Compensation for Occupational Injuries and Diseases Act, 1993 (Act No. 130 of 1993)

Circular Instructions

Circular Instruction No. 184 - Compensation for Work Aggravated Asthma

3. Impairment
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3.1It is recommended that all employees with pre-existing asthma have baseline impairment score before entering a workplace that poses a high risk of aggravating asthma. The baseline impairment will be based on lung function tests (FEV1 % Predicted) and medication prescribed to control asthma at the time of employment or before diagnosis of work-aggravated asthma.

 

3.2Assessment of impairment shall be determined after the employee’s asthmatic symptoms have stabilised. Assessment of impairment should be determined after at least 3 weeks of removal from exposure.

 

3.3The degree of impairment will be evaluated based on lung function tests and the history of medication prescribed to control asthma. Original copies of lung function tests performed must be submitted to enable the Medical Officers to consider the acceptability of the quality of these tests. A test carried out after the administration of a bronchodilator must be included. The impairment score will be determined by the two parameters (post bronchodilator FEV1 and medication requirements), each contributing to the compilation of a score, which determines the permanent disablement of a claimant.

 

Table 1 : Parameter 1 : Postbronchodilator FEV1

Score

FEV1 % Predicted

0

> lower limit of normal (80)

1

70 – lower limit of normal

2

60 - 69

3

50 - 59

4

< 50

 

Table 2 : Parameter 2 : Minimum Medication Prescribed

Score

Medication

0

NO medication

1

Occasional bronchodilator, not daily

2

Occasional or daily bronchodilators and/or daily low-dose inhaled steroid (<800 micrograms beclomethasone or equivalent)

3

Daily bronchodilator and/or daily high dose inhaled steroid (>800 micrograms beclomethasone or equivalent) and occasional (1–3/year) course oral steroid.

Daily bronchodilator and/or daily high dose inhaled steroid (>800 micrograms beclomethasone or equivalent) and frequent (>3/year) course systemic steroid or daily oral steroid.