Policy
Primary lung cancer in coke oven workers in the steel industry is an occupational disease under sections 2(1) and 15 of the Workplace Safety and Insurance Act as peculiar to and characteristic of exposure to coke oven emissions in the steel industry.
Guidelines
Entitlement criteria
Based on medical studies, workers with lung cancer claims are entitled to benefits when the following appropriate combinations of circumstances regarding exposure, latency, and cessation factors apply
The worker was employed for
- 5 or more years in full time topside exposure
OR
- 10 or more years in mixed side-oven/topside exposure
OR
- 15 or more years in side-oven exposure only,
AND
-
The inception (latency) period between the first exposure and appearance of lung cancer is at least 10 years,
OR
- The cessation interval (time between cessation of occupational risk and appearance of lung cancer)
-
in a smoker is 15 years or less
OR
- the cessation interval in a confirmed non-smoker or ex-smoker is 20 years or less.
-
Definitions
Non-smoker - A person who has never smoked, even occasionally.
Ex-smoker - A person who has smoked during his/her lifetime but who has not smoked for the past 10 or more years.
Smoker - A person who currently smokes, or who has ceased smoking for less than the previous 10 years.
Application date
This policy applies to all accidents. Benefits are payable from the date of accident, which is the date of the diagnosis, or the first date that related symptoms are medically documented, whichever is earlier.
Document History
This document replaces 04-04-11.
References
Legislative Authority
Workplace Safety and Insurance Act, 1997, as amended
Sections 2(1), 15
Minute
Board of Directors
#8(XXII), June 10, 2004, Page 6620