NOTIFIABLE INDUSTRIAL DISEASES (Number of, and compensation paid)

Mr Ivan Baptist asked the Minister for Labour (i) the monthly breakdown figures for each of the notifiable industrial diseases confirmed in 1977 and the first two months of 1978; and (ii) the monthly breakdown figures of the quantum of compensation paid out for each of those industrial diseases.

The Senior Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Labour (Mr Fong Sip Chee) (for the Minister for Labour): Mr Speaker, Sir, 769 cases of industrial diseases were notified and confirmed under the Factories Act during the period January 1977 to February 1978. Of this total, the highest number of 554 was in respect of noise-induced deafness. This high number is largely due to the continuing mobile audio-metric screening carried out by the Industrial Health Department under the Hearing Conservation Programme which was initiated in May 1976. Industrial Dermatitis accounted for 182 cases, followed by 24 cases of Compressed Air Illness. There were seven cases of Silicosis and one case each of Asbestosis and Lead Poisoning.

The breakdown of cases confirmed by month and type of industrial disease for the period January 1977 to February 1978 is given in Table I of the Appendix (Cols. 825 - 826) which has been circulated to all Members. Appendices/19780314-HA-0370825.asc;Table I of Appendix - Number of confirmed cases of notifiable industrial diseases

During the same period, a total of $222,573.71 was paid out as compensation under the Workmen's Compensation Act to workmen suffering from notifiable industrial diseases. The detailed breakdown of compensation paid by month and type of disease is given in Table II of the Appendix (Cols. 825 - 826). Appendices/19780314-HA-0370825.asc;Table II of Appendix - Amount of Compensation Paid

The hon. Member may also wish to note that the one case of Asbestosis notified and confirmed under the Factories Act in September 1977 involved a non-workman and was, therefore, not eligible to claim for compensation under the Workmen's Compensation Act. With regard to the lead poisoning case confirmed in June 1977, compensation amounting to $49.30 was paid in March 1978.

I have to point out that the compensation figures are the actual payments made during the respective months. Hence, the amount paid during the period January 1977 to February 1978 includes cases of industrial diseases confirmed prior to January 1977 and excludes some of the cases which were confirmed during the latter part of the period but were waiting for assessment or pending settlement.