(1) The University of New England (UNE) has a duty of care towards (2) UNE recognises that, in an era of international globalisation, individuals employed or studying at the University may come into contact with an infectious disease. (3) In NSW reporting of notifiable diseases, communicable disease prevention and pandemic management is coordinated through the NSW Department of Health Centre for Health Protection and the public health network of local Public Health Units. The Commonwealth Government has developed national communication guidelines and pandemic action plans. (4) UNE is committed to ensuring the safety of students and University Representatives by actively promoting infection control, immunisations and other measures to prevent or minimise the risk of transmission of infectious and blood borne diseases. UNE will comply with commonwealth and state legislation on issues related to notifiable disease and pandemic management. (5) This Procedure covers all work related activities undertaken on campus and in fieldwork locations, both domestic and international. It also includes students and University Representatives who are required to participate in workplace learning placements and clinical rotations in health care settings involved with the provision of patient care and services. Although it does include requirements for onsite residential students, it does not include sport and other recreational related activities. (6) The UNE Work Health and Safety Rule require (7) Identifying and taking action to reduce individual exposure to disease, being aware of risks to public health and the spread of infection is central to this procedure. (8) UNE will be guided by the recommendations of the NSW Department of Health on all matters related to infectious diseases and pandemics. (9) UNE prohibits 'coercion of disclosure' of status and discrimination against students and University Representatives with notifiable diseases. (10) (11) (12) Whenever possible the Health and Safety Consultant and other Employee Relations University Representatives will co-ordinate contact between UNE and the Communicable Diseases branch of NSW Department of Health. (13) Academic and administration units, which have high-risk exposure to fomites, or work closely with animals and perceive zoonosis a risk, may develop their own protocols and procedures as long as they are compatible with this procedure. (14) (15) It is an expectation that universal precautions, including hand-washing protocols and cough etiquette, will be adopted by all University Representatives, students and UNE visitors. (16) Hand washing, cough etiquette and other relevant infection control posters will be on display at ablution facilities. (17) (18) Lecturers, supervisors, exam supervisors and safety representatives may request (19) Special examinations provisions are available for students who need to sit an exam when infectious. (20) If special examination provisions are made the Procedures recommended by the consulting Specialist/General Practitioner will normally be followed, however where there is a conflict the University may err on the side of caution and make decisions on a case by case basis. (21) The wearing of masks is an acceptable form of personal protection and transmission prevention. (22) The concerns of UNE Representatives and (23) Staff with infectious diseases or caring for family members with infectious diseases must contact People and Culture if their leave allocation is exhausted. (24) (25) If required the P&C and WHS staff will coordinate arrangements for exams or return to work. (26) Staff and students are advised to contact their General Practitioner if they are unwell. (27) The UNE Medical Centre will provide medical appointments and vaccinations on request. (28) Phone calls to the UNE Medical Centre will be triaged to a Doctor or nurse and advice on how and where to access appropriate medical care will be given. (29) Some staff and (30) A risk assessment process must be used to assess whether staff and students who travel overseas require other vaccinations such as Combined Hep A & B; Yellow Fever; Rabies vaccine; Japanese B Encephalitis. (31) Researchers working with animals need to conduct a risk assessment to identify if vaccination for animal specific diseases such a Q fever is required. (32) NSW Health Occupational Assessment, Screening and Vaccination policy requires that all students and staff working in Department of Health premises are vaccinated prior to commencing work. (33) The University may decide to provide influenza vaccinations for staff. Participation in such activities is voluntary. (34) (35) High standards of hygiene and infection control are required both before and after contact. Vaccination may be required. (36) Women when pregnant may be required to cease working with animals if a risk assessment identifies that early delivery, infection or death of the newborn baby may be an outcome. (37) All laboratories handling human biological specimens will have a Person in Control and written procedures for safe handling of biological specimens. (38) (39) All laboratory workers must be trained in the handling and disposal of sharps. (40) All staff must receive information about infection control as a component of their induction training. (41) Maintenance workers and trade staff must be trained in the handling and disposal of contaminated waste. (42) (43) (44) (45) (46) (47) Staff and (48) Travel permission may be denied if (49) International students and visiting academics are required to meet the same screening and immunisation standards of domestic students and staff. (50) Standard infection control principles will be practised in all Residences. (51) All Residence Business Continuity Plans must include procedures for infectious diseases and pandemics. (52) Residence management may require students to relocate during outbreaks of communicable diseases if isolation procedures need to be introduced. (53) Cleaning, kitchen, and student admission protocols will be amended if enhanced protocols are required to prevent or mitigate communicable disease outbreaks. (54) It is highly recommended that students and staff seek medical advice if they are unwell or have potentially communicable rashes, skin complaints and sexually transmitted infections. (55) (56) (57) The compilation of fact sheets and implementation of communication protocols will be a priority if the potential for a pandemic is identified. (58) Pandemic Action Plans will be implemented as required. (59) A consultative approach will be used to develop pandemic management guidelines, if required. (60) The Director People & Culturepursuant to the University's Workplace Health and Safety Rule, makes these Procedures. (61) (62) These Procedures operate as and from the (63) Previous Procedures relating to infectious disease are replaced and have no further operation from the (64) Communicable disease means an infectious disease that can be communicated from one person to another either directly or by contact or indirectly by fomites or vectors. (65) Fomite means any object or substance capable of carrying infectious organisms. (66) Infectious disease means any disease caused by invasion by a pathogen which subsequently grows or multiples in the body. (67) Notifiable diseases are communicable diseases notifiable under the Public Health Act and Regulation 1991. (68) Specified Infectious Diseases are communicable diseases for which the NSW Department of Health requires evidence of protection prior to employment on a casual, temporary or casual basis; they include diphtheria, hepatitis B, measles, mumps, rubella, pertussis, tetanus, tuberculosis, varicella (chicken pox). (69) Vector means an organism, typically a biting insect or tick, that transmits a disease or parasite from one animal to another. (70) Zoonosis means any infectious disease that can be transmitted (in some cases by a vector) from non-human animals, both wild and domesticated, to humans or from humans to non-humans.WHS OP014 (interim) Infectious Diseases Procedure
Section 1 - Overview
Section 2 - Scope
Section 3 - Procedure
General
Prevention of Transmission
Temporary disability
Medical Centre
Vaccinations
Zoonosis
Laboratory activities
Service staff
NSW Health Placements
International Travel
Residences
Pandemic
Authority and Compliance
Section 4 - Definitions
View Current
This is not a current document. It has been repealed and is no longer in force.