Limiting the spread of infectious, communicable diseases within the workplace is a complex and frequently sensitive issue. Hazards associated with diseases vary significantly from one workplace to another and the need to privacy adds further complications.
Management of communicable diseases needs to be handled with consideration and empathy, while executed in a way that doesn’t endanger others.
Communicable diseases may be communicated from one person to another whilst at work. These include:
All activities and environments where staff may be potentially exposed to communicable diseases, particularly blood borne diseases, should be identified and documented.
Close attention should be paid to people who are at higher risk of blood contamination. This includes:
Control measures should be put in place so people who may be exposed to communicable diseases are protected. These measures should include safe work practices and personal protective equipment.
Workers who, in the normal course of their work, may encounter hazards (particularly used syringes) should be issued with and trained in the use of a 'Sharp Objects Collection Kit'. This kit should include at least retrieval tongs and a canister.
Workers who are at the highest risk of being exposed to blood borne diseases should be encouraged to be vaccinated for Hepatitis B (the only effective vaccination currently available).
Active immunisation consists of three doses of Hepatitis B vaccine given by intramuscular injection at:
Personnel who have been immunised with a full primary course of the vaccine and are considered to be immune to Hepatitis B should not need further booster doses of Hepatitis B vaccine.
People who have not demonstrated adequate immunity to Hepatitis B virus should be referred to an Occupational Physician for further assessment.
Strictly confidential records of communicable diseases should be kept in the medical files of the affected persons.
All incidents involving communicable diseases need to be properly investigated and documented and the appropriate corrective actions developed and implemented. A post-exposure management programme, including counselling, should be considered and offered where appropriate.
If a worker is suffering from a notifiable disease, it should be reported to the appropriate authorities as soon as possible. This could include notification of instances of Novel Coronavirus and SARS, as required by legislation. In some jurisdictions it is a requirement to report to the authority any instances of personnel exposed to bodily fluids in which there is a risk of the transmission of blood-borne diseases.
Are you prepared for a significant external impact on your operations? We are currently assisting a number of our clients with continuity planning.
Please contact our senior associates on 1300 610 059 for further information.
The information on this site is of a general nature only. It does not take your specific needs or circumstances into consideration. You should look at your own situation and requirements before making any decisions.