Asbestosis
Meaning of asbestosis: For the purposes of this Statement of Principles, asbestosis means interstitial fibrosis of the lung caused by the deposition of asbestos fibres in the lung parenchyma.
Reasonable Hypothesis (RH) — Statement of Principles No. 59 of 2021
At least one of the following factors must as a minimum exist before it can be said that a reasonable hypothesis has been raised connecting asbestosis or death from asbestosis with the circumstances of a person's relevant service:
- (1)inhaling respirable asbestos fibres in an enclosed space at the time material containing asbestos was being applied, removed, cut, drilled, dislodged or disturbed: (a) for a cumulative period of at least 1,000 hours before the clinical onset of asbestosis; and (b) where the first inhalation of asbestos fibres commenced at least 5 years before the clinical onset of asbestosis;
Note: Disturbance of debris or dust contaminated with asbestos fibres already present in an enclosed space may result in exposure to respirable asbestos fibres.
- (2)inhaling respirable asbestos fibres in an open environment at the time material containing asbestos was being applied, removed, cut, drilled, dislodged or disturbed: (a) for a cumulative period of at least 3,000 hours before the clinical onset of asbestosis; and (b) where the first inhalation of asbestos fibres commenced at least 5 years before the clinical onset of asbestosis;
Note: Disturbance of debris or dust contaminated with asbestos fibres already present in an open environment may result in exposure to respirable asbestos fibres.
- (3)inhaling respirable asbestos fibres at the time material containing respirable asbestos fibres was being applied, removed, cut, drilled, dislodged or disturbed: (a) for a cumulative period of at least 1,000 hours before the clinical worsening of asbestosis; and (b) within the 2 years before the clinical worsening of asbestosis;
Note: Disturbance of debris or dust contaminated with asbestos fibres already present in an enclosed space or an open environment may result in exposure to respirable asbestos fibres.
- (4)inability to obtain appropriate clinical management for asbestosis;
Aggravation-only factors: the factors in subsections 9(3) to 9(4) apply only to material contribution to, or aggravation of, the condition where it was suffered or contracted before or during (but did not arise out of) the person’s relevant service.
Balance of Probabilities (BoP) — Statement of Principles No. 60 of 2021
4 factors
At least one of the following factors must exist before it can be said that, on the balance of probabilities, asbestosis or death from asbestosis is connected with the circumstances of a person's relevant service:
- (1)inhaling respirable asbestos fibres in an enclosed space at the time material containing asbestos was being applied, removed, cut, drilled, dislodged or disturbed: (a) for a cumulative period of at least 1,500 hours before the clinical onset of asbestosis; and (b) where the first inhalation of asbestos fibres commenced at least 10 years before the clinical onset of asbestosis;
Note: Disturbance of debris or dust contaminated with asbestos fibres already present in an enclosed space may result in exposure to respirable asbestos fibres.
- (2)inhaling respirable asbestos fibres in an open environment at the time material containing asbestos was being applied, removed, cut, drilled, dislodged or disturbed: (a) for a cumulative period of at least 5,000 hours before the clinical onset of asbestosis; and (b) where the first inhalation of asbestos fibres commenced at least 10 years before the clinical onset of asbestosis;
Note: Disturbance of debris or dust contaminated with asbestos fibres already present in an open environment may result in exposure to respirable asbestos fibres.
- (3)inhaling respirable asbestos fibres at the time material containing respirable asbestos fibres was being applied, removed, cut, drilled, dislodged or disturbed: (a) for a cumulative period of at least 1,500 hours before the clinical worsening of asbestosis; and (b) within the 2 years before the clinical worsening of asbestosis;
Note: Disturbance of debris or dust contaminated with asbestos fibres already present in an enclosed space or an open environment may result in exposure to respirable asbestos fibres.
- (4)inability to obtain appropriate clinical management for asbestosis;
Aggravation-only factors: the factors in subsections 9(3) to 9(4) apply only to material contribution to, or aggravation of, the condition where it was suffered or contracted before or during (but did not arise out of) the person’s relevant service.
