Answer #1:
Yes. Whenever a diagnosis of TB is made in a worker, the possibility that it is work-related and compensable must always be explored. A detailed occupational history is therefore necessary.
(Back to Exercises)
Answer #2:
TB is compensable if the worker performed at least 200 risk shifts and has clinically "active" TB during employment or contracted TB within 12 months of working the last risk shift. The following steps are therefore recommended:
(Back to Exercises)
Answer #3:
- Compensation (75% of wages) will only be paid for loss of earnings while temporarily incapacitated - for up to 6 months.
- Re-assessment will be done after 6 months.
- Information on DOTS programme and compliance.
- Information on nutrition and smoking.
- Information and possible counseling on TB and HIV/AIDS.
- Possibility of being in gainful employment on treatment.
(Back to Exercises)
Answer #4:
- Importance of completing 6 months of treatment.
- Importance of confidentiality.
- Discuss benefits of TB Treatment Programme at work (See new WHO/ILO Workplace TB Guidelines). (See the reference below.)
- TB not infectious after 2 weeks on treatment.
(Back to Exercises)
Answer #5:
The ODMWA provides for lump sum payments for first or second degree occupational disease, this includes chronic cardio-respiratory TB that leaves permanent impairment after healing. If the worker has both Pneumoconiosis (silicosis in this exercise) and Pulmonary Tuberculosis, second degree compensation is payable. The following steps are therefore recommended:
- Re-submit (after 6 months treatment)to MBOD with materials as per answer to question 2.
- Include Lung Function Test and repeat Chest X-ray.
- Advise worker that should he be diagnosed with both silicosis and TB he will be compensated for second degree which is the maximum payment for occupational lung disease.
- Depending on the physical demands of current employment worker may decide to continue to work.
(Back to Exercises)
REFERENCE:

- Alli B O, Maher D, Boldini F, Pathania V, Gabriel P, Kisting S, Norval P. Guidelines for Workplace TB Control Activities. The contribution of workplace TB control activities to TB control in the community. WHO, ILO.WHO/CDS/TB/2003. http://www.who.int/gtb/publications/communityTBcare
(Back to answer to Question #4)

Postgraduate Diploma in Occupational Health (DOH) - Modules 3 – 5: Occupational Medicine & Toxicology by Prof Rodney Ehrlich & Prof Mohamed Jeebhay is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported License.
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