title: Compensation for occupational diseases by chemical agents in Korea.
abstract: Investigation into the frequency of compensation for occupational diseases (ODs) caused by hazardous chemicals revealed an important opportunity for the improvement and further development of occupational health and safety systems in Korea. In response to concerns after outbreaks of disease due to chemical exposure, specific criteria for recognition of ODs were established and included in the Enforcement Decree of the Labor Standard Act (LSA) and the Industrial Accident Compensation Insurance Act (IACIA) on June 28, 2013. However, the original versions of the LSA and IACIA contain several limitations. First, the criteria was listed inconsistently according to the symptoms or signs of acute poisoning. Second, all newly recognized hazardous chemicals and chemicals recognized as hazardous by the International Labor Organization (ILO) were not included in the LSA and IACIA. Although recent amendments have addressed these shortcomings, future amendments should strive to include all chemicals listed by the ILO and continuously add newly discovered hazardous chemicals as they are introduced into the workplace.
authors.affiliation: Department of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Hanyang University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Soon-Chan
authors.identifier: 0000-0002-5782-6087
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: Kwon
authors.affiliation: Department of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Hanyang University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Soo-Yong
authors.identifier: 0000-0003-1826-9780
authors.initials: SY
authors.lastname: Roh
authors.affiliation: Department of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Hanyang University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Ji-Hoon
authors.identifier: 0000-0003-4259-2158
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: Occupational Safety and Health Research Institute, Korea Occupational Safety and Health Agency, Ulsan, Korea.
authors.forename: Eun-A
authors.identifier: 0000-0002-8582-234X
authors.initials: EA
authors.lastname: Kim
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D002057:Burns, Chemical / Q000191:economics; D005260:Female; D000075322:Heavy Metal Poisoning; D006801:Humans; D019216:Metals, Heavy / Q000191:economics; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000191:economics*; D016273:Occupational Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects*; D011041:Poisoning / Q000191:economics; D056910:Republic of Korea; D014942:Workers' Compensation / Q000191:economics*
chemical_list: D019216:Metals, Heavy
keywords: Chemical Agents; Industrial Accident Compensation Insurance Act; Korea; Labor Standard Act, Occupational Diseases; Workers' Compensation and Welfare Service