The Occupational Physician’s liability for failure to report occupational diseases

Abstract

The importance of this article lies in determining the fault for the notification of a work-related occupational disease, why it is omitted and whose responsibility it is, it will be for the Occupational Health professional if he made the correct diagnosis or for the companies where a worker works. Occupational or Occupational Diseases are of vital importance due to the repercussions for the worker, generating changes in work performance, health status, economic expenses and the affectation to the family environment that depends on him/her. Health controls of workers in public and private companies are developed through a periodic health surveillance plan that includes methods to evaluate, detect and control changes that may occur during work activities. The chronic affectation of work-related health, despite compliance with medical surveillance, training in risk prevention and disease prevention and adequate work site, may be considered presumptive of occupational disease, if it meets the evaluation criteria. The suspected case is reported to the authorities of the companies to proceed to notify the control entity in the country concerned. In Ecuador, the department of Occupational Risks of the Ecuadorian Institute of Social Security IESS.