The Social Security (Industrial Injuries) (Prescribed Diseases) Amendment (No.2) Regulations 2007 have today been laid before Parliament. The Regulations implement, from 1 October 2007, the recommendations set out in The Industrial Injuries Advisory Council (IIAC)'s report on Hand Arm Vibration Syndrome (command paper Cm 6098, published July 2004).

The principal recommendation made in the report was that the existing prescription for Prescribed Disease A11 be extended to recognise both the vascular and sensorineural symptoms of Hand Arm Vibration Syndrome (HAVS). This means that people who have sensorineural symptoms of the severity described in the regulations arising from working with the prescribed tools will now be covered by the terms of the prescription, whether or not they have the prescribed vascular symptoms. There are also three other minor amendments which:

clarify the existing prescription for the vascular element of Al1;

include a causal reference to the occupational exposures listed for PD A11; and

reflect a Court of Appeal judgement which has broadened the definition of forestry.