The Faroese Workers’ Union has helped members receive compensation for occupational diseases.
An occupational disease is a disease or disorder, which is caused by the work or the working environment. You can work in bad conditions for a long time before you become aware of the health implications this has on you. Occupational disease can be hearing damage, back problems, lifting damage, etc. Sailors, workers in fish factories, cleaning personnel and others that have physically hard labour often end up with an occupational disease.
An occupational disease is not the same as a work injury, which is an accident that happens in the workplace. An occupational disease often comes more gradually. If you are in doubt whether you are suffering from an occupational disease, then you can contact the union or the occupational disease fund – see also www.vsg.fo.