Compensation for occupational neurological and mental disorders

Area of Science:

• Occupational Health
• Public Health Policy
• Toxicology

Background:

• Korean occupational disease (OD) recognition standards, established in 1954, underwent significant revisions in 2013.
• Previous standards relied on agent-specific approaches, necessitating an update based on scientific evidence and causality.

Purpose of the Study:

• To revise and enhance the Korean standards for occupational disease recognition.
• To incorporate a disease-based approach alongside agent-specific criteria.

Main Methods:

• Review of the International Labour Organization list, European Commission schedule, and Korean compensated cases.
• Integration of the International Classification of Diseases (10th version) for a disease-based approach.

Main Results:

• Amended standards now cover acute and chronic central nervous system (CNS) disorders, toxic neuropathy, peripheral neuropathy, manganese-related disorders, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
• New agents were included for acute CNS disorders (e.g., trichloroethylene, benzene), chronic CNS disorders (e.g., lead, mercury), and peripheral neuropathy (e.g., acrylamide, arsenic).
• Post-traumatic stress disorder was newly recognized as an occupational mental disorder (OMD).

Conclusions:

• The 2013 amendment created more comprehensive and practical OD recognition standards in Korea.
• Further research, expert consensus, and updates are necessary to align standards with scientific advancements and societal concerns.