Employing Someone with Sickle Cell

Contents

• Fact and Fiction
• What are Sickle Cell Disorders?
• Implications at Work

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Fact and Fiction

Fiction

Some people believe sickle cell disorders affects only black people and that sufferers invariably die before the age of twenty-one. They also believe the sufferer is in constant pain and is frequently admitted to hospital.

This page is intended to dispel this myth and to explain the true nature of sickle cell disorder and how an individual with this condition can lead a good and useful life whilst being gainfully employed.

Fact

An estimated 150-200 babies a year are being born with this condition. Most are African-Caribbean origin, many also come from Mediterranean, Middle East and Asian countries.

Not all people with sickle cell disorder are severely affected. There are milder forms of the disorder called SC Disease and Sickle-ß-Thalassaemia. Sufferers of Sickle Cell Anaemia, usually the most severe form of Sickle Cell Disorder, now have near normal life expectancy and can enjoy long periods, even years, of good life.

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What are Sickle Cell Disorders?

They are due to an inherited abnormality of red blood cells, that cause them to become rigid and sickle shaped, hence the name. Sickle cells are rigid and cannot flow smoothly through the small blood vessels. This in turn can cause a blockage of blood supply, restricting the vital flow of oxygen these red cells carry from the lungs to the parts of the body requiring replenishment. Some sufferers can experience severe pain when this occurs and this is called a CRISIS. In a most acute CRISIS damage to bones, muscle tissue and the lungs may occur if treatment is not applied. Patients with sickle cell disorder are also prone to anaemia and sometimes become tired and short of breath . The condition is life long, there is no cure at the present moment.

 

 

Treatment and Medical Support

Individuals with sickle cell disorders will take regular vitamins (folic acid) and must at all times ensure a good intake of fluids (this is required to assist the smooth flow of the blood). Typically, they may require about 1/4 litre of water, tea, coffee or fruit juice every 60 - 90 minutes. This high intake of fluid will result in the individual wishing to pass water more frequently than colleagues.

Usually the sufferer is well but has to attend clinic every six months. Some general rules of good health care are very important for individuals with sickle cell disorder (as with your whole work force). Both active and passive smoking, alcohol and irregular or inadequate diet may damage the balance of health and provoke a period of ill health.

A Painful Crisis - Dealing with Pain

It is understandable that people are worried about the acute attack of pain due to the sickle cell disorder. Sufferers invariably know what to do when severe pain starts. They rest, relax, take pain killers and drink plenty of fluids. If the pain does not subside, they will normally go to the hospital which they regularly attend.

It is important to emphasise that the severity and frequency of crisis varies tremendously; some sufferers have never had a crisis. Others can have two or three a year for a couple of years and then have none for long periods of time.

Intelligence, hearing and manual dexterity are not affected by sickle cell disorder. In a very few cases there may be eye or hip problems, therefore their sight or mobility could be affected. These individuals are under long term specialist care and their limitations are clearly defined and will have been made known to the employer on his medical questionnaire.

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Implications at Work

Suitable Employment

The majority of clerical, administrative, professional, artistic and light industrial work is suitable. Heavy manual work, jobs that cannot be interrupted to take fluids, jobs that involve extreme changes of temperature and jobs with lowered oxygen concentration are therefore unsuitable for sicklers to do. Sicklers with quite severe sickle cell disorder are successfully employed full time as doctors, nurses, teachers, health service workers and factory production assistants.

Attendance at Work

One cannot pretend that employing a sickler is free from problems. An important problem is the question of absence from the work place. If the job is suitable and the employer understands the nature of sickle cell disorder, absence from work is no more (in the case of a sickler) than any other member of the work force. The individual with sickle cell disorder must understand their limitations, before taking on any particular type of employment. An important point for employers is, whilst well, a sickler is in every way a normal employee capable of working to full capacity.

Pensions and Insurance

The majority of sicklers can join pension schemes run by their employers. However with life assurance linked schemes, resistance is sometimes encountered by the insurers who have not kept abreast of the recent changes in treatment. Should any pension fund manager require help or information on sickle cell disorders, they should be referred to the Sickle Cell Society.