Topic: Intervention Strategy Review of

Pneumoconiosis Prepared by Association for the Rights of Industrial Accidents Victims

•   1 From helpless to self-help ( Grouping Phase)

•  2 From powerless to empowered ( Policy Advocacy Phase)•  3   From isolated to participating ( Social Networking Phase)• 4   From compensation to rehabilitation ( Maintenance Phase)

Brief History:

• From 50’s, thousands workers being engaged in the manual hand dig caisson.

• Manual labour was used

instead of machines in the

process of caisson due to

the purpose of lowering

production cost.

• Reports of deaths and injuries by the hand-dig caisson increased steadily and the number of patients suffered from silicosis elevated every year.

• Death toll by silicosis is always ranked at the top amongst other occupational diseases in Hong Kong.

• From 1981 to 2003, there were more than 4000 patients suffering from pneumoconiosis,– i.e. more than 4000 families being affected.

• Approximately over a hundred new cases are reported every year.

•

Grouping, Advocacy and the Policy Changed

• At the 80’s, the ARIAV started to work on the problems of hand-dig caisson.

• 200 accidents caused by this inhumane each year

• 21 workers died from accidents related to hand-dig caisson.(1985-1996)

Grouping, Advocacy and the Policy Changed

• From 1991, the ARIAV organized the victims and campaigned for policy change. After years of continuous efforts the government eventually introduced stringent statutory conditions for application to use the method in construction in 1996. Since then the method was nearly

extinguished in local

construction industry.

Grouping, Advocacy and the Policy Changed

• After 1996, both death and injuries from caisson become zero.

• Case no Degree of incapacity : • Before 1996 After 1996• 150  50-60%

• 100 5-10%

Compensation

• From lump-sum compensation to monthly compensation

• 1981-1993: Lump sum compensation

• 1993 to present: Monthly compensation

The process of the changing:

• Few patients sought help from ARIAV for the concerns on the compensation issue

• ARIAV organized the patients to form the self- help group. The size of group grew larger and larger through invitations inside the community.

• “WE” discussed and the needs were assessed:

• Victims lost the working capacity and the silicosis is the incurable and long life diseases, they need a lot of medical expense.

• The lump-sum compensation to patients was inadequate for living and medical expense.

The process of the changing:

The process of the changing:• ARIAV organized the self-help group

and took series of actions to strike for the compensation change from 1991 to 1993

• empower them to be involved in all the actions, which was one of the self-help approaches.

Pneumoconiosis Compensation• Monthly compensation for pain, suffering and loss of amenities

($3180)• Monthly compensation for incapacity (5%= $1000)• Compensation for incapacity prior to date of diagnosis • Compensation for care and attention ($4160/month)• Expenses for medical treatment ($200or $280 / day)• Expenses for medical appliances • Compensation for death from Pneumoconiosis (at least

$100000)• Compensation for bereavement • Funeral expenses ($35000)

• The Pneumoconiosis Compensation Ordinance also includes the rehabilitation for the patients

Social Networking and Rehabilitation

• “Fun in the Community” pneumoconiosis self help group provides the rehabilitation services, includes:

1)  Community networking:

2)  Topics: Community resources, compensation procedures, health talks, care- giver group.

3) Case counseling

4)      Community Base Rehabilitation

Program

5)      Home Base Rehabilitation Program

6)      Self management Program

7)      Exhibition of prevent Pneumoconiosis

8)      Volunteer Training

The role of ARIAV  1) Advocator    2) Organizer 3) Opinion Giver 4) Encourager 5) Facilitator 6) Educator 7) Empowerer 8) Networker 9) Rehabilitator 10) Resource Mobilizer

Outcome

• The silicosis victims empowered through the actions process, from no any compensation to have compensation monthly. One silicosis patient also becomes a board member in our organization. It represents a new phase of our organization work.

※ The end ※

Thank You