J Korean Med Sci.  2014 Jun;29(Suppl):S78-S84. 10.3346/jkms.2014.29.S.S78.

Compensation for Occupational Diseases by Chemical Agents in Korea

• Kwon SC
• Roh SY
• Lee JH
• Kim EA

• KMID: 1792004
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.3346/jkms.2014.29.S.S78

Abstract

Investigation into the frequency of compensation for occupational diseases (ODs) caused by hazardous chemicals revealed an important opportunity for the improvement and further development of occupational health and safety systems in Korea. In response to concerns after outbreaks of disease due to chemical exposure, specific criteria for recognition of ODs were established and included in the Enforcement Decree of the Labor Standard Act (LSA) and the Industrial Accident Compensation Insurance Act (IACIA) on June 28, 2013. However, the original versions of the LSA and IACIA contain several limitations. First, the criteria was listed inconsistently according to the symptoms or signs of acute poisoning. Second, all newly recognized hazardous chemicals and chemicals recognized as hazardous by the International Labor Organization (ILO) were not included in the LSA and IACIA. Although recent amendments have addressed these shortcomings, future amendments should strive to include all chemicals listed by the ILO and continuously add newly discovered hazardous chemicals as they are introduced into the workplace.

Keyword

Industrial Accident Compensation Insurance Act; Chemical Agents; Workers' Compensation and Welfare Service; Labor Standard Act, Occupational Diseases; Korea

MeSH Terms

Adolescent
Burns, Chemical/economics
Female
Humans
Metals, Heavy/economics/poisoning
Occupational Diseases/*chemically induced/*economics
Occupational Exposure/*adverse effects
Poisoning/economics
Republic of Korea
Workers' Compensation/*economics
Metals, Heavy

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