I'd ask them to explain the 'told them to keep quiet about it' bit

Same as posts #2 and #3 above, plus follow up on how they believe they contracted it 'at work'.

Oh, and dare I say it, RIDDOR? If your employer does not want you to report it, make sure that you get it in writing (via email?) to cover your posterior if/ when the brown mucky stuff hits the rotating object.

What appalling attitudes

If a person has been diagnosed with TB their doctor is required by law to notify the Health Protection Agency(HPA). In addition any close contacts will be checked for the disease by either the doctor or the HPA. From what you are saying this sounds as though this has not happened which would make me suspicious of the claim. Ask them for permission to approach their doctor for confirmation or contact the HPA yourself.
What sector are you in for them to have contracted TB at work - this may be reportable under RIDDOR if you satisfy the requirements as to the occupation section.
Take care
John C

You'd catch TB from another person, or cattle bTB. This would suggest that either the staff you refer to work in health care or in agricultural / zoological associated trades (inc's working out in field). Typically you would look at frequency and duration for TB. Unison have a nice guidance on TB – see: http://www.unison.org.uk/acrobat/B185.pdf. Also have a look at the HPA pages – see: http://www.hpa.org.uk/infections/topics_az/tb/

Would be curious to know more about the cases – broadly speaking (i.e. what work they were doing? What is the believed vector? Was this a foreseeable risk? Is Yes, are the employees screened re. BCGs? Are either employees known to be immunosuppressed? Etc.).

B

The question was 'what would YOU do' and infers YOUR workplace.

An honest question gets an honest answer in my book.
What you would do is up to you but do not be critical of an action/lack off differing to that of your own.

I stand by my answer, infact it is watered down as my actual answer would get me a life ban from this forum.

It's of no interest to me in the capacity of a SHE Manager and I have little time for tea and sympathy, particularly when my default would be that the persons are fibbing - I would suggest some others need to look at their role profile and see if they have to deal with this nonsense officially or are without realising just sticking their oar in where a) it really should not be stuck and b) Is allowed to be stuck as other more appropriate Managers allow the SHE Manager to deal with such rubbish as a soft touch.

Of course this is a suggestion :-)

PS. The employer has told them to say nothing about it and yes we do work for a government department!!!!

What I'm struggling with is, why would the 'victim' tell you knowing your a trade union H&S Representative then expect you to do nothing? Why do they want they fact they have it kept a secret!? All seems a little odd.

My next question would be who told them from the employer's point of view to say nothing about it!? It is all very much 'hearsay' for me at the moment!?

I have come across situations like this before, yet know one can every provide me with names or concrete evidence!

Grasshopper,

going back to the original question, I belive that if you are told something in confidence then it should stay that way.

That said if you are told something that involves breaking the law AND continues to put others at serious risk you are then in the unfortunate position of having to break that confidence.

I think that from the information supplied to the forum you have done the right thing by explaining to the informant(s) that this must be reported and taken further is correct and this is not always an easy thing to do. (Well Done)

If they had refusd to take it further I think you would have had the unenviable task of breaking that confidence, in the short term you could possibly be the most unpopoular TU Rep, but long term I suspect people would understand and you would be able to sleep at night more to the point!

Good Luck

Clive

Grasshopper

From what you write at #13 it seems that you've given good advice to the employees and are taking the right approach regarding the managers. However, it also seems that there may have been some confusion between maintaining appropriate levels of confidentiality and 'covering up' the situation.

The circumstances you describe remind me of a case dealt with by a former colleague of mine some 20 years ago in which two care assistants at an old people's home were diagnosed by their GPs as having TB (tuberculosis). It seemed most likely that they had contracted it from a very frail resident they had both worked with and who had died some time before from what was probably classed as pneumonia. From recollection of the updates by the colleague to our OS&H team in the local authority which operated the home at the time, both employees received appropriate treatment and made full recoveries. Other employees at the home were probably screened medically and almost certainly told/reminded of the symptoms of TB, but none were found to be infected. It's probable that managers and employees at other care homes operated by the same authority were also told/reminded about being vigilant for TB symptoms. This was because it was known generally that a small 'pool' of TB exists among some elderly people, though individual cases tend to be masked by other health problems. The trade union reps for the employees involved were kept informed and apparently satisfied with the action taken. Also, though HSE was notified under RIDDOR this apparently generated no response, perhaps because the notification was accompanied by a summary of the actions taken and proposed.

Though I understand that cases of TB are relatively rare in the UK nowadays because of childhood vaccination, vigilance is still needed, especially in the healthcare sector, because it remains widespread in some areas of the world and can be brought into the UK fairly readily by people who have lived in or visited such areas.

During 1980 as an HSE inspector I jointly inspected with an employment medical adviser (EMA) a police mortuary & post-mortem suite. The predominant topic during the visit was the Howie Code of Practice, a stringent set of standards established (by a Professor Howie, a leading expert) in 1978 to counter infection risks, including that from TB, in such facilities and also clinical laboratories. Out of curiosity, could anyone involved with healthcare briefly comment on the extent to which the Howie Code has been superseded or amended since 1978?

The fantasy continues.

Now we have tests for antibody to a virus that causes TB, and expectations that a patient with open TB (anyone thought here that there might be a difference?) might have to be barrier nursed, even before they were diagnosed?

That is a particular problem. How do you know that a patient is infectious, with open TB, before an X-ray and appropriate laboratory tests? But no, that doesn't matter here. Let's pretend we know, and demand something better!

Some of the later posts veer considerably to an entirely sensible and wholly professional response, considering the needs for patient confidentiality, the appropriate diagnostic tests, and the approach to management by suitably experienced health professionals. We know hear that there are addition union/member issues that must also be considered, and quite rightly so. That too requires some sensitivity, not the heavy boot approach that is so predictable, but completely out of place and time.

Ian

Where on earth are you. Suspect TB is treated very seriously in the hospital situation and great care is taken not to spread infection until confirmed that the sputum is generally non infective. Yes X rays are part of the testing but not the whole. You alkso need to read such as the following

http://www.nhs.uk/Condit...sis/Pages/Diagnosis.aspx

Skin tests are available for TB testing

Ian

I am just the poor husband of a sufferer at one point in her life!! It is not building site knowledge.

You know as well as I that skin test can point to exposure and that it is still treated seriously. Having said that the facts of this case are a bit "peculiar" to say the least:-)

We also need to realise that TB is now on the rise again unfortunately with new standard antibiotic resistant strains developing

Bob

btw

My Mother had a broken leg, but it doesn't make me an expert in orthopedics

I LIKE #29.

Talking of TB, in Bristol there is a council bye-law that prohibits people spitting, TB can apparently be spread by spittle containing TB.

Is this bye-law still in effect and do other cities still have this?

Has anybody heard of a prosecution recently?

quote=Ian.Blenkharn]The fantasy continues.

Now we have tests for antibody to a virus that causes TB, and expectations that a patient with open TB (anyone thought here that there might be a difference?) might have to be barrier nursed, even before they were diagnosed?

That is a particular problem. How do you know that a patient is infectious, with open TB, before an X-ray and appropriate laboratory tests? But no, that doesn't matter here. Let's pretend we know, and demand something better!

Some of the later posts veer considerably to an entirely sensible and wholly professional response, considering the needs for patient confidentiality, the appropriate diagnostic tests, and the approach to management by suitably experienced health professionals. We know hear that there are addition union/member issues that must also be considered, and quite rightly so. That too requires some sensitivity, not the heavy boot approach that is so predictable, but completely out of place and time.

UPDATE. Still no response from the employer to a written request for information and a third member of staff diagnosed with latent TB today. All have been in contact with the same person who was in our care. I have today spoken with the infection control unit at the local hospital where the patient was being supervised/nursed and asked if they would share their policy on managing this type of situation. I await a response. I asked them a question, how does TB develop once infection has occurred? Can it lay latent following exposure or does it develop into full blown TB immediately? Any info is appreciated. I know some of you think my posts lack some detail but I can assure you I have to take care with what I post. The facts are that we now have three staff who have latent TB, one is in hospital after suffering a bad reaction to the medication he has received. I will probably be making an official complaint to the enforcement authorities before the end of the week. PS, some staff who have been supervising the patient whilst in hospital are still to be screened.