Elwood P C, McAulay I R, Elwood J H
Lancet. 1982 May 15;1(8281):1112-4. doi: 10.1016/s0140-6736(82)92289-9.
In 1961-62 a survey of respiratory symptoms in 2528 workers in flax mills in Northern Ireland and of dust levels in the mills was conducted. The workers were followed up in 1978, because recent developments suggested that an upturn in the industry was likely. Flax dust has an acute, reversible effect on the respiratory system, and byssinosis is a prescribed disease under the Industrial Injuries Act (1965). However, the follow-up study found no evidence of an effect on survival of either exposure to dust or byssinosis. The number of applications to compensation panels for assessment and certification of byssinosis has increased greatly in Northern Ireland. Although certification is independent of any subsequent common law claim by a worker for compensation on the grounds of disablement consequent on negligence by his employer, it must weight heavily in such a claim. About 50 common law claims have been settled out of court for large sums in Northern Ireland, and 950 claims are waiting to be heard. The future cost to the industry is estimated to be at least 16 million pounds. Since byssinosis appears not to cause excess mortality, it is unlikely to cause serious long-term morbidity. Although workers should be compensated for disablement due to negligence, in the absence of unequivocal evidence of disablement caused by byssinosis the financial settlements being reached in Northern Ireland seem unreasonable.
1961年至1962年期间，对北爱尔兰亚麻厂的2528名工人的呼吸道症状以及工厂内的粉尘水平进行了调查。由于近期的发展表明该行业可能会好转，这些工人在1978年接受了随访。亚麻粉尘对呼吸系统有急性、可逆的影响，棉尘病是《工业伤害法》（1965年）规定的一种疾病。然而，随访研究没有发现接触粉尘或患棉尘病对生存有影响的证据。在北爱尔兰，向赔偿委员会申请棉尘病评估和认证的人数大幅增加。虽然认证独立于工人随后基于雇主疏忽导致残疾而提出的任何普通法赔偿要求，但在这种要求中它肯定具有重要分量。在北爱尔兰，大约有50起普通法赔偿要求已在庭外以巨额款项达成和解，还有950起索赔等待审理。该行业未来的成本估计至少为1600万英镑。由于棉尘病似乎不会导致额外的死亡率，所以不太可能导致严重的长期发病率。虽然工人因疏忽导致的残疾应该得到赔偿，但在没有明确证据表明棉尘病导致残疾的情况下，北爱尔兰正在达成的财务和解似乎不合理。
