Epilepsy and employability: a comparative evaluation of epileptic employees working in the steel plants of India.

Information on seizures and provoking factors, occupational status, shift work, overtime, home and work place adjustment was obtained from 176 epileptic employees working in hazardous, less and non-hazardous areas of steel plants in India. Accidents at work and sickness absence were also assessed in 44 epileptics. An overall comparison was made between Group A hazardous (63) and Group B less/non-hazardous (76) of the total of 139 epileptic employees over a three year period. Group A performed better than Group B. When compared with 77 employees with occupational dermatoses, 139 epileptics did more fixed shifts and had less promotion.