The government is reviewing the list of occupational diseases in Schedule 2 of the Accident Compensation Act for the first time in 15 years. Photo: RNZ / Angus Dreaver
Women could get better access to ACC support as the government looks at expanding the scheme's list of occupational diseases.
The list is being reviewed for the first time in 15 years.
"We know that there has been inequitable access" - Minister for ACC Peeni Henare
It covers work injuries or illnesses that develop over time and includes single exposure events like infections.
ACC Minister Peeni Henare said it was important the system was working for all New Zealanders.
"We know that women make fewer claims to ACC than men, have fewer injuries covered by the scheme than men, and each woman's claim cost the scheme a third less than a man's, on average, in entitlements," he said in a statement.
"Most of the occupational health research internationally and in Aotearoa New Zealand is focused on men. We can better support women if we understand what diseases they are experiencing in the workplace and highlight where we need to know more."
Public submissions on the review were encouraged.
"Kiwi workers' experience will be an important part of updating the list. Workers don't have much control over work tasks or environments that over time could cause disease, illness or injury," Henare said.
"We want to make sure access to ACC cover involves the right occupational diseases."
Submissions open today and will run for six weeks to 17 May.
The International Labour Organisation's List of Occupational Diseases and the latest occupational health research will also be used to inform the review, which will be assessed by medical experts.
The review is part of an ongoing effort to modernise the compensation system.
'The world's changed significantly'
Henare told Morning Report the review panel wanted to hear from workforces dominated by female workers and spaces that "just simply weren't considered" 15 years ago.
"We know that the world's changed significantly, not just in that time but also since the act was first written 50 years ago, where a lot of the cover was for labour-intensive work."
He said the aim was to ensure the ACC scheme better reflected the country's current workforce.
"We know that there has been inequitable access to the scheme for women and for other population groups, so this is one of those processes to make sure that Schedule 2 in the legislation better reflects the current workplace and workforce."
Schedule 2 of the ACC Act names 41 gradual process injuries - ranging from slow-growing cancers caused by repeated chemical exposure, to infections such as brucellosis caused by working with animals or their carcasses, which are automatically covered under the act.
Henare said the review process would consider whether other injuries or diseases should be added to the schedule.
"It's a process whereby, with the right medical support and research, ACC consider these diseases to be put onto Schedule 2."
There was already a provision in the legislation allowing people with conditions not listed on the schedule to apply for coverage, he said, "but then you've got to prove that the injury or the disease was caused through the workplace and through the work that you do".
"Some have made it above the high bar and have been covered, plenty haven't.
"What we're doing with this particular process is making sure that all of the medical experts and the medical advice that's needed to back up a claim to be on the Schedule 2 Occupational Diseases list can be considered."