Advice in cases of suspected occupational disease
The SBK will support you if you suspect that you have an occupational disease
Occupational diseases are illnesses that people suffer as a result of their professional activities. They can be caused by a wide variety of harmful effects on health. These can include certain chemicals, noise or dust, for example. Effects such as pressure, vibrations or carrying heavy loads can also lead to occupational diseases. Occupational diseases are listed
What happens if an occupational disease is suspected?
Doctors and employers are obliged to report suspected occupational diseases to the statutory accident insurance provider. We are also required to pass on any relevant information if we suspect that one of our insured persons has an occupational disease.
In principle, if an occupational disease is suspected, the accident insurance provider conducts an investigation to determine whether the effects of the work are actually the cause of the disease. To this end, the accident insurance provider sends questionnaires to the sick person and the company, but personal interviews and examinations at the workplace may also take place. Ultimately, the accident insurance provider decides whether the disease is recognised as an occupational disease.
We support you
If you suspect that you have an occupational disease, you can contact your personal SBK consultant directly. You can find the contact details here. We will then take care of everything else for you and support you throughout the process.
If we ourselves suspect that you may have an occupational disease, we will contact you. This is because it is important for us and for the accident insurance provider to know whether and for how long you may have been exposed to a significant health risk through your work. This will enable us to find solutions together.
Good to know:
Since 1 January 2021, professional associations have been required to review whether they previously rejected occupational diseases because insured persons did not give up the activity that caused the illness. There were occupational diseases that were only recognised if the insured persons gave up the activity that led to the illness. The legislature has changed this. It is therefore possible that an occupational disease that was previously rejected can now be recognised retroactively. If you believe that you belong to this group of people, please contact your personal SBK consultant.
