FOR THE SETTING UP OF A PNEUMOCON IOS IS COMPENSATION FUND AND THE INTRODUCTION OF COMPULSORY INSURANCE FOR WORKERS LIABLE TO CONTRACT PNEUMOCON IOS IS.
VARIOUS PROVISIONS OF THE LAW ARE TO BE BROUGHT INTO OPERATION ON DIFFERENT DATES AND REGULATIONS HAVE YET TO BE MADE TO SPECIFY PNEUMOCON IOSIS-PRONE TRADES, INDUSTRIES OR PROCESSES. AND ALSO TO PRESCRIBE DETAILS OF INITIAL AND PERIODIC MEDICAL EXAMINATIONS FOR WORKMEN. LATER REGULATIONS WILL COVER THE ESTABLISHMENT OF THE COMPENSATION FUND AND THE CONSTITUTION, POWERS AND FUNCTIONS OF A BOARD TO ADMINISTER THE FUND.
THE NEW LAW PROVIDES FOR A COMPENSATION SCHEME TO COVER WORKERS WHO ARE FOUND TO HAVE THE DISEASE AT THE TIME OF THE SCHEME'S INITIAL X-RAYS AND THOSE WHO SUBSEQUENTLY CONTRACT THE DISEASE,
THE GOVERNMENT WILL MAKE EX-GRATIA PAYMENTS AMOUNTING TO ABOUT $25 MILLION TO PEOPLE ALREADY KNOWN TO BE SUFFERING FROM PNEUMOCONIOSIS.
WORKERS OR THE IR DEPENDANTS WILL BE COMPENSATED FOR PERMANENT TOTAL OR PARTIAL INCAPACITY OR DEATH RESULTING FROM PNEUMOCON IOS IS CONTRACTED IN ANY SPECIFIED TRADE, INDUSTRY OR PROCESS. THE DISEASE IS CAUSED BY INHALATION OF DUSTS SUCH AS FREE SILICA AND ASBESTOS DUSTS.
SILICOSIS IS MAINLY FOUND AMONG WORKERS IN QUARRIES, MINING TUNNELLING, CONSTRUCTION AND MASONRY WORK. ASBESTOSIS IS NORMALLY FOUND AMONG WORKERS IN AN INDUSTRY PROCESS IN WHICH ASBESTOS IS WIDELY USED FOR INSULATION PURPOSES AND FIREPROOF ING. ONCE EITHER DISEASE IS PRESENT, THE CONDITION OF THE PATIENT IS
IRREVERSIBLE AND REMOVAL FROM EXPOSURE MAY ONLY SLOW DOWN PROGRESSION OF THE DISEASE.
/PNEUMOCONTOSIS