Health and Safety for Beginners

by **Davey B** » Sat Nov 28, 2009 7:00 pm

Hi

I have been placed on one of these wonderful New Deal schemes by the Jobcentre and so not technically an employee. My placement is with a registered charity where I am driving a 3.5 tonne truck around for them delivering & collecting furniture along with two other crew members. The charity also uses volunteers, one of whom was telling an other placement about his recent and frequent tonic-clonic seizures.

As a driver who takes this person out I am more than a little concerned that I was not made aware of his condition as this not only places me in potential danger but also himself and the other crew member. Had I been made aware of his condition then I'd be prepared to deal with it appropriately.

I have spent today doing a first aid checklist for people who suffer from tonic-clonic seizures and preparing a risk assessment questionnaire (all of which should have been done by the organisation).

I shall also be asking them on Monday if this information was disclosed to them and if so, why I wasn't informed.

Anything else I should be doing?

by **Jack Kane** » Sat Nov 28, 2009 7:33 pm

Hey Davey,

Welcome to the forums

I'm not the best to answer this I'm afraid, but I can bring a nice warm welcome.

Quite a sensitive subject to tackle though.

by **Davey B** » Sat Nov 28, 2009 7:49 pm

Hi Jack,

Thanks for the warm welcome

It is a sensitive area, I've seen someone have a full seizure and it can be quite scary if you are not aware of their medical condition or are unaware of how to deal with it.

Can you imagine the consequences of this lad having a seizure in the cab when I'm unaware of his condition?

I have a sneaking suspicion that he is fitting frequently due to not taking his medication, but will have to confirm that in a very sensitive manner.

by **Ashanti** » Sat Nov 28, 2009 10:34 pm

If the person's medical condition does not significantly increases risk for them at work then there is no need for them or the employer to tell anybody and if there is they only have to tell people who are likely to be affected. Epilepsy because of the stigma that still surrounds the condition is particulalry sensitive. Unless the person frequently has attacks I doubt if your reaction would be much different whether you knew or not.

by **Davey B** » Sat Nov 28, 2009 10:47 pm

Ashanti wrote:If the person's medical condition does not significantly increases risk for them at work then there is no need for them or the employer to tell anybody and if there is they only have to tell people who are likely to be affected. Epilepsy because of the stigma that still surrounds the condition is particulalry sensitive. Unless the person frequently has attacks I doubt if your reaction would be much different whether you knew or not.

As a caring person, I have to disagree. Having seen someone take a seizure, I feel I should have been properly advised on how to act and apply First Aid (where ness.), should he have fitted whilst I was driving. I also wonder if his admitted 'frequent seizures' relate to not taking his medication properly?

by **Ashanti** » Sat Nov 28, 2009 11:07 pm

Feel free to disagree Davey and I am glad you are a caring person. I can trump your experience of having "seen" somebody having a siezure and repeat that there is no requirement for everybody in the workplace to be told of the condition. Do you have any medical qualifications or experience that leads to your conclusion that the person is not taking medication as prescribed? Many epileptic conditions can be controlled by medication but not all, levels of medication can change as can the type of medication.

by **Davey B** » Sun Nov 29, 2009 9:18 am

Good morning Ashanti and thank you for your reply. I am not suggesting that "everybody" should be told and appreciate a duty of privacy exists. However, I would have thought it appropriate for the driver, who is deemed the responsible person, to be aware of the potential as a duty of care also exists. I do not profess to hold any medical qualifications or have any first hand experience with epilepsy beyond witnessing a couple of seizures and what I read up on over the weekend. Because I am now a bit more knowledgeable on the area, I feel better equipped to deal with the matter should he take a seizure when out in the truck. One thing he said which set an alarm bell ringing was that he he had medication in his pocket to be taken if he is about to have a seizure. It was my understanding that medication was to be taken daily but see that diazepam or midazolam, are available for emergency use.

I appreciate the stigma that still surrounds epilepsy but this was not where I was coming from

by **Ashanti** » Sun Nov 29, 2009 11:23 am

If it is diazepam and rectally administered you or somebody else would need training.

by **Davey B** » Sun Nov 29, 2009 12:12 pm

Agreed. I'd also assume appropriate training would be required in relation to Midazolam?

by **Reddwarf** » Sun Nov 29, 2009 1:08 pm

who is to say that someone else doesn't know of his condition in your team. maybe as the new person he isn't sure as to whether to discuss it with you as yet and after knowing him for a while he will do.

Red

by **Davey B** » Sun Nov 29, 2009 1:26 pm

Hi Red

He started on the same day as me and there is no set team for van duties as such, it's more a case of grabbing anyone that's available. Anyway, I now feel better equipped to assist should he take a seizure, which hopefully will never happen.

by **Alexis** » Sun Nov 29, 2009 5:01 pm

Hi Davey and Welcome from me. :wave:

I can understand your concerns and judging by what you say, it sounds as though this person isn't worried about telling people, so If I were you, I would sort out a "plan of action" between yourselves in case of emergencies, which would allow you to be less worried and he to feel confortable whilst with you.

Good to have you join us.