Which statement best defines Occupational Disease?

• A. A disease caused by environmental exposure unrelated to work
• B. A disease that results from an injury caused by a fall
• C. A disease due to causes and conditions characteristic to a particular trade, occupation or employment
• D. A disease that affects only casual workers

Answer: (C)

Occupational disease is a disease caused by causes and conditions characteristic to a particular trade, occupation or employment, arising out of and in the course of work. The illness comes from the hazards and exposures specific to the job, often developing over time rather than from a single incident. This links the condition to the worker’s occupation, not to events outside work or to acute injuries like a fall. It isn’t defined by who workers are (such as casual workers) but by the relationship between the disease and the occupation.