Thalassaemia is a condition where there is insufficient production of the proteins that allow red blood cells to carry oxygen to the body’s cells. As a result, people with thalassaemia feel short of breath and easily fatigued.
The oxygen carrying proteins are known as haemoglobin. Each haemoglobin molecule consists of two pairs of alpha-globin chains and two pairs of beta-globin chains. With thalassaemia, there is insufficient production of one of either the alpha or the beta chains. This not only reduces the amount of oxygen that can be carried by the red blood cells, but can destroy the cells, resulting in anaemia or low red blood cell count.
Symptoms and characteristics
Because the body’s cells do not receive sufficient oxygen to operate effectively, people with thalassaemia may feel short of breath, tired and weak. The severity of symptoms will depend on whether the person has a minor or major version of the condition. People with the minor version may not even know they have a condition unless it is detected via a blood test.
People with the major version of thalassaemia have significant symptoms associated with anaemia, and often require blood transfusions, iron reduction medication, and or removal of the spleen, to allow their red blood cell count to be at a sufficiently high level. In some cases, this may impact on a person’s general health and energy levels.
Workplace adjustments and solutions
In the workplace there are various factors that would assist people with the major version of thalassaemia to better manage their symptoms. These include changes to work tasks and the environment, including:
- modifying workstation set up with all frequently used items between waist and shoulder height, or within easy reach at a workbench or desk to allow for energy conservation
- providing and adjusting an ergonomic chair or stool to a person’s needs to allow postural rotation and conservation of energy at work
- flexible work hours to accommodate times when fatigue impacts on capacity to work
- consideration given to setting up a home based or mobile workstation with a laptop and mobile phone if in a suitable work role, to allow work from home or hospital on days that people are unable to attend the workplace due to medical treatment or fatigue
- consider capacity for staff rotation between physically demanding tasks and lighter tasks as a way of building in breaks without having to stop work
- consider the use of lifting or mechanical aids such as trolleys to minimise lifting requirements.
The Employment Assistance Fund provides financial assistance for work related modifications, equipment and services to help people with disability to get employment and perform their work independently and productively. To determine eligibility, please refer to the full guidelines:
There are solutions and adjustments for the following job requirements:
References
Better Health Channel 2011, Thalassemia, State Government of Victoria, Melbourne, viewed 14 November 2011, http://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/bhcv2/bhcarticles.nsf/pages/Thalassaemia?open.
MDA Internet 1991-2010, Thalassemia, Reed Group Ltd, Colorado, viewed 14 November 2011, http://www.mdguidelines.com/.
Thalassemia Australia Inc. 2011, Thalassemia, Thalassemia Australia Inc., Melbourne, viewed 14 November 2011, http://www.thalassaemia.org.au/about-thalassaemia-australia.