Virginia bill would make repetitive trauma an occupational illness

Virginia lawmakers are considering legislation that would classify injuries caused by repetitive trauma as occupational illnesses.

S.B. 1112, which now sits with the Senate Commerce and Labor Committee, states that occupational diseases would include “injuries or diseases from conditions resulting from repetitive and sustained physical stressors, including repetitive and sustained motions, exertions, posture stresses, contact stresses, vibrations, or noises.”

The bill also states that such “repetitive and sustained physical stress is not required to have occurred over a particular period of time, so long as the period of time over which such physical stress occurred can be reasonably identified.”

The bill also amends workers comp law to eliminate language that defines carpel tunnel syndrome and hearing loss as “ordinary diseases of life.”