These Regulations further amend the Social Security (Industrial Injuries) (Prescribed Diseases) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1986 by—

• amending regulation 2(a) and adding regulation 2(e) which provides that benefit in respect of disease number A2 (heat cataract) shall not be paid unless the claimant has been employed in a relevant prescribed occupation over a minimum aggregate period of 5 years (regulation 2(2));

• amending regulations 23, 25 and 34 in respect of references to “worked”, “been employed” and “be employed” (regulation 2(3), (4) and (5));

• substituting the prescription of disease number A1 (inflammation, ulceration or malignant disease of the skin) and providing that the dose of ionising radiation is sufficient to double the risk of occurrence (regulation 2(6)(a));

• amending disease number A2 by removing the reference to “Heat” and providing that the exposure must be to red-hot or white-hot material (regulation 2(6)(b)); and

• amending disease number D12 (chronic bronchitis or emphysema) by specifying formulae for the calculation of forced expiratory volume, which differ depending on the gender of the person being tested and the form of testing used (regulation 2(6)(c)).

• Regulation 3 contains transitional provision.

These Regulations make in relation to Northern Ireland only provision corresponding to provision contained in Regulations made by the Secretary of State for Social Security in relation to Great Britain and accordingly, by virtue of section 149(3) of, and paragraph 7 of Schedule 5A to, the Social Security Administration (Northern Ireland) Act 1992 (c. 8), are not subject to the requirement of section 149(2A) of that Act for prior reference to the Industrial Injuries Advisory Council.

These Regulations do not impose a charge on business.