The procedure for certifying an occupational disease is triggered whenever a doctor diagnoses a suspected or worsening occupational disease in a patient/worker and sends the Mandatory Reporting form (GDP 13 – DGSS) to the Occupational Risk Protection Department of the Social Security Institute, I.P. (DPRP/ISS).
Any doctor (e.g. an occupational doctor, family doctor or other doctor) can start this circuit by making the Compulsory Participation, although the occupational doctor, who is responsible for monitoring workers’ health, is usually the one who gathers the most information about the work-health-disease relationship to start this process.
The procedure involves issuing a compulsory report with the submission of specific forms (the doctor must fill in GDP 12 and GDP 13 must be filled in by the worker and the company) to the social security office, accompanied by the complementary examinations that make it possible to document the complaints and/or injuries.
All documentation must be delivered by the worker to the social security office in their area of residence.
Documents should preferably be submitted in person, although they can also be sent online.
The occupational doctor notifies the employer and must keep evidence of the entire process.
The process is finalized with the acceptance or rejection of the occupational disease at the Department for the Prevention of Occupational Risks (DPRP) with a medical board that will analyze the entire process and submit the worker to a face-to-face clinical evaluation.
Once the occupational disease has been diagnosed, there are several possible outcomes for classifying the worker’s incapacity:
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Temporary partial incapacity for work (ITP);
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Absolute temporary incapacity for work (ITA);
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Permanent partial incapacity for work (PPI);
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Absolute permanent incapacity for normal work;
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Absolute permanent incapacity for any and all work.
Workers diagnosed with an occupational disease go on sick leave classified as “occupational sick leave” and receive appropriate medical treatment and, if necessary, rehabilitation programs to help them recover and return to work, when and if possible.
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