Medical restrictions for employed Type 1's

[Zedgeezer]

I have been advised (read - instructed) that I can't mention my company's name, but has anyone had experience of medical restrictions placed on them by an external health assessor called Optima Health. My "Friend" has just been removed from his duties at a medical assessment because he is not managing his blood / sugars to their satisfaction, but they have not revealed what the window is for satisfactory acceptance. I obviously know the history of this person, he has never had a Hypo, his Diabetic support team are happy with his control, yet a faceless company can say "Computer says no" with no explanation of why, or any support from his rather large company to understand what he must do to satisfactorily meet their requirements. He is using the Freestyle Libra system.
Has anyone got any comments?

 

[Pumper_Sue]

It would depend on the job for starters I would have thought normally though an employer is not allowed to discriminate.
But no one can really give a full answer to your questions because they are so vague as is the situation your friend finds themselves in.

 

[Inka]

He should insist on being told the reason firstly. Is it, for example, because he uses the Libre and doesn’t finger prick? Is he running too low for their liking? Knowing the reason is crucial.

 

[trophywench]

How can any person comply with any rule for anything, when they haven't been told what the rule is?

They can't - so he needs to tell his employer that.

 

[Zedgeezer]

It seems to be because his sugars are a bit high, never low. He is in a safety critical job in the transport industry, and is frequently in an environment where he cannot guarantee how arduous his job may be or when he will be able to return to a clean situation to eat or finger prick so he makes a conscious decision to run a bit high (maybe 10) to ensure he doesn't go low when in a remote location.

 

[Inka]

I think I know his job.... Perhaps they see the high sugars as a sign of poor control? That is, they think he might also go too low.

You/he really need to find out the exact reasons in writing, so you can then seek to disprove what they’re saying if you think they’re wrong. I doubt you’ll prove discrimination in such a job, but if they’re saying incorrect things then that would be the way to approach it.

 

[Pumper_Sue]

It seems to be because his sugars are a bit high, never low. He is in a safety critical job in the transport industry, and is frequently in an environment where he cannot guarantee how arduous his job may be or when he will be able to return to a clean situation to eat or finger prick so he makes a conscious decision to run a bit high (maybe 10) to ensure he doesn't go low when in a remote location.

The higher your blood sugar the less clearly you think. The bit about going low in a remote location is a bit daft, just carry enough glucose to cover half a dozen hypos.
Running as high as he is means he is more likely to have complications with his sight and also ending up with neuropathy.
Same with testing there's no reason not to test either, I worked on farms for many years quite often in remote parts of the farm driving heavy machinery. Have small pkt of handy wipes in pocket and clean finger if need be.

 

[everydayupsanddowns]

Sorry to hear about your friend‘s experience @Zedgeezer

It might be worth him calling the Diabetes UK helpline (0345 123 2399 Mon-Fri 9-6) and seeing if the DUK advocacy team could offer any support or advice.

Certainly seems like he hasn’t been given enough information or support by his employer

 

[Zedgeezer]

Sorry to hear about your friend‘s experience @Zedgeezer

It might be worth him calling the Diabetes UK helpline (0345 123 2399 Mon-Fri 9-6) and seeing if the DUK advocacy team could offer any support or advice.

Certainly seems like he hasn’t been given enough information or support by his employer

Thanks for your reply and suggestion. As a parent who works for the same company it is a hard situation. Quite rightly they will only deal directly with my son, but as someone just starting out in a career he is not equipped in numerous ways to argue against a large company with numerous layers between him and OH Assist. He has a powerful Union keeping an eye on the situation, but technology (i.e. Freestyle Libra etc.) and a lack of understanding of Type 1 means that they only react to a decision, rather than the actual issue. For example, his company told him that as OH Assist had removed all his safety critical certification he would have to go on the sick, his Union made the company change that to Paid Leave. But that doesn't really address the primary issue. Obviously I am trying to help resolve this situation, and if I was the person directly affected, I would probably go down the discrimination route with more confidence, but at the start of a career it isn't easy to take this battle on. I will suggest to him that Diabetes UK could give him some useful support.

 

[Piglet]

I most certainly would go down the discrimination route. It might be worth requesting information from OH on the information used on type 1 on which they based their decision. This sounds very much like a case of ignorance on the part of the assessor or computer knows nowt..Good luck