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Three Ewa
firefighters test
positive for TB

The men were exposed to
tuberculosis in responding
to a medical emergency

---

By Harold Morse
Star-Bulletin

Three Ewa Beach firefighters tested positive for exposure to tuberculosis in February after responding to a medical emergency.

The firefighters responded to a call from an elderly woman who said she was having "trouble breathing." She was also coughing up blood.

The firefighters got tested the next day for tuberculosis, and tests came up positive. The city Industrial Safety and Workers Compensation Division reportedly denied their initial claims.

"We know that there were firefighters that filed claims for exposure to tuberculosis," said Tom Vendetta of the Industrial Safety and Workers Compensation Division. "I can't tell you whether the claims were denied or not."

Vendetta said he cannot discuss particular claims, but he said that in general, a skin test that shows a positive sign of tuberculosis is not enough to support a claim. All that may mean is exposure has occurred, he said. If it is determined through an X-ray that an individual actually has tuberculosis -- and if it is determined to be job-related -- then it may be a compensable claim, Vendetta said.

"If we can show that the exposure resulted in an illness or injury, then it's covered under workers' compensation law."

A broken arm might be less trouble to prove than a disease, Vendetta said. "In other words, you have to have tuberculosis in order to have a compensable claim."

Questions must be asked about other exposures that may have caused the problems, he said.

Honolulu Fire Chief Attilio Leonardi said such medical data is confidential.

Claims for workers' compensation must be investigated, which is a lengthy process, he said. It might take six months to a year. "When something happens, then they go through the regulation process. ... On exposure cases we don't know if you got it or not, and we won't know for years," Chief Leonardi said. "So you file your claim."

It must be verified and all of this is confidential, Leonardi said.

"We have procedures in place where the captain is supposed to insure that they wear full protective gear, all kinds of precautionary equipment," the chief said.

It is the captain's responsibility to ensure that protective gear is worn, Leonardi emphasized. "It's a mandatory program."