Tuberculosis (TB) is the leading cause of death from a curable infectious disease. Every year, it affects around 10 million people around the world; of whom 20% may be expected to die as a result. TB can disrupt workflow, reduce productivity, increase health-care costs and result in the need to train new workers. The majority of TB cases occur in people at the peak of their productivity between the ages of 15 and 54. Consequently, the disease can significantly impact business and has particular significance for certain oil and gas industry operations.

The OGP-IPIECA Health Committee’s newly-published guidelines aim to raise awareness of TB and to help managers mitigate its impact on their companies’ projects and operations. The document provides a general overview of effective TB management and highlights the relevance to oil and gas facilities. It also discusses some clinical aspects of TB, including detection and treatment. The report concludes with a summary of potential workplace programmes for TB management.

• Managing tuberculosis