Farmers, construction workers and road workers who develop actinic keratosis during their career can now receive compensation under certain conditions. Minister of Health Frank Vandenbroucke (Vooruit) has added this precursor of skin cancer to the list of occupational diseases. This is what Het Belang van Limburg writes on Thursday.
Actinic keratosis is a rough feeling spot on the skin of a few millimeters to a few centimeters in size, which can sometimes feel painful. Such a spot occurs when the skin is exposed to sunlight for a long time. The GP or dermatologist can treat such a spot with nitrogen or with a special cream if, for example, there are several spots.
Over time, actinic keratosis can develop into skin cancer. This usually concerns a squamous cell carcinoma (wart-like lump that quickly enlarges) or a basal cell carcinoma (smooth, glassy lump that can bleed over time). These conditions are not as aggressive and are easy to treat. The chance of metastasis to other organs is small.
People who work outdoors are more likely to contract actinic keratosis due to extensive exposure to UV rays. After research by the Federal Agency for Occupational Risks Fedris, Minister Vandenbroucke has decided to include the disease in the list of occupational diseases. The relevant Royal Decree was published in the Belgian Official Gazette on Wednesday.
This means that the disease can now be recognized as an occupational disease in employees who are exposed to a professional risk. This concerns typical outdoor professions such as farmer and horticulturist, tree and fruit grower, lumberjack and nature/forest manager, fisherman, construction worker, roofer and mechanic in steel construction.
Conditions
The KB does impose some conditions. For example, the person concerned must have worked outside for at least 20,000 hours during his career. This calculation will take into account working days from May to September. The sunny days in the other months are offset by the rainy days in the summer. Converted, an employee must have practiced his profession for approximately 25 years before you can speak of a professional risk.
An additional condition is that there must be at least six actinic keratoses per skin area exposed to the sun.
