Dust, noise, and chemical toxins often cause irreversible harm (for example pneumoconiosis and noise-induced deafness): the employer must supply protective gear, and you can refuse work with no protections

Pneumoconiosis, noise-induced deafness, and chemical eye burns are all statutory occupational diseases. Once lungs or hearing are damaged, they cannot be restored. You have the right to know what hazards the job carries and to demand protective facilities and personal protective equipment from the employer. You may refuse work without protections. Pay cuts or dismissal for using these rights do not count.

Cost

No cost. The hard part is wearing particulate respirators, earplugs, and safety goggles consistently, and refusing unprotected tasks—coworkers may call you picky.

Benefit

The statutory list of occupational diseases, effective 1 August 2025, has 12 major categories and 135 conditions, including 4 open-ended clauses. The first category is occupational pneumoconiosis. It covers silicosis, coal workers' pneumoconiosis, graphite pneumoconiosis, carbon black pneumoconiosis, asbestosis, and talc pneumoconiosis. Also cement pneumoconiosis, mica pneumoconiosis, potter's pneumoconiosis, aluminum pneumoconiosis, welder's pneumoconiosis, and foundry worker's pneumoconiosis, plus one open-ended clause. Occupational ear, nose, throat, and oral diseases include noise-induced deafness and blast-induced deafness. Occupational eye diseases include chemical eye burns and welder's flash keratitis. Harm from pneumoconiosis and noise-induced deafness is permanent. The US National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) states that silicosis is permanent lung damage that progresses over time, with no known cure. A Lancet review states that after patients stop dust exposure, lung function can still worsen as the disease progresses. The US Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) states that noise-induced hearing loss is permanent and cannot be corrected by surgery or drugs. The law gives four rights you can cite on the spot. First, to know what occupational disease hazards exist in the workplace, what consequences they can cause, and what protective measures are required. Second, to demand qualified protective facilities and personal protective equipment and improved working conditions. Third, to criticize, report, and complain about violations of occupational disease prevention law and practices that endanger life and health. Fourth, “refuse unlawful orders and forced work without occupational disease protections”—you may refuse noncompliant orders and unprotected tasks. And “any reduction of wages, benefits, or other treatment, or termination or ending of the labor contract, because the worker lawfully exercised proper rights is void.” Pay cuts, benefit cuts, or dismissal for exercising these rights do not count (nationwide)

Notes

Choose the right mask: dusty posts need particulate respirators—that is author experience. If the employer does not issue earplugs in noisy jobs, buy your own for a few yuan a pair; lost hearing cannot be restored. “Work two years, save money, and leave” does not hold for pneumoconiosis. Silicosis can keep worsening after dust exposure stops. So the exit exam matters especially (see Item 9—three occupational health exams arranged and paid by the employer). The revised catalog also adds two categories. One is occupational musculoskeletal disease: carpal tunnel syndrome, limited to manufacturing workers who repeatedly use the wrists or apply force for long periods. The other is occupational mental and behavioral disorder: post-traumatic stress disorder. It is limited to people’s police, medical workers, fire and rescue, and other emergency responders involved in sudden-incident response. First aid for chemicals splashed on the body: Section 13, Item 21. How to treat post-traumatic stress disorder: Section 29, Item 14 (trauma-focused psychotherapy).

Sources · 5

1. 国家卫生健康委、人力资源社会保障部、国家疾控局、全国总工会 (2024). 职业病分类和目录（2025 年 8 月 1 日起实施）. gov.cn/zhengce/zhengceku/202412/content_69928…
2. 新版目录 12 大类 135 种的口径见国家卫生健康委 (2024). 新版目录将职业病调整为 12 大类 135 种. gov.cn/lianbo/bumen/202412/content_6992838.htm
3. 全国人大常委会 (2018). 职业病防治法（第三十九条）. beijing.gov.cn/zhengce/zhengcefagui/qtwj/2017…（北京市人民政府转载）；National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (2026). Silica Symptoms and Medical Monitoring：「permanent lung damage called silicosis. It is a progressive, debilitating, and sometimes fatal disease」「There is no known cure for silicosis」. cdc.gov/niosh/silica/symptoms/index.html
4. Leung CC, Yu IT, Chen W (2012). Silicosis. Lancet, 379(9830), 2008-2018：「Impairment of lung function increases with disease progression, even after the patient is no longer exposed」. doi.org/10.1016/S0140-6736(12)60235-9
5. Occupational Safety and Health Administration. Occupational Noise Exposure：「permanent hearing loss that cannot be corrected through surgery or with medicine」. osha.gov/noise