Tuberculosis in an industrial plant.

The occupational health program of a large oil refinery and petrochemical plant incorporates features which aid in the detection of pulmonary tuberculosis. The periodic examination system which includes a routine chest roentgenogram and which is conducted on all plant employees at 12-24 month intervals would be expected to discover asymptomatic cases. In addition, other cases might be found when appropriate diagnostic procedures are carried out by company physicians on symptomatic workers who report to the dispensary, or on return to work after a period of illness. Since 1921, there has existed a special tuberculosis benefit program which provides economic security for the patient and his dependents during the prolonged period of disability. The practice of returning patients who recover satisfactorily to appropriate productive work has permitted long-term follow-up. With this background, it was decided to review those cases of tuberculosis occurring in the employee population of approximately 7500 during a ten-year period.