Pleural plaque
Meaning of pleural plaque: For the purposes of this Statement of Principles, pleural plaque means a circumscribed area of thickening of the pleura related to the inhalation of mineral fibres.
Reasonable Hypothesis (RH) — Statement of Principles No. 105 of 2022
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 pleural plaque or death from pleural plaque with the circumstances of a person's relevant service:
- (1)inhaling respirable asbestos fibres: (a) at the time material containing asbestos was being applied, removed, cut, drilled, dislodged or disturbed; and (b) where the first inhalation of asbestos fibres commenced at least 5 years before the clinical onset of pleural plaque;
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 refractory ceramic fibres in an enclosed space at the time refractory ceramic fibres were being manufactured or processed; and (a) for a cumulative period of at least 2,000 hours before the clinical onset of pleural plaque; and (b) where the first inhalation of refractory ceramic fibres commenced at least 5 years before the clinical onset of pleural plaque;
Note: refractory ceramic fibres is defined in the Schedule 1 - Dictionary.
- (3)inhaling erionite fibres on more days than not for at least 5 years before the clinical onset of pleural plaque, where the first inhalation of erionite fibres occurred at least 10 years before the clinical onset of pleural plaque;
Note: erionite is defined in the Schedule 1 - Dictionary.
- (4)inability to obtain appropriate clinical management for pleural plaque;
Aggravation-only factors: the factors in subsection 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. 106 of 2022
4 factors
At least one of the following factors must exist before it can be said that, on the balance of probabilities, pleural plaque or death from pleural plaque is connected with the circumstances of a person's relevant service:
- (1)inhaling respirable asbestos fibres: (a) at the time material containing asbestos was being applied, removed, cut, drilled, dislodged or disturbed; and (b) where the first inhalation of asbestos fibres commenced at least 10 years before the clinical onset of pleural plaque;
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 refractory ceramic fibres in an enclosed space at the time refractory ceramic fibres were being manufactured or processed; and (a) for a cumulative period of at least 2,000 hours before the clinical onset of pleural plaque; and (b) where the first inhalation of refractory ceramic fibres commenced at least 10 years before the clinical onset of pleural plaque;
Note: refractory ceramic fibres is defined in the Schedule 1 - Dictionary.
- (3)inhaling erionite fibres on more days than not for at least 10 years before the clinical onset of pleural plaque, where the first inhalation of erionite fibres occurred at least 15 years before the clinical onset of pleural plaque;
Note: erionite is defined in the Schedule 1 - Dictionary.
- (4)inability to obtain appropriate clinical management for pleural plaque;
Aggravation-only factors: the factors in subsection 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.
