Amendment Statement of Principles concerning myelodysplastic syndrome (Reasonable Hypothesis) (No. 35 of 2016) (Cth)

Amendment Statement of Principles

concerning

MYELODYSPLASTIC SYNDROME
(Reasonable Hypothesis)

(No. 35 of 2016)

The Repatriation Medical Authority determines the following Amendment Statement of Principles under subsections 196B(2) and (8) of the Veterans’ Entitlements Act 1986.

Dated    4 March        2016

The Common Seal of the
Repatriation Medical Authority
was affixed to this instrument
at the direction of:

Professor Nicholas Saunders AO
Chairperson

Contents

1Name........................................................................................................................................... 3

2Commencement........................................................................................................................ 3

3Authority..................................................................................................................................... 3

4Application................................................................................................................................. 3

5Amendment............................................................................................................................... 3

1. Name

   This is the Amendment Statement of Principles concerning myelodysplastic syndrome (Reasonable Hypothesis) (No. 35 of 2016).

2. Commencement

   This instrument commences on 4 April 2016.

3. Authority

   This instrument is made under subsections 196B(2) and (8) of the Veterans’ Entitlements Act 1986.

4. Application

   This instrument applies to a claim to which section 120A of the Veterans’ Entitlements Act 1986 or section 338 of the Military Rehabilitation and Compensation Act 2004 applies.

5. Amendment

   The Statement of Principles concerning myelodysplastic syndrome and death from myelodysplastic syndrome No. 73 of 2015 is amended in the following manner:

Section

Amendment

9(6)

Replace the existing factor in subsection 9(6) with the following:

being exposed to benzene as specified:

(a)      for a cumulative total of at least 1 250 hours within a continuous period of five years before the clinical onset of myelodysplastic syndrome; and

(b)     where the first exposure in that period occurred at least five years before the clinical onset of myelodysplastic syndrome;

Note: being exposed to benzene as specified is defined in the Schedule 1 - Dictionary.

Schedule 1 – Dictionary

Replace the definition of "being exposed to benzene" with the definition of "being exposed to benzene as specified" as follows:

being exposed to benzene as specified means:

(a)      having cutaneous contact with liquids containing benzene greater than 1% by volume; or

(b)     ingesting liquids containing benzene greater than 1% by volume; or

(c)      inhaling benzene vapour where such exposure occurs at an ambient 8-hour time-weighted average benzene concentration exceeding five parts per million.

Note: 8-hour time-weighted average is also defined in the Schedule 1 - Dictionary.