My honourable friend the Minister of State for Employment and Welfare Reform (Jim Murphy) has made the following Statement.

The Social Security (Industrial Injuries) (Prescribed Diseases) Amendment (No.2) Regulations 2007 have today been laid before Parliament. The regulations implement, from 1 October 2007, the recommendations set out in the report of the Industrial Injuries Advisory Council (IIAC) on hand arm vibration syndrome (command paper Cm 6098, published July 2004).

The principal recommendation in the report was that the existing prescription for prescribed disease A11 be extended to recognise both the vascular and sensorineural symptoms of hand arm vibration syndrome (HAVS). This means that people who have sensorineural symptoms of the severity described in the regulations arising from working with the prescribed tools will now be covered by the terms of the prescription, whether or not they have the prescribed vascular symptoms.

There are three other, minor amendments, which:

clarify the existing prescription for the vascular element of A11;include a causal reference to the occupational exposures listed for PD A11; andreflect a Court of Appeal judgment that has broadened the definition of forestry.

http://www.theyworkforyou.com/wms/?id=2007-06-25a.47.1