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ATA/604/1997•Causal link and occupational disease under accident insurance
ATA/604/1997Court of Justice / Administrative ChamberOct 7, 1997
Extracted by Omnilex
The court accepted that inhalation of the product caused the claimant's eye and hand irritation, tingling, and major sleep problems. It held that the CNA could not refuse to decide on work unfitness merely because preventive safety measures had reduced the danger, since the claimant continued to suffer symptoms despite those measures. The causal relationship was therefore recognized, and the CNA's restrictive position was rejected.
Art. 9 al. 2 LAA; occupational disease and causal link: the causal connection between exposure to a harmful substance and ensuing symptoms may be admitted where the medical findings and temporal sequence support it, even if preventive measures at the workplace reduce the intensity of the complaints. The insurer cannot deny recognition of work unfitness solely on the ground that the insured's health was not seriously endangered by the continued activity, when exposure nevertheless produces concrete symptoms despite extensive protective measures (consid. 2-4).
Descripteurs
ASSURANCE SOCIALE; ACCIDENT; AA; CAUSALITE ADEQUATE; CAUSALITE NATURELLE; MALADIE PROFESSIONNELLE; INCAPACITE DE TRAVAIL; ETAT ANTERIEUR; FRAIS(EN GENERAL); SOINS MEDICAUX; ASSU
Normes
LAA.9 al.2
Résumé
Le lien de causalité a été admis entre l'inhalation du produit et des irritations aux yeux et aux mains, des fourmillements et d'importants troubles du sommeil. La CNA ne peut refuser de prendre une décision d'inaptitude au motif que la santé du recourant n'était pas sérieusement menacée par la poursuite de l'activité exercée jusqu'alors, une importante quantité de mesures ayant été prises pour écarter toute menace. Ces mesures de sécurité n'ont pas empêché le recourant de ressentir des symptômes, même si ceux-ci étaient moins importants.
Extracted by Omnilex
Whether the inhalation and the claimant's symptoms were causally linked for accident insurance purposes.
The causal link was admitted between the inhalation of the product and the eye and hand irritation, tingling, and significant sleep disorders.
The court accepted that the symptoms followed the exposure and that the preventive measures taken at work did not eliminate the symptoms, even if they reduced them.
Whether the CNA could refuse to recognize work unfitness on the ground that the claimant's health was not seriously threatened by continuing the activity.
No. The CNA could not refuse on that basis simply because extensive safety measures had been taken to eliminate the danger.
A substantial number of protective measures had been implemented, but they did not prevent the claimant from experiencing symptoms; reduced intensity of symptoms does not negate the existence of a relevant health impairment.
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