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About the framework

Strategic linkages

This occupational disease strategy has been developed in response to the eight priority occupational diseases identified by the Australian Safety and Compensation Council, Commonwealth Department of Employment and Workplace Relations. This strategy is linked to other whole of government strategies which address the determinants of health including the National Health Priority Areas and the chronic diseases targeted in the Queensland Strategy for Chronic Disease 2005-2015. The Department of Employment and Industrial Relations will work closely with other agencies to ensure better occupational health for the people of Queensland.

Purpose

Occupational diseases may result from a variety of biological, chemical, physical and psychosocial factors that are present in the work environment or are otherwise encountered in the course of employment. These diseases usually (but not always) arise from repeated exposures to a hazard over time and, in the case of diseases of long latency, symptoms may take decades to manifest eg asbestos related lung cancer.

The purpose of the occupational disease strategy is to provide a framework for reducing the incidence of occupational disease in Queensland. This will also lead to a reduction in that portion of disease attributable to occupation and will therefore reduce the total burden of disease in Queensland. No specific targets for reduction have been set as there is under-reporting, due in part to poor recognition of the work-relatedness of occupational disease.

Vision

All Queenslanders share a vision of their workplaces being free from death, injury, and disease.

Organisational values