Explanatory note

These Regulations amend Part I of Schedule 1 to the Social Security (Industrial Injuries) (Prescribed Diseases) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1986, which prescribes diseases for which industrial injuries benefit is payable.

Regulation 2(2) amends prescribed disease A4 by replacing “Cramp of the hand or forearm due to repetitive movements” with “Task-specific focal dystonia”.

Regulation 2(3), (4) and (5) amends prescribed diseases A5, A6 and A7 by omitting the references to “beat hand”, “beat knee” and “beat elbow”. These terms are historical descriptions and are not widely used in modern clinical practice.

Regulation 2(6) omits prescribed disease A9, as miner’s nystagmus was a condition caused by poor lighting in mines and no longer occurs.

Regulation 2(7) amends prescribed disease A12 to reflect that symptoms are expected to begin in the job in which hand-held powered tools are used, and to extend the terms of prescription on the basis of activity in the job.

Regulation 2(8) amends prescribed disease B6 by extending the occupations to include work involving exposure to metalworking fluid mists.

Regulation 3 makes transitional provision so that the amendments made to Schedule 1 by regulation 2 do not apply to claims made before these Regulations come into operation.

Regulation 4 makes a consequential revocation.

These Regulations correspond to provision contained in Regulations made by the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions in relation to Great Britain and accordingly, by virtue of section 149(3) of, and paragraph 7 of Schedule 5A to, the Social Security Administration (Northern Ireland) Act 1992 (c. 8), are not subject to the requirement of section 149(2A) of that Act for prior reference to the Industrial Injuries Advisory Council.