Epilepsy and career

It is estimated that around 400 thousand people with epilepsy live in Poland. Only about one-third of them are professionally active. This is mainly due to the lack of knowledge about epilepsy and fear of it among society. There is a belief that patients cannot function independently. Many people subconsciously fear seizures. Although there are certainly cases of very severe epilepsy, the vast majority of patients either have no seizures at all or have them rarely thanks to their medications. And while some types of epilepsy cause intellectual disability, for most people the disease does not affect their intellect. Therefore, employment possibilities are slightly different for each patient and it's worth discussing this with your attending physician.

Below are some of the most important issues regarding professional activity of people with epilepsy.

What professions can a person with epilepsy perform?

Essentially, most professions are available to people with epilepsy whose seizures are well-controlled with treatment. There are no restrictions on intellectual work. Currently, with new computer monitors, there is no risk of triggering seizures (unless someone is testing computer games with flashing lights, but this results from the content of the image, not the monitor). Most professions requiring physical work, with exceptions described below.

What can't a person with epilepsy do?

• Cannot work at heights.
• Cannot professionally drive vehicles, pilot aircraft, etc.
• Should not work with moving machinery (e.g., machine tools, lathes, etc.).
• Work with dangerous materials is excluded, e.g., welding, working with hazardous chemicals, with valuable and fragile items, etc.
• Cannot perform work related to high-risk sports: diver, skydiver, etc.
• In uniformed services, epilepsy excludes work in most positions.
• People with epilepsy should avoid working at night.

What should an employer remember?

An employer hiring an employee with epilepsy may receive funding from PFRON (State Fund for Rehabilitation of Disabled Persons) for employing a person with a special condition.

Regarding workplace adaptation, there usually isn't a need for major modifications. Basically, care should be taken to ensure there are no dangerous objects near such an employee, e.g., sharp items, boiling water, and similar things that could cause injury during a seizure. In most cases, common sense is sufficient. An occupational medicine physician's or treating physician's opinion may also be helpful. Of course, recruitment should be conducted thoughtfully. There's no point in hiring someone with epilepsy for a position such as a high-altitude assembler.

After hiring a person with the condition, it seems reasonable to inform immediate coworkers about the illness and provide them with seizure first aid training. As can be seen in this post, it is very simple. Showing how a seizure looks in reality and how to behave in such situations reduces anxiety levels and improves work safety.

In conclusion: with current medical advances, most patients can lead normal private and professional lives. Unfortunately, epilepsy still evokes many negative associations, which sometimes leads to discrimination against people with this condition both in employment and at work.

Autor: Dr. Marta Banaszek

Sources:

• Staniszewska A., Sobiecki M., Duda-Zalewska A., Religioni U., Juszczyk G., Tatara T. et al., Professional activity of people with epilepsy. "Medycyna Pracy" 2015; 66(3): 343-350. doi: 10.13075/mp.5893.00051.
• REGULATION OF THE MINISTER OF HEALTH of August 29, 2019, on medical examinations of persons applying for driving licenses and drivers.
• REGULATION OF THE MINISTER OF INTERNAL AFFAIRS AND ADMINISTRATION of October 11, 2018, on the list of diseases and disabilities, along with categories of fitness for service in the Police, Border Guard, Marshal's Guard, State Fire Service, and State Protection Service.