Q+A IN ORAL MEDICINE

INDUSTRIAL MANSLAUGHTER

A person commits industrial manslaughter (a crime) if: • The person engages in conduct that causes the death of an individual; • The conduct constitutes a failure to comply with a health and safety duty; and • The person engages in the conduct: • Knowing that the conduct is likely to cause the death of, or serious harm to, an individual; and • In disregard of that likelihood.

Individual

(including as an officer)

20 years imprisonment $5 million fine

Body Corporate

$10 million fine

CONSULTATION WITH WORKERS

PCBUs must, so far as is reasonably practicable, consult with workers who are, or are likely to be, directly affected by WHS matter, including when: • identifying hazards and assessing risks to health and safety from work to be carried out; • making decisions about ways to eliminate or minimise those risks; • making decisions about the adequacy of facilities for the welfare of workers; • proposing changes that may affect the health and safety of workers; • making decisions about procedures for: consulting with workers; resolving WHS issues at the workplace; monitoring the health of workers; monitoring conditions at any workplace under the control of the

PCBU; providing information and training for workers; • carrying out any other activity prescribed by the regulations.

PROHIBITION ON INSURANCE FOR WHS FINES

PCBUs are prohibited from obtaining insurance coverage for fines issued under the WHS Act for breaches of the WHS Act.

Answer

Clinical Q+A in Oral Medicine

THE CORRECT DIAGNOSES IS:

Multifocal epithelial hyperplasia,

otherwise known as Heck’s disease

The human papilloma virus (HPV) can cause a contagious infection when there is transmission from an infected person via skin or mucosa contact. It is common. HPV infection can induce proliferative lesions on the skin and mucosa. Over 120 genotypes have been identified in the HPV family, among which several are deemed high risk subtypes owing to their malignant potential. The most well-known of these are HPV types 16 and 18. Benign oral lesions associated with HPV include squamous papilloma, verruca vulgaris, condyloma acuminatum, and multifocal epithelial hyperplasia. Multifocal epithelial hyperplasia clinically presents as multiple, well circumscribed papules on the oral mucosa, primarily involving the tongue, gingiva, buccal, or labial mucosa. This has been reported to be present in up to 35% of certain populations such as the Indigenous populations of the world and more common in the European region. HPV 13 and HPV 32 subtypes appear to be causal in patients with a genetic predisposition to multifocal epithelial hyperplasia. It has been reported to be more common in children and in females. Different treatment options include no treatment, surgical or laser excision, oral tretinoin application, topical keratinolytic agents, interferon-a or β, and trichloroacetic acid. Cryotherapy and radiotherapy have shown mixed results. References: amanda@pomds.com.au