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This reminds me of other areas where something 'new' is expected to jump over higher hurdles than accepted matters.  What is the standard of proof of  a dermatitis or back pain being work-induced?  I am not questioning that they are but pointing out that a reasonable assessment and attribution is made for them and can be made for work- induced mental ill-health.  As for defining mental illness, there are recognised categories of illness that are reliably diagnosed; in particular anxiety and depression are normally seen as the mental illnesses we associate with stress.  As to the notion that "psychiatric damage" is of a lesser status, do we not have the Walker ruling on this?
 
Kevin
 
 
-----Original Message-----
From: Sara Werry [mailto:[log in to unmask]]
Sent: 01 November 2004 12:39
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: Stress & Riddor

Hi
 
What needs to be asked is where in the terms of reference/criteria for a work related disease does it state that RIDDOR is only applicable to physical work related diseases? If it doesn't then there is little argument not to include work related mental health illness.
 
I think the problem would be in defining and being able to prove mental illness was definitely work related, what would be the use of an influx of ill defined reports, how valid would this be?  
 
Sara   
 
 
 
Sara Werry
Occupational Health Adviser
Occupational Health Service
University of East Anglia
Norwich, NR4 7TJ
Tel: (01603) 592174
Fax: (01603) 506579
-----Original Message-----
From: Aziz, Bashyr [mailto:[log in to unmask]]
Sent: 01 November 2004 12:07
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Stress & Riddor

Hello

I just picked this message up at another website.  Any comments?

***************************

I recently contacted the HSE to query whether stress-related illness or psychiatric injury could be construed as reportable under RIDDOR.  I received the following reply:

"The following information has been provided by the Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences (RIDDOR) Operations Unit, Bootle.

Stress is not reportable at all, not even as an over 3 day injury, because it is a mental state."

However, I think most stress experts would find this reason untenable, as their is a general consensus that stress, and related psychiatric conditions, are *both* physical and mental.  For example, i ) stress is often viewed as a physiological and neurological state, ii) stress has well-documented physical symptoms and effects.  The NHS and Royal College of Psychiatrists, e.g., acknowledge that stress has physical as well as physical symptoms.

Just curious as to what others make of this.  Do you think that stress can be classed as a mental state, as a opposed to a physical one, or do you think doing so is incorrect?

***************************


Bashyr Aziz                Telephone: 01902 518632
Senior Lecturer
School of Health - MH113
University of Wolverhampton
Molineux Street
Wolverhampton
WV1 1SB

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