80 Performers’ occupational ailments

Submitted by Musicians’ Union

The fact that performers can and do suffer from a range of illnesses associated with their profession is not generally recognised. These include musculo-skeletal ailments, focal dystonia, and occupational deafness. They can affect a performer at any time during their careers and can be exacerbated by the rigours of working irregular hours, night working and being subjected to significant levels of stress.

Congress therefore asks the General Council to examine the provision of compensation under the occupational diseases scheme, as currently operated in the UK, with a view to obtaining the recognition and inclusion of occupational diseases affecting performers in the existing list of workers to be found in the Social Security (Industrial Injuries, Prescribed Diseases) Regulations, 1985.

Furthermore, Congress requests that the General Council pursues, at European level, the introduction of protective legislation to cover performers’ occupational illnesses within the European Framework Directive.