Introduction: Submission of claims for occupational diseases is the first step in the recognition of occupational diseases. It is largely unknown which factors influence the decision to submit a claim. The present study aims to evaluate this matter. Methods: Data from the statistics for occupational diseases of the federation of the institutions for accident insurance and prevention (BK-DOK) were analyzed retrospectively for the years 1950 to 2002. Results: Our results show fluctuating numbers of submissions with three maxima associated with silicosis (in 1954), noiseinduced hearing loss (in 1977) and the third in 1993 associated with an increase in several occupational diseases. Independent factors affecting the number of submissions are the number of diseases defined by law as occupational diseases and the number of insured persons. There were some indications of an independent role of some occupational diseases and the awareness of the physicians, but our data allowed no evaluation of these factors. The number of claims was not affected by the issue of data sheets for occupational diseases. The number of claims for occupational diseases as a proportion of the total number of people in work is decreasing over time. Conclusion: In conclusion, the decision to submit a claim for an occupational disease is the end point of a complicated process which is still inadequately understood. The present study describes some factors affecting this process and generates hypotheses for some more.
