{"id":"F2017L01318","name":"Safety, Rehabilitation and Compensation (Specified Diseases and Employment) Instrument 2017","slug":"safety-rehabilitation-and-compensation-specified-diseases-and-employment-instrument-2017","collection":"legislative_instrument","jurisdiction":"commonwealth","status":"in_force","isInForce":true,"actNumber":null,"makingDate":null,"administeringDepartment":null,"currentVersion":{"id":144133,"registerId":"commonwealth-F2017L01318-current","compilationNumber":null,"startDate":"2026-04-03","status":"InForce","reasons":null,"registeredAt":null},"sections":[{"sectionNumber":"1","sectionType":"section","heading":"Name","content":"#### 1 Name\n\n This instrument is the Safety, Rehabilitation and Compensation (Specified Diseases and Employment) Instrument 2017.","sortOrder":0},{"sectionNumber":"2","sectionType":"section","heading":"Commencement","content":"#### 2 Commencement\n\n This instrument commences on the earlier of:\n\n the day after this instrument is registered on the Federal Register of Legislation; and\n 1 October 2017.","sortOrder":1},{"sectionNumber":"3","sectionType":"section","heading":"Authority","content":"#### 3 Authority\n\n This instrument is made under paragraph 7(1)(b) of the Safety, Rehabilitation and Compensation Act 1988.","sortOrder":2},{"sectionNumber":"4","sectionType":"section","heading":"Definitions","content":"#### 4 Definitions\n\n In this instrument:\n\n> Act means the Safety, Rehabilitation and Compensation Act 1988.\n\n> disease has its ordinary meaning.\n\n> substance means any natural or artificial substance, whether in the form of a solid, liquid, gas or vapour.","sortOrder":3},{"sectionNumber":"5","sectionType":"section","heading":"Application","content":"#### 5 Application\n\n This instrument applies in relation to a disease that an employee sustains on or after the day this instrument commences.","sortOrder":4},{"sectionNumber":"6","sectionType":"section","heading":"Schedules","content":"#### 6 Schedules\n\n Each instrument that is specified in a Schedule to this instrument is amended or repealed as set out in the applicable items in the Schedule concerned, and any other item in a Schedule to this instrument has effect according to its terms.","sortOrder":5},{"sectionNumber":"7","sectionType":"section","heading":"Specification","content":"#### 7 Specification\n\n For the purposes of paragraph 7(1)(b) of the Act, a disease of a kind specified in column 1 of an item of the table in Schedule 1 is a disease related to employment of a kind specified in column 2 of that item.\n\n \n\nSchedule 1—Specification\n\n```html\n

Column 1

Column 2

Item

Disease

Employment

Infectious diseases

1

Anthrax

Employment involving work with:

  1. animals; or
  2. animal carcasses; or
  3. animal parts.

2

Brucellosis

Employment involving work with:

  1. animals; or
  2. animal carcasses; or
  3. animal parts; or
  4. animal waste.

3

Hepatitis A

Employment involving work with human waste.

4

Hepatitis B or Hepatitis C

Employment involving work with human body fluids.

5

Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) or Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS)

Employment involving work with:

  1. needles in a healthcare services setting; or
  2. sharps in a healthcare services setting.

6

Leptospirosis

Employment involving work with:

  1. animals; or
  2. animal carcasses; or
  3. animal parts; or
  4. animal waste.

7

Orf

Employment involving work with:

  1. goats; or
  2. goat carcasses; or
  3. sheep; or
  4. sheep carcasses.

8

Q-fever

Employment involving work with:

  1. animals; or
  2. animal carcasses; or
  3. animal parts.

9

Tuberculosis

Employment involving work with:

  1. animals:

(i) in a farming setting; or

(ii) in a veterinarian setting; or

  1. animal carcasses:

(i) in a farming setting; or

(ii) in a veterinarian setting; or

  1. human corpses:

(i) in a healthcare services setting; or

(ii) in a mortuary setting; or

  1. persons (individuals) in a healthcare services setting.

Malignant diseases

10

Primary malignant disease of the salivary gland

Employment for at least 5 years (whether consecutive or not) involving work with:

  1. equipment that produces ionising radiation; or
  2. substances that emit ionising radiation.

11

Primary malignant disease of the nasopharynx

Employment for at least 5 years (whether consecutive or not) involving work with:

  1. formaldehyde; or
  2. wood.

12

Primary malignant disease of the oesophagus

Employment for at least 5 years (whether consecutive or not) involving work with:

  1. equipment that produces ionising radiation; or
  2. substances that emit ionising radiation.

13

Primary malignant disease of the stomach

Employment for at least 5 years (whether consecutive or not) involving work with:

  1. equipment that produces ionising radiation; or
  2. substances that emit ionising radiation.

14

Primary malignant disease of the colon or rectum

Employment for at least 5 years (whether consecutive or not) involving work with:

  1. equipment that produces ionising radiation; or
  2. substances that emit ionising radiation.

15

Primary malignant disease of the liver

Employment for at least 5 years (whether consecutive or not) involving work with vinyl chloride monomer.

16

Primary malignant disease of the nasal cavity or para-nasal sinuses

Employment for at least 5 years (whether consecutive or not) involving work with:

  1. equipment that produces ionising radiation; or
  2. substances that emit ionising radiation; or
  3. nickel; or
  4. leather; or
  5. wood.

17

Primary malignant disease of the larynx

Employment for at least 5 years (whether consecutive or not) involving work with:

  1. asbestos; or
  2. asbestos-containing material; or
  3. acid mist (strong inorganic).

18

Primary malignant disease of the lung caused by asbestos

Employment for at least 5 years (whether consecutive or not) involving work with:

  1. asbestos; or
  2. asbestos-containing material.

19

Primary malignant disease of the bone

Employment for at least 5 years (whether consecutive or not) involving work with:

  1. equipment that produces ionising radiation; or
  2. substances that emit ionising radiation.

20

Primary malignant disease of the mesothelium

Employment for at least one year (whether consecutive or not) involving work with:

  1. asbestos; or
  2. asbestos-containing material.

21

Primary malignant disease of the breast

Employment for at least 5 years (whether consecutive or not) involving work with:

  1. equipment that produces ionising radiation; or
  2. substances that emit ionising radiation.

22

Primary malignant disease of the ovary

Employment for at least 5 years (whether consecutive or not) involving work with:

  1. asbestos; or
  2. asbestos-containing material.

23

Primary malignant disease of the kidney

Employment for at least 5 years (whether consecutive or not) involving work with:

  1. equipment that produces ionising radiation; or
  2. substances that emit ionising radiation; or
  3. trichloroethylene.

24

Primary malignant disease of urothelial tissue lining the urinary tract

Employment for at least 5 years (whether consecutive or not) involving work with:

  1. equipment that produces ionising radiation; or
  2. substances that emit ionising radiation; or
  3. 2-naphthylamine; or
  4. benzidine; or
  5. cyclophosphamide; or
  6. ortho-toluidine; or
  7. polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons during aluminium production.

25

Primary malignant disease of the brain

Employment for at least 5 years (whether consecutive or not) involving work with:

  1. equipment that produces ionising radiation; or
  2. substances that emit ionising radiation.

26

Primary malignant disease of the thyroid

Employment for at least 5 years (whether consecutive or not) involving work with:

  1. equipment that produces ionising radiation; or
  2. substances that emit ionising radiation.

27

Primary leukaemia (excluding chronic lymphatic leukaemia)

Employment for at least 2 years (whether consecutive or not) involving work with:

  1. equipment that produces ionising radiation; or
  2. substances that emit ionising radiation; or
  3. benzene; or
  4. butadiene; or
  5. cyclophosphamide; or
  6. formaldehyde.

28

Primary non-Hodgkins lymphoma

Employment for at least 2 years (whether consecutive or not) involving work with:

  1. equipment that produces ionising radiation; or
  2. substances that emit ionising radiation.

Diseases of the nervous system

29

Parkinson’s disease

Employment for at least one year (whether consecutive or not) involving work with manganese.

30

Peripheral neuropathy

Employment for at least one year (whether consecutive or not) involving work with:

  1. acrylamide; or
  2. arsenic; or
  3. carbon disulphide; or
  4. lead; or
  5. mercury; or
  6. n-hexane; or
  7. organophosphates; or
  8. trichloroethylene.

Respiratory diseases

31

Occupational asthma

Employment for at least 4 weeks (whether consecutive or not) involving work with an agent or thing specified in column 2 of an item of the table in Schedule 2.

32

Coal workers’ pneumoconiosis

Employment for at least 5 years (whether consecutive or not) involving work with coal.

33

Asbestosis

Employment for at least 5 years (whether consecutive or not) involving work with:

  1. asbestos; or
  2. asbestos-containing material.

34

Silicosis

Employment for at least 5 years (whether consecutive or not) involving work with:

  1. material containing crystalline silica; or
  2. silica.

35

Other pneumoconiosis

Employment for at least 5 years (whether consecutive or not) involving work with:

  1. aluminium; or
  2. barium; or
  3. beryllium; or
  4. cobalt; or
  5. iron oxide; or
  6. tin; or
  7. tungsten.

36

Byssinosis

Employment for at least 4 weeks (whether consecutive or not) involving work with:

  1. unprocessed cotton; or
  2. unprocessed flax; or
  3. unprocessed hemp; or
  4. unprocessed sisal.

37

Extrinsic allergic alveolitis

Employment for at least 4 weeks (whether consecutive or not) involving work with:

  1. feathers; or
  2. grain; or
  3. hay; or
  4. straw.

Hepatic disease

38

Non-infectious hepatitis

Employment involving work with:

  1. acrylonitrile; or
  2. alcohols; or
  3. amino-derivatives of benzene; or
  4. antimony; or
  5. aromatic hydrocarbons; or
  6. arsenic; or
  7. benzene; or
  8. benzoquinone; or
  9. beryllium; or
  10. cadmium; or
  11. carbon disulphide; or
  12. carbon monoxide; or
  13. chromium; or
  14. copper; or
  15. fluorine; or
  16. glycols; or
  17. hexane; or
  18. hydrogen cyanide; or
  19. hydrogen sulphide; or
  20. ketones; or
  21. lead; or
  22. manganese; or
  23. mercury; or
  24. methylene chloride; or
  25. mineral acids; or
  26. nitric acid esters; or

(za) organochlorine compounds; or

(zb) organophosphate; or

(zc) osmium; or

(zd) oxides of nitrogen; or

(ze) ozone; or

(zf) phosgene; or

(zg) phosphorus; or

(zh) selenium; or

(zi) styrene; or

(zj) thallium; or

(zk) tin; or

(zl) toluene; or

(zm) toxic halogen derivatives of aliphatic; or

(zn) toxic nitro-derivatives of benzene; or

(zo) vanadium; or

(zp) zinc.

Skin diseases

39

Irritant contact dermatitis

Employment for at least 4 weeks (whether consecutive or not) involving work and contact with:

  1. alcohols; or
  2. cutting fluids; or
  3. cleaners; or
  4. degreasers; or
  5. disinfectants; or
  6. liquids (frequent contact); or
  7. liquids (prolonged contact); or
  8. petroleum products; or
  9. soaps; or
  10. solvents.

40

Allergic contact dermatitis

Employment for at least 4 weeks (whether consecutive or not) involving work and contact with:

  1. 2,5-diaminotoluene sulfate; or
  2. 4-phenylenediamine base; or
  3. ammonium persulfate; or
  4. cobalt chloride; or
  5. cocamide diethanolamide; or
  6. coconut diethanolamide; or
  7. colophonium/colophony/rosin; or
  8. diazolidinyl urea; or
  9. epoxy resin; or
  10. formaldehyde; or
  11. fragrance mix I:

(i) amylcinnamaldehyde; or

(ii) cinnamic alcohol; or

(iii) cinnamic aldehyde;

(iv) eugenol; or

(v) geraniol; or

(vi) hydroxycitronellal; or

(vii) isoeugenol; or

(viii) oakmoss absolute; or

  1. fragrance mix II:

(i) citral; or

(ii) citronellol; or

(iii) coumarin; or

(iv) farnesol; or

(v) hexyl cinnamic aldehyde; or

(vi) hydroxyisohexyl 3-cyclohexene carboxaldehyde; or

  1. glyceryl monothioglycolate; or
  2. hydroxyethyl methacrylate; or
  3. mercaptobenzothiazole; or
  4. methyl chloroisothiazolinone; or
  5. mixture of methylchloroisothiazolinone and methylisothiazolinone; or
  6. nickel sulfate; or
  7. potassium dichromate; or
  8. quaternium 15; or
  9. thiuram mix:

(i) tetramethylthiuramdisulfide; or

(ii) tetramethylthiuram monosulfide; or

(iii) tetraethylthiuram disulfide.

41

Occupational vitiligo

Employment for at least 4 weeks (whether consecutive or not) involving work with:

  1. hydroquinone; or
  2. monobenzyl ether of hydroquinone; or
  3. monobutyl ether of hydroquinone; or
  4. para-amylphenol; or
  5. para-tertiary-butylcatechol; or
  6. para-tertiary-butylphenol.

Musculoskeletal diseases

42

Raynaud’s disease

Employment for at least 12 weeks (whether consecutive or not) involving work with:

  1. powered equipment that produces vibration; or
  2. powered tools that produce vibration.

43

Bursitis at the elbow or knee

Employment for at least 6 months (whether consecutive or not) involving a work activity that:

  1. for bursitis at the elbow:

(i) involves prolonged external friction at or about the elbow; or

(ii) involves prolonged external pressure at or about the elbow; or

(iii) involves recurrent external friction at or about the elbow; or

(iv) involves recurrent external pressure at or about the elbow; or

  1. for bursitis at the knee:

(i) involves prolonged external friction at or about the knee; or

(ii) involves prolonged external pressure at or about the knee; or

(iii) involves recurrent external friction at or about the knee; or

(iv) involves recurrent external pressure at or about the knee.

Acute diseases

44

Acute poisoning or toxicity affecting the heart, lungs, liver, kidney, nervous system or blood

The same as for item 38.

\n```\n\n \n\nSchedule 2—Occupational asthma\n\n| | Column 1 | Column 2 |\n| ---- | -------------------------------------------------------------- | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |\n| Item | Class of agent or thing | Specified agent or thing |\n| 1 | Arthropods | acarian; orbarn mite; orcaddisfly; orcricket; orEphestia kuehniella (Mediterranean flour moth); orfowl mite; orfruit fly; orgrain mite; orflour mite; orlesser mealworm; orlocust; orsheep blowfly; orsilkworm. |\n| 2 | Acids | dodecanedioic acid; orglacial acetic acid; orhydrochloric acid; orperoxyacetic acid; orsulphuric acid; orsulphur dioxide. |\n| 3 | Acrylates | acrylic acid; orcyanoacrylates; ormethyl methacrylate; orpolymethyl methacrylate; ortrimethylolpropane triacrylate/2-hydroxypropyl acrylate. |\n| 4 | Aldehydes | formaldehyde; orgluteraldehyde; orparaformaldehyde; orurea formaldehyde. |\n| 5 | Amines | aminoethyl ethanolamine; ordiethanolamine; ordimethylethanolamine; orethanolamines; orethylenediamine; ormonoethanolamine; orsurfactant-specific amines; ortriethanolamine; ortriethylenetetramine; ortrimethylhexane-1; or6-diamine/isophorondiamine mixture. |\n| 6 | Ammonias | anhydrous ammonia; orammonium hydroxide; orammonia solution 10%; orammonia solution 29%. |\n| 7 | Anhydrides | hexahydrophthalic anhydride; orhimic anhydride; ormaleic anhydride; ormethyl tetrahydrophthalic; oranhydride; orphthalic anhydride; ortetrachlorophthalic anhydride; ortrimellitic anhydride. |\n| 8 | Bio-aerosols | Alternaria; orChrysonilia sitophilia; orNeurospora; orPenicillium; orcutting oils. |\n| 9 | Biological enzymes | Bacillus subtilis enzymes; orbromelain; oregg lysozyme; oresperase; orflaviastase; orfungal amylase; orfungal amyloglucosidase; orfungal hemicellulose; orpancreatin; orpapain; orpepsin; ortrypsin. |\n| 10 | Epoxy | epoxy; orepoxy adhesive. |\n| 11 | Ethylene oxide | ethylene oxide. |\n| 12 | Flours | buckwheat flour; orrye flour; orsoya flour; orwheat flour. |\n| 13 | Flowers | baby’s breath; orfreesia; orLimonium tataricum; orsunflower. |\n| 14 | Foods | Brazil ginseng; orcastor bean; orchamomile; orcinnamon; orDioscorea batatas (Chinese yam); oregg protein; orfenugreek; orgarlic dust; orgreen beans; orguar; orhops; orpaprika; orpectin; orrose hips; orsoybean lecithin; ortea; orthiamine (vitamin B); orthyme. |\n| 15 | Industrial cleaning and sterilising agents | alkyl dimethyl benzyl ammonium chloride; orbenzyl-C10-16-alkyldimethyl, chlorides; orbenzyl-C12-16-alkyldimethyl, chlorides; orbenzyl-C12-18-alkyldimethyl, chlorides; orbenzyl-C16-18-alkyldimethyl, chlorides; orbenzyldimethylstearyl ammonium chloride; orcetalkonium chloride; orchlorhexidine; orchlorine; ordialkyl methyl benzyl ammonium chloride; ordicumyl-peroxide; ordodecyl dimethyl ammonium chloride; ordimethyl ethyl benzyl ammonium chloride; ordodecyl-dimethylbenzylammonium; orfluorine; orn-alkyl dimethyl benzyl ammonium chloride; orpersulphate salts; orsodium hypochlorite; orsodium metabisulfite. |\n| 16 | Isocyanates | diisocyanates; orhexamethylene diisocyanate prepolymers; orisocyanates; ortoluene diisocyanate prepolymers. |\n| 17 | Latex | latex; ornatural rubber. |\n| 18 | Medications | ampicillin; oramprolium; orcimetidine; orcodeine; orcolistin; orhydralazine; oripecacuanha; orhydrocodone; orisonicotinic acid hydrazide; ormethyldopa; ormorphine; oropiate compounds; oroxycodone; orpapaverine; orpenicillamine; orpenicillins; orphenylglycine acid chloride; orpsyllium; orsalbutamol intermediate; orspiramycin; ortetracycline; orthebaine; ortylosin tartrate; orvancomycin. |\n| 19 | Metals | aluminium; oraluminium chloride; oraluminium oxide; oraluminium compounds; orammonium dichromate; orammonium hexachloroplatinate (IV); orchromium; orchromium, metal; orchromium, hexavalent; orchromium, non-hexavalent; orcobalt; orcobalt compounds; ornickel; ornickel compounds; orplatinum; orrhodium; orsoluble halogenated platinum compounds; ortitanium oxide/dioxide; ortributyl tin oxide; ortungsten carbide; ortungsten carbide/cobalt; orvanadium; orwelding fumes – gas metal arc welding on uncoated mild steel; orwelding fumes – stainless steel; orstainless steel; orzinc oxide. |\n| 20 | Other reactive chemicals | chlorofluorocarbon refrigerants heated; orfluoride; orfurfuryl alcohol mixed with a catalyst; orisolyzer; orpolyethylene terephthalate/polybutylene terephthal; orpolyfunctional aziridine; orpolypropylene heated; orpolyvinyl chloride heated; orpolyvinyl chloride non-heated; orpolyvinyl chloride thermally degraded; orradiographic fixative; orresin containing furfuryl alcohol; orstyrene; ortrigylicidyl isocyanurate. |\n| 21 | Pesticides | 3-amino-5-mercapto-1;2;4-triazole; oracephate; orchloramine T; orchlorothalonil (bravo, echo); ordiazinon; ordimethoate; orfenthion; ormalathion; ornemacur; orpiperazine; orpiperazine citrate; orpiperazine hydrochloride; orpyrethrins; orpyrfon; orsafrotin; ortetramethrin. |\n| 22 | Plants and sensitising agents or irritants derived from plants | almond dust; orArabidopsis thaliana; orChlorella algae; orgum arabic; orhenna; orkapok; orlinseed oilcake; orPinellia ternata; orquillaja bark; orrice dust; ortall oil crude; ortall oil – rosin; ortobacco leaf; ortragacanth; orturpentine; orVicia sativa (vetch); orweeping fig. |\n| 23 | Reactive dyes | Cibachrome Brilliant Scarlet 32; orDrimarene Brilliant Blue K-BL; orDrimarene Brilliant Yellow K-3GL; orLanasol Yellow 4G; orLevafix Brilliant Yellow E36; orMethyl Blue; orRifacion Orange HE 2G; orRifafix Yellow 3 RN; orRifazol Black GR; orRifazol Brilliant Orange 3R. |\n| 24 | Sensitising agents or irritants derived from animals | bat guano; orbovine serum albumin; orcasein; orcat antigens; orchicken antigens; orcow antigens; orfrog antigens; orguinea pig antigens; orlactoserum; ormice antigens; orpig antigens; orrabbit antigens; orrat antigens. |\n| 25 | Sensitising agents or irritants derived from fish or shellfish | Anisakis simplex (herring worm) antigens; orclam antigens; orcrab antigens; orcuttlefish antigens; orfishmeal; ornacre dust; oroctopus antigens; orprawn antigens; orred soft coral antigens; orsalmon antigens; orshrimp meal; ortrout antigens. |\n| 26 | Soldering fluxes | colophony soldering flux; oralkyl aryl polyether soldering flux; orzinc soldering flux. |\n| 27 | Wood | Triplochiton scleroxylon (African maple); orAcacia melanoxylon (blackwood); orSequoia sempervirens (California redwood); orJuglans olanchana (Central American walnut); orThuja occidentalis (eastern white cedar); orShoreal sp. (mahogany); orQuercus robur (oak); orThuja lpicata (western red cedar). |\n| | | |\n\n> Note: Endnotes\n\n> Note: Endnote 1—About the endnotes\n\nThe endnotes provide information about this compilation and the compiled law.\n\nThe following endnotes are included in every compilation:\n\nEndnote 1—About the endnotes\n\nEndnote 2—Abbreviation key\n\nEndnote 3—Legislation history\n\nEndnote 4—Amendment history\n\nAbbreviation key—Endnote 2\n\nThe abbreviation key sets out abbreviations that may be used in the endnotes.\n\nLegislation history and amendment history—Endnotes 3 and 4\n\nAmending laws are annotated in the legislation history and amendment history.\n\nThe legislation history in endnote 3 provides information about each law that has amended (or will amend) the compiled law. The information includes commencement details for amending laws and details of any application, saving or transitional provisions that are not included in this compilation.\n\nThe amendment history in endnote 4 provides information about amendments at the provision (generally section or equivalent) level. It also includes information about any provision of the compiled law that has been repealed in accordance with a provision of the law.\n\nMisdescribed amendments\n\nA misdescribed amendment is an amendment that does not accurately describe the amendment to be made. If, despite the misdescription, the amendment can be given effect as intended, the amendment is incorporated into the compiled law and the abbreviation “(md)” added to the details of the amendment included in the amendment history.\n\nIf a misdescribed amendment cannot be given effect as intended, the abbreviation “(md not incorp)” is added to the details of the amendment included in the amendment history.\n\n> Note: Endnote 2—Abbreviation key\n\n| | o = order(s) |\n| ---------------------------------------------- | ----------------------------------- |\n| ad = added or inserted | Ord = Ordinance |\n| am = amended | orig = original |\n| amdt = amendment | par = paragraph(s)/subparagraph(s) |\n| c = clause(s) | /sub‑subparagraph(s) |\n| C[x] = Compilation No. x | pres = present |\n| Ch = Chapter(s) | prev = previous |\n| def = definition(s) | (prev…) = previously |\n| Dict = Dictionary | Pt = Part(s) |\n| disallowed = disallowed by Parliament | r = regulation(s)/rule(s) |\n| Div = Division(s) | |\n| exp = expires/expired or ceases/ceased to have | reloc = relocated |\n| effect | renum = renumbered |\n| F = Federal Register of Legislation | rep = repealed |\n| gaz = gazette | rs = repealed and substituted |\n| LA = Legislation Act 2003 | s = section(s)/subsection(s) |\n| LIA = Legislative Instruments Act 2003 | Sch = Schedule(s) |\n| (md) = misdescribed amendment can be given | Sdiv = Subdivision(s) |\n| effect | SLI = Select Legislative Instrument |\n| (md not incorp) = misdescribed amendment | SR = Statutory Rules |\n| cannot be given effect | Sub‑Ch = Sub‑Chapter(s) |\n| mod = modified/modification | SubPt = Subpart(s) |\n| No. = Number(s) | underlining = whole or part not |\n| | commenced or to be commenced |\n\n> Note: Endnote 3—Legislation history\n\n| Name | Registration | Commencement | Application, saving and transitional provisions |\n| ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | --------------------------- | -------------- | ----------------------------------------------- |\n| Safety, Rehabilitation and Compensation (Specified Diseases and Employment) Instrument 2017 | 3 October 2017(F2017L01318) | 1 October 2017 | - |\n| Safety, Rehabilitation and Compensation (Specified Diseases and Employment) Amendment Instrument 2019 | 14 March 2019(F2019L00298) | 15 March 2019 | Sch 1 (item 3) |\n\n> Note: Endnote 4—Amendment history\n\n| Provision affected | How affected |\n| ------------------------------------- | -------------- |\n| Sch 1, Item 43, column 2, par (b)(iv) | am F2019L00298 |\n| Sch 2, Item 22, column 2 par (a) | am F2019L00298 |\n| Sch 3 | Rep LA s 48C |\n| | |","sortOrder":6}],"analysis":{"flash_summary_failed":{"failed":true,"reason":"Unauthenticated. Configure AI_GATEWAY_API_KEY or use a provider module. Learn more: https://ai-sdk.dev/unauthenticated-ai-gateway","source":"analysis-cron"},"kimi_summary":{"_metrics":{"provider":"moonshot","completionTokens":2289},"content_quality":"ok","complexity_score":6,"scope_assessment":{"changed":false,"description":"The instrument operates precisely within its intended scope under section 7(1)(b) of the SRC Act 1988. It serves the specific statutory purpose of declaring which diseases are deemed employment-related for Commonwealth workers. While the list is comprehensive and medically technical, it has not expanded beyond the original legislative intent to specify disease-employment connections for workers' compensation purposes."},"complexity_factors":["Dense tabular structure with 44 specific disease entries in Schedule 1, each with unique employment descriptors and time thresholds","Schedule 2 contains 27 categories of agents/things for occupational asthma, with numerous specific chemical compounds (e.g., 'tetramethylthiuramdisulfide', 'isophorondiamine mixture')","Variable temporal requirements creating conditional logic (e.g., 5 years for malignant diseases, 2 years for leukaemia, 1 year for mesothelioma, 12 weeks for Raynaud's, 4 weeks for asthma)","Cross-referencing between Schedule 1 (Item 31) and Schedule 2 for occupational asthma agents","Highly technical medical and chemical terminology throughout (e.g., 'primary malignant disease of the mesothelium', '2-naphthylamine', 'organophosphates')","Nested sub-lists within table cells (e.g., Item 38 lists 42 separate hepatic toxins in a single cell)"],"plain_english_summary":"**What it is:**\nThis instrument is essentially a medical matchmaking list for federal workers' compensation. It pairs specific diseases with specific types of work or chemical exposures. If you’re a federal employee (or work for certain government authorities) and you contract one of these diseases after working in the listed employment, the law **deems** (treats as a legal fact) that your disease is work-related. This means you don’t have to fight to prove that your job caused your illness—it’s presumed.\n\n**Who it affects:**\nCommonwealth employees—mainly federal public servants and workers in certain Commonwealth statutory authorities covered by the *Safety, Rehabilitation and Compensation Act 1988* (the SRC Act).\n\n**How it works:**\nThe instrument contains two big tables:\n* **Schedule 1** lists 44 diseases grouped by body system (infectious diseases, cancers, respiratory diseases, skin conditions, nerve damage, and musculoskeletal issues). For each disease, it specifies the exact employment or substance exposure that triggers the presumption. For example:\n * **Anthrax** is linked to working with animals or animal carcasses.\n * **Asbestos-related lung cancer** requires at least 5 years of work with asbestos.\n * **Occupational asthma** requires at least 4 weeks of work with specific agents listed in Schedule 2.\n* **Schedule 2** is a detailed chemical shopping list for occupational asthma, covering everything from acrylates and anhydrides to wood dusts and animal antigens.\n\n**Key conditions:**\nMany entries have **time thresholds**—you must have worked with the substance for a set period (anywhere from 4 weeks to 5 years, depending on the disease) for the presumption to apply. Some cancers require 5 years of exposure, while acute poisonings or skin conditions might only need 4 weeks.\n\n**Why it matters:**\nWithout this list, a worker with a slow-developing disease (like cancer from radiation exposure or lung disease from coal dust) would face an uphill battle proving their employment caused it. This instrument flips the burden: if you have the disease and the exposure history listed here, the connection to work is automatic, making compensation claims faster and less stressful."},"flash_summary":{"complexity_score":7,"scope_assessment":{"changed":false,"description":"This instrument exercises the statutory power in paragraph 7(1)(b) of the Safety, Rehabilitation and Compensation Act 1988 by specifying which diseases are to be treated as related to employment and the exposure tests that trigger that status. That is consistent with the Act’s original purpose (to enable specification of employment‑related diseases). The instrument does not expand the Act’s power beyond that purpose: it populates the delegated list with many diseases and detailed exposure criteria but remains within the statutory function. (The instrument was subsequently amended in 2019 to alter or add limited items, as recorded in the amendment history, but the 2017 instrument itself does not represent a change of scope beyond the Act’s delegated authority.)"},"complexity_factors":["Single instrument with two substantive schedules but large detail set (Schedule 1 contains 44 distinct items specifying diseases and exposure tests)","Schedule 2 contains 27 classes of agents with many named substances and agents (over 200 listed entries across categories)","Variable exposure thresholds across items (4 weeks, 12 weeks, 6 months, 1 year, 2 years, 5 years) requiring different evidentiary standards","Nested sub‑clauses and multiple alternative exposure routes for single diseases (e.g. tuberculosis has separate subclauses for animals, carcasses, human corpses, and persons in healthcare settings)","Cross–reference from Schedule 1 (occupational asthma item) to the detailed list in Schedule 2","Relies on factual determinations (whether work ‘involved’ particular substances or activities) rather than purely medical definitions, increasing conditional logic in application","Few defined terms in the instrument itself (only ‘Act’, ‘disease’, and ‘substance’), but heavy reliance on external statutory scheme (the Safety, Rehabilitation and Compensation Act 1988) for application and consequence","Amendment history (2019 amendments) and endnotes add layers for interpreting past and future changes","Large, itemised chemical and biological vocabularies increase risk of disputes about whether a workplace exposure matches a listed entry"],"plain_english_summary":"**What this instrument does (mechanically)**\n\n- This is a legislative instrument made under paragraph 7(1)(b) of the Safety, Rehabilitation and Compensation Act 1988 (the Act). It formally lists particular diseases and the kinds of employment exposure that are to be treated as “diseases related to employment” for the purposes of the Commonwealth workers’ compensation scheme administered under the Act (see clause 7). \n\n- The instrument takes effect from the earlier of its registration and 1 October 2017 and applies only to diseases an employee sustains on or after that commencement date (clauses 2 and 5). \n\n- The operative content is a pair of schedules: Schedule 1 sets out 44 items — named diseases grouped by class (infectious, malignant, nervous system, respiratory, hepatic, skin, musculoskeletal, acute diseases) — and, for each disease, the specific kind of employment or exposure required for that disease to be “related to employment.” The required exposures are concrete (for example: work with animals; work with asbestos; work involving specified chemicals; or minimum exposure durations such as 1 year, 5 years or 4 weeks). \n\n- Schedule 2 is a detailed list of agents and things (grouped into classes) that count for the occupational asthma entry in Schedule 1. Schedule 1 item 31 links to Schedule 2: if someone has occupational asthma and has worked at least 4 weeks with an agent or thing listed in column 2 of Schedule 2, that asthma is specified as employment‑related.\n\n**Who this affects**\n\n- Employees covered by the Commonwealth scheme (people whose work falls under the Act) who develop any of the listed diseases on or after the commencement date. \n\n- Employers and the Commonwealth compensation scheme (and their insurers or administrators) because the instrument identifies conditions that, if the exposure tests in the schedules are met, are legally treated as related to employment for entitlement and claims purposes. \n\n- Medical assessors and claims officers who must apply the listed criteria (disease + exposure type/duration) when deciding whether a disease is employment‑related under the Act.\n\n**Why this matters (practical effects and mechanics)**\n\n- The instrument creates a clear, catalogue‑style test for causation for specified diseases: if an employee develops a listed disease and the listed employment exposure is established, the disease is recognised as relating to employment under the Act. That reduces the need for claimants to prove causation from first principles in each case and provides predictable thresholds for decision makers (see clause 7 and Schedule 1). \n\n- Concrete examples of the exposure rules: several cancers require at least 5 years’ employment with ionising radiation or exposure to particular substances; mesothelioma requires at least one year of asbestos exposure; some skin and respiratory conditions require only 4 weeks’ employment involving contact with listed agents; other conditions require 12 weeks or 6 months depending on the disease and activity (see Schedule 1 items 10–44). \n\n- Schedule 2 contains numerous named allergens, chemicals, metals, biological agents and materials (27 classes), so a claimant’s work history must be checked against a long inventory of substances when assessing occupational asthma claims. \n\n**How the instrument changes incentives, costs and behaviour (light, mechanics‑focused market lens)**\n\n- Who pays: where the criteria are met the Commonwealth scheme (and ultimately employer insurance arrangements under it) will bear the cost of claims for those diseases. That concentrates identifiable liabilities on employers and the scheme for exposures captured by the schedules. \n\n- Who decides and how: claims officers and medical assessors apply the listed disease definitions and exposure tests in the schedules. Administrative decisions will focus on establishing that the employee’s work involved the specific agents, materials or tasks and met the duration thresholds. \n\n- Compliance and private‑sector response: employers who operate in industries named in the schedules (e.g. asbestos work, radiation, polymer/chemical manufacture, animal handling, healthcare) face stronger incentives to document exposures, control hazards and, potentially, adjust practices to reduce the risk of claims. That creates compliance costs (record keeping, monitoring, PPE and engineering controls) and may influence employer liability management and insurance premiums. \n\n- Litigation and evidentiary effects: the instrument reduces litigation over causation for the specified disease‑exposure pairs but shifts effort towards proving whether the exposure criteria were met. That can lower medical‑causation disputes but increase administrative disputes about past work activities and exposure histories. \n\n**Trade‑offs, costs and implementation risks**\n\n- Administrative burden: assessing historic exposure (durations, presence of named substances) can be difficult where records are incomplete or where employment was intermittent; this increases evidentiary work for claimants, employers and the scheme. \n\n- Boundary and substitution effects: the instrument is a positive list — diseases and exposures not listed remain subject to ordinary causation rules. Employers might respond by reclassifying tasks, substituting materials, or outsourcing work to alter exposure footprints; those behavioural responses are not mandated by the instrument but are feasible reactions to shifted liability. \n\n- Concentrated benefits and diffuse costs: listed worker groups (for example, asbestos‑exposed workers, radiology personnel, certain chemical plant workers) obtain clearer entitlement pathways (a concentrated beneficiary set). Broader fiscal costs are spread across the scheme and employers contributing to premiums (a more diffuse cost). \n\n- Implementation discretion and risk of disagreement: medical and factual determinations about whether a worker “worked with” a substance or material, or whether exposure met the relevant time threshold, remain case‑by‑case. That creates scope for administrative interpretation and appeals.\n\n**References to the instrument’s mechanics**\n\n- Authority and legal effect: clause 3 (authority) and clause 7 (specification of diseases related to employment) are the legal vehicles that attach these lists and tests to the Act. \n\n- Temporal scope: clause 5 (applies to diseases sustained on or after commencement). \n\n- Detailed lists and thresholds: Schedule 1 (items 1–44) and Schedule 2 (occupational asthma agents)."}},"importantCases":[],"_links":{"self":"/api/acts/safety-rehabilitation-and-compensation-specified-diseases-and-employment-instrument-2017","history":"/api/acts/safety-rehabilitation-and-compensation-specified-diseases-and-employment-instrument-2017/history","analysis":"/api/acts/safety-rehabilitation-and-compensation-specified-diseases-and-employment-instrument-2017/analysis","conflicts":"/api/acts/safety-rehabilitation-and-compensation-specified-diseases-and-employment-instrument-2017/conflicts","importantCases":"/api/acts/safety-rehabilitation-and-compensation-specified-diseases-and-employment-instrument-2017/important-cases","documents":"/api/acts/safety-rehabilitation-and-compensation-specified-diseases-and-employment-instrument-2017/documents"}}