Declaring an occupational disease
Last update
Who is concerned?
An insured person is deemed to be diagnosed with an occupational disease if they suffer from an illness:
- directly linked to exposure to a risk factor, or;
- due to hazardous working conditions.
It should be noted that in the event of the death of the insured person, the beneficiaries can take action and claim damages in direct relation to the occupational illness.
Prerequisites
For a salaried worker to be recognized as suffering from an occupational illness, they must suffer from a condition caused directly:
- by more or less prolonged exposure to a physical, chemical or biological hazard; or
- within the framework of the normal pursuit of a profession; or
- by working conditions.
Deadlines
The insured person or the beneficiary must submit an application for recognition of an occupational illness within one year.
This period starts on the day on which the insured or beneficiary becomes aware of the occupational origin of the disease.
After the expiry of this one year period, the application is admissible only if the person concerned:
- proves that the consequences of the illness, in terms of the victim's working capacity, could only be ascertained later;
- was physically unable to file their request, due to reasons beyond their control.
How to proceed
Declaring an occupational illness
Insured persons must have their general practitioner complete a medical declaration of an occupational illness (French, Pdf, 1.33 Mb) if said physician has determined that the illness is mainly caused by the occupational activity.
Declarants are invited to consult our tutorial regarding the use of PDF forms.
The doctor fills out the form and sends it to the Accident Insurance Association (Association d'assurances accident - AAA).
The medical declaration must indicate:
- a precise medical diagnosis of the illness suspected to have its origin in the professional activity;
- where appropriate, the reference number of the illness as listed in the table of occupational illnesses (French, Pdf, 181 Kb) (tableau des maladies professionnelles);
- an indication of occupational risk factors that are likely to be at the origin of the illness;
- medical documents establishing the declared illness.
The physician gives a copy of the medical declaration to the patient.
Note that the physician must complete a separate declaration for each illness diagnosed. The AAA's investigation of the case is limited to the illness reported in the medical declaration.
After receiving the medical declaration, the AAA sends an employer's declaration to the employer to obtain more information regarding the insured's professional activity.
Where necessary, any further medical or technical information required will be added to the medical declaration by either:
- the attending physician; or
- experts; or
- the employer who is required to provide all information regarding the risk exposure.
The AAA then checks the insured's career path. Depending on the medical complexity of the case, a medical expertise and technical investigations may be conducted. The AAA can request any additional document they deem necessary.
If the insured person or their attending physician suspect an exposure to asbestos, the AAA will send them a specific questionnaire.
Once the file is complete, the AAA analyses the file together with the Social Security Medical Board to decide whether it will cover the occupational disease or not.
If the insured person's illness is a recognised illness of occupational origin, the AAA will inform them by simple letter.
In case of a refusal of coverage, the AAA issues a motivated presidential decision to the insured.
Proving the occupational origin of the illness
The insured must respect 2 levels of proof.
First, the insured person who claims to be the victim of an occupational illness must prove that he has been exposed to a specific risk that is deemed to be the determining cause of the illness.
Secondly, if the insured proves the connection, it is necessary to distinguish between illnesses listed in the table of occupational illnesses (French, Pdf, 181 Kb) and those that are not.
If the illness is listed in the table of occupational illnesses, the occupational origin shall be presumed to exist.
If the illness is not listed in the table of occupational illnesses, the insured person must prove:
- the existence of the occupational risk;
- the causal link between occupational risk and illness.
Proving the simple possibility of a causal link is not enough. The insured must prove a probability approaching certainty.
The recognition of certain illnesses listed in the table of occupational diseases is subject to additional legal conditions (such as: the cessation of the professional activity causing the illness).
Benefits that can be claimed due to occupational illnesses
Any insured person may claim the following benefits if the occupational illness is covered by the Accident Insurance Association:
- coverage of:
- benefits in kind consisting in the coverage of the cost of healthcare attributed to an occupational illness;
- benefits in cash in the event of total incapacity for work, for the first 78 weeks, corresponding to the payment of the insured party's salary and other benefits during the period of incapacity for work;
- payment of a:
- full annuity in the event of total incapacity for work, provided the insured is not entitled to sickness benefits, or if the right to sickness benefits has expired;
- partial annuity in the event of partial incapacity for work with loss of salary;
- waiting-period allowance in the event of a job redeployment;
- compensation for non-patrimonial damages.
If the insured dies as a result of a recognized occupational illness, rightful claimants may apply for the following benefits:
- payment of a survivor's pension;
- payment of a compensation for non-pecuniary damages.
Appeal
Interested parties have several means of appeal at their disposal to assert their rights.
Online services and forms
Who to contact
Accident Insurance Association
-
Accident Insurance Association
- Address:
-
4, rue Mercier
L-2144
Luxembourg
Luxembourg
L-2976 Luxembourg
- Phone:
- (+352) 26 19 15 1
- Website:
- http://www.aaa.lu
Desk opening hours (with or without booking an appointment via MyGuichet.lu):
Open Closes at 12.00
- Monday:
- 8.00 to 12.00
- Tuesday:
- 8.00 to 12.00
- Wednesday:
- 8.00 to 12.00
- Thursday:
- 8.00 to 12.00
- Friday:
- 8.00 to 12.00
- Saturday:
- Closed
- Sunday:
- Closed
-
Benefits department
- Address:
- Phone:
- (+352) 261915 2000
- Fax:
- (+352) 49 53 35
- Email address:
- prestations.aaa@secu.lu
Related procedures and links
Procedures
Links
Further information
Legal references
- Code de la sécurité sociale - Livre II
-
Règlement grand-ducal modifié du 17 décembre 2010
déterminant la procédure de déclaration des accidents et précisant la prise en charge de certaines prestations par l'assurance accident
An error occurred
Oops, an error has been detected during your form processing.