Section 27.1 - Occupational diseases; definitionsThe term "occupational disease," as used in this act, shall mean only the following diseases.
(a) Poisoning by arsenic, lead, mercury, manganese, or beryllium, their preparations or compounds, in any occupation involving direct contact with, handling thereof, or exposure thereto.(b) Poisoning by phosphorus, its preparations or compounds, in any occupation involving direct contact with, handling thereof, or exposure thereto.(c) Poisoning by methanol, carbon disulfide, carbon monoxide, hydrocarbon distillates (naphthas and others) or halogenated hydrocarbons, toluene diisocyanate (T.D.1.) or any preparations containing these chemicals or any of them, in any occupation involving direct contact with, handling thereof, or exposure thereto.(d) Poisoning by benzol, or by nitro, amido, or amino derivatives of benzol (dinitro-benzol, aniline, and others), or their preparations or compounds, in any occupation involving direct contact with, handling thereof, or exposure thereto.(e) Caisson disease (compressed air illness) resulting from engaging in any occupation carried on in compressed air.(f) Radium poisoning or disability, due to radioactive properties of substances or to Roentgen-ray (X-rays) in any occupation involving direct contact with, handling thereof, or exposure thereto.(g) Poisoning by, or ulceration from chronic acid, or bichromate of ammonium, bichromate of potassium, or bichromate of sodium, or their preparations, in any occupation involving direct contact with, handling thereof, or exposure thereto.(h) Epitheliomatous cancer or ulceration due to tar, pitch, bitumen, mineral oil, or paraffin, or any compound, product or residue of any of those substances, in any occupation involving direct contact with, handling thereof, or exposure thereto.(i) Infection or inflammation of the skin due to oils, cutting compounds, lubricants, dust, liquids, fumes, gasses, or vapor, in any occupation involving direct contact with, handling thereof, or exposure thereto.(j) Anthrax occurring in any occupation involving the handling of, or exposure to wool, hair, bristles, hides, or skins, or bodies of animals either alive or dead.(k) Silicosis in any occupation involving direct contact with, handling of, or exposure to the dust of silicon dioxide.(l) Asbestosis and cancer resulting from direct contact with, handling of, or exposure to the dust of asbestos in any occupation involving such contact, handling or exposure.(m) Tuberculosis, serum hepatitis, infectious hepatitis or hepatitis C in the occupations of blood processors, fractionators, nursing, or auxiliary services involving exposure to such diseases.(m.1) Hepatitis C in the occupations of professional and volunteer firefighters, volunteer ambulance corps personnel, volunteer rescue and lifesaving squad personnel, emergency medical services personnel and paramedics, Pennsylvania State Police officers, police officers requiring certification under 53 Pa.C.S. Ch. 21 (relating to employees), and Commonwealth and county correctional employes, and forensic security employes of the Department of Public Welfare, having duties including care, custody and control of inmates involving exposure to such disease. Hepatitis C in any of these occupations shall establish a presumption that such disease is an occupational disease within the meaning of this act, but this presumption shall not be conclusive and may be rebutted. This presumption shall be rebutted if the employer has established an employment screening program, in accordance with guidelines established by the department in coordination with the Department of Health and the Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency and published in the Pennsylvania Bulletin, and testing pursuant to that program establishes that the employe incurred the Hepatitis C virus prior to any job-related exposure.(n) All other diseases (1) to which the claimant is exposed by reason of his employment, and (2) which are causally related to the industry or occupation, and (3) the incidence of which is substantially greater in that industry or occupation than in the general population. For the purposes of this clause, partial loss of hearing in one or both ears due to noise; and the diseases silicosis, anthraco-silicosis and coal workers' pneumoconiosis resulting from employment in and around a coal mine, shall not be considered occupational diseases.(o) Diseases of the heart and lungs, resulting in either temporary or permanent total or partial disability or death, after four years or more of service in fire fighting for the benefit or safety of the public, caused by extreme over-exertion in times of stress or danger or by exposure to heat, smoke, fumes or gasses, arising directly out of the employment of any such firemen.(p) Byssinosis in any occupation involving direct contact with, handling of, or exposure to cotton dust, cotton materials, or cotton fibers.(q) Coal worker's pneumoconiosis, anthraco-silicosis and silicosis (also known as miner's asthma or black lung) in any occupation involving direct contact with, handling of or exposure to the dust of anthracite or bituminous coal.(r) Cancer suffered by a firefighter which is caused by exposure to a known carcinogen which is recognized as a Group 1 carcinogen by the International Agency for Research on Cancer.1915, June 2, P.L. 736, art. I, § 108, added 1972, Oct. 17, P.L. 930, No. 223, § 1, imd. effective. Amended 1972, Dec. 6, P.L. 1627, No. 337, § 1, imd. effective; 1974, April 4, P.L. 239, No. 56, § 1, effective in 90 days; 1976, July 9, P.L. 935, No. 180, § 1, imd. effective; 2001, Dec. 20, P.L. 967, No. 115, § 1, imd. effective; 2011, July 7, P.L. 251, No. 46, § 1, imd. effective.