Transmission of Disease
Within the health and community services industry, the transmission of disease can be a hazard. It is important that you take the necessary steps to ensure your own safety and the safety of others both in the workplace and the wider community.
Employees who have direct contact with infectious people and/or faecal material or blood and body fluids are at increased risk. This includes child care employees, nurses, health care employees in hospitals and community facilities for people with disabilities and special needs, laboratory employees who process biological specimens, sewerage employees and plumbers. Employees working in areas where infectious diseases are more likely to be present, such as where hygiene and sanitation facilities are poor, may be at a greater risk.
Employees in the health and community services industry often care for people with infectious diseases and may have direct contact with blood and body fluids. Therefore, cleanliness and hygiene are very important to prevent the risk of disease and infection spreading to employees and others.
Cleanliness and hygiene
Your employer must make sure you are trained in safe work procedures for cleaning and disinfecting. As a general rule you should clean areas thoroughly with water and detergent using a disposable cloth. After all visible soiling has been removed follow workplace procedures, and where appropriate, wipe over surfaces with a clean, disposable cloth saturated with hypochorite 0.5% and allow to dry.
In the event of being exposed to blood or body fluids from a needle stick injury or a splash onto a mucous membrane, you should take the following action:
promptly wash away the blood or body fluid;
encourage bleeding if there is a wound, and wash thoroughly again;
use soap except for your eyes and mouth which should be rinsed thoroughly with water; and
report the incident to the appropriate authority.
Counselling may be offered to you in the event of an incident and you may be advised to be tested for infection.
You should place linen soiled with blood or body fluids or excreta in a separate bag marked for "foul" linen and then put into the usual linen bag. The hot washing method used for "foul" linen destroys infectious diseases in the linen.
Standard Precautions
Standard precautions are work practices that should be used at all times to reduce the risk of infection from blood and body fluids. Standard precautions are basically treating all blood and body fluids as if it is infectious. This includes using good hygiene practices, using protective barriers such as gloves and appropriately handling and disposing of sharps and other contaminated or infectious waste.
For transmission of blood born diseases to occur, the blood or body fluid of an infected person must enter the body through broken skin or mucous membranes of the eyes, nose or mouth. By using standard precautions and being aware of the condition of the skin (eg. any cuts) will reduce the risk of infection.
Practical hygiene steps
To ensure your safety and the safety of others your employer should make sure you are trained to follow practical hygiene steps such as the following:
wash your hands between contact with patients or residents and before eating or drinking;
wear gloves when dealing with blood or body fluids as gloves greatly reduce the risk of your hands being contaminated with infected blood or body fluids;
wash your hands immediately after removing gloves;
discard gloves contaminated with blood or body fluids after treating each patient and put on a new pair - wearing gloves does not prevent cross-infection;
when clothing is likely to be soiled with blood or any body fluid wear waterproof aprons and gowns;
wear a mask and protective eye wear in situations where your eyes, nose or mouth are likely to be exposed to splashed or sprayed blood or body fluid, e.g. dental and surgical procedures and cleaning soiled equipment; and
cover cuts or abrasions on exposed parts of the body with waterproof dressings at all times while on duty.
 | | Your employer should provide suitable personal protective equipment and clothing, such as gloves, face masks, safety glasses, aprons and gowns and train you how to correctly store and use it. |
