UNE has a legislative requirement to:

• identify the areas where there is a risk of transmission of communicable disease
• take steps to minimise the risk

Preventing the transmission of communicable diseases at UNE depends upon ensuring that:

• safe work practices are adopted
• immunisation, information and training is provided to staff and students working in high risk areas
• people with communicable diseases are not discriminated against.

If there is a risk of exposure to blood or body substances or where airborne infection may occur universal precautions must be adopted and appropriate Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) must be worn, e.g.:

• Gloves
• Protective eye wear and face shields
• Masks
• Gowns and/or plastic aprons
• Footwear

All communicable disease related accidents and incidents must be reported to the supervisor of the work area immediately. For more information on universal precautions, see the Worksafe Western Australia Internet site. More information on choosing suitable Personal Protective Equipment is available from Infection Control in the Health Care Setting - Guidelines for the Prevention of Transmission of Infectious Diseases, Section 1.8 (see publications below).

References

1. Australian National Council on Aids/National Health and Medical Research Council Guidelines Infection Control in the Health Care Setting - Guidelines for the Prevention of Transmission of Infectious Diseases (1996).
2. Australian National Council on Aids Laboratory safety guidelines with reference to HIV and blood borne agents . AGPS (1990).
3. Ferguson, Mark J, Guidelines for the control of infectious diseases in Child Care, Prepared on behalf of the Working Party on Infectious Diseases in Child Care, NSW Health Department . Sydney (1993).
4. National Health and Medical Research Council The Australian Immunisation Procedures Handbook . 5th Edition, (1994).
5. National Occupational Health and Safety Commission National Code of Practice for Health Care Workers and Other People at Risk of the Transmission of Human Immunodeficiency Virus and Hepatitis B in the Workplace [NOHSC:2010(1993)] AGPS 1993
6. National Occupational Health and Safety Commission National Consensus Statement on Human Immunodeficiency Virus Infection/Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome and the Workplace [NOHSC:6001(1993)] AGPS1993
7. National Occupational Health and Safety Commission National Consensus Statement On Hepatitis B And The Workplace [NOHSC:6003(1990) AGPS 1990
8. New South Wales Public Health Act 1991
9. New South Wales WorkCover Authority Code of Practice for health care workers and other people at risk of the transmission of Human Immunodeficiency Virus and other blood-borne pathogens in the workplace Sydney 1996.