Abroad|29/01/18

SPAIN: First legal action for the recognition of asbestos-related anxiety disorders as an occupational disease

Home > The news of EUROGIP and occupational risks in Europe > SPAIN: First legal action for the recognition of asbestos-related anxiety disorders as an occupational disease

According to the Col·lectiu Ronda team of lawyers, five workers have brought the first legal action demanding the recognition of anxiety and depressive disorders as an occupational disease. More specifically, they claim damages for the anxiety caused by asbestos exposure and the prospect of being subjected to regular medical check-ups for the rest of their lives. This anxiety would not have occurred “if the sued firm had met its obligations of risk prevention and safety at work”, they explain.

The team of lawyers reported that since the start of this year the firm had received a total of 17 court decisions, including some coming from the Tribunal Supremo (the highest judicial authority in Spain), which declared it responsible for the death or disease of former workers caused by asbestos exposure without protective measures.

To find out more (in Spanish)

Discover other news

Abroad

27/06/24

AUSTRIA: More accidents at work and on the way to work in 2023

According to data published by the Austrian Social insurance for occupational injuries (AUVA) in mid-June, 145,748 claims were registered last year, broken down as follows 29,866 accidents (at work and and students), 13,062 commuting accidents and 2,820 cases of occupational diseases. While the number of accidents (at work and on the way to work) has increased, the number of occupational diseases has decreased compared to 2022.

Abroad

27/06/24

GERMANY: in 2023, the number of fatal accidents at work and commuting accidents was lower than ever before

The number of accidents at work in 2023 to declare was lower than in 2019: 783,426 compared with 871,547. This is a record number if we exclude the years 2020 to 2022, which were heavily influenced by the Covid-19 pandemic. The number of fatal accidents at work and on the way to work was also at an all-time low, and the number of occupational diseases reported and recognised fell sharply.

Abroad

27/06/24

DENMARK: faster processing of workers’ compensation claims

New rules, which come into force on 1 July, are designed to give victims of accidents at work a quicker response to their claim for compensation. From now on, employers, doctors and local authorities will be liable to a fine if they fail to provide information within the statutory time limit, i.e. no later than 14 days after the first day of absence, if the accident has resulted in the employee being unable to work or absent from work after the day of the accident.