Infection Control
Induction for departmental staff
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suit specific needs while covering relevant content.
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animation.
Overview
Infection control is important in departmental workplaces.
There are specific diseases that can spread easily in our
workplaces if controls are not in place.
To protect your own health as well as the health of those
around you, an understanding of infectious diseases, how they
are spread and how to control them is fundamental.
Infectious Diseases
Infectious diseases are diseases you can
“catch”.
Humans are susceptible to a wide range of
diseases that can be contracted from:
•Other people (e.g. measles)
•Insects (e.g. mosquitoes)
•Animals = zoonosis (e.g. bats, horses, cattle)
•The environment (e.g. contaminated water, waste).
Departmental Workplaces
Infectious diseases spread easily in our workplaces - why?
Groups of people, in close contact, for extended periods & on a
daily basis e.g. classrooms
Culture of attendance (staff/students/others)
Even when sick.
Possible contact with asymptomatic carriers
e.g. contagious before the symptoms show.
Non-vaccinated populations
Environmental
e.g. Returning to workplaces that may have been flooded,
contaminated with waste water/surface water.
Departmental Workplaces continued…
Hygiene issues
e.g. poor cough & sneeze etiquette, hand washing
Workplace activities
e.g. contact sports / special education / first aid
Work duties
e.g. cleaning & maintenance, toileting
Community engagement
e.g. Visitors & volunteers
Curriculum
e.g. Handling animals, food preparation and
food consumption, science activities.
Locations
e.g. Mosquito borne diseases (Ross River, Dengue,
Japanese Encephalitis)
How are infectious diseases
transmitted – modes of transmission
Contact transmission – direct contact with infectious blood
or body substances.
Droplet transmission – infectious agent in large droplets
(respiratory secretions / splash / splatter).
Airborne transmission – infectious agent in aerosols and
are inhaled.
Food-borne transmission – consumption of contaminated
food.
Water-borne transmission – consumption of contaminated
water.
Vector-borne transmission – carried by a vector e.g.
mosquito bites etc.
Airborne/Droplet Transmission
Large particles (droplets) can carry viruses and bacteria
through the air which can then be deposited onto mucous
membranes (eye, nose, mouth) of a susceptible person
(e.g. via sneezing, coughing, talking).
e.g. whooping cough, rubella, mumps, influenza, meningococcal disease.
Small particles (aerosols) that are airborne, may also be
deposited on mucous membranes or inhaled directly.
e.g. tuberculosis, Q fever, legionella, chicken pox, measles.
Contact Transmission - Direct
Direct contact
When blood or bodily substances from a
person or animal come in direct contact with
another person in such a way that it can enter
.
their body.
e.g. Infected blood or other bodily fluid enters another
person’s system directly, via a wound or via mucous
membrane e.g. needle stick injury, diseases passed from mother to
foetus, saliva exchange.
e.g. Infected blood or other body fluid from an animal,
enters another person’s system via a wound or via
mucous membranes e.g. bat lyssavirus (scratch/bite),
Ross River virus (mosquito).
Contact Transmission - Indirect
Indirect Contact
when germs from an infected host or
other source are passively transmitted to
another person e.g. via an inanimate
object.
Inanimate objects: e.g. surfaces, keyboards,
mouse, telephone, iPad, utensils, cups,
toothbrushes, razors, soiled linen, taps and sinks
etc.
Controlling Infectious Diseases
Controlling infectious diseases requires a
“multi-faceted” approach considering:
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Modes of transmission
Evolving diseases and germ resistance
People’s behaviour, knowledge & beliefs
Environment (where we work, learn & play)
Changing circumstances & emergencies
Individual requirements & group requirements
The department therefore requires a tailored
Infection Control Program be implemented
Infection Control Program
Key elements of and effective Infection Control Program
How to implement infection
control
– Promote infection control as standard practice
– Know the risks in your workplace, how diseases are
transmitted and how to implement controls.
– Have processes and protocols in place
– Have appropriate facilities and consumables (allocate funds)
– Signage e.g. correct hand washing technique
– Provide and take part in training sessions
– Maintain records of training
– Promote vaccination
– Adopt a risk management approach to infection control
Potential Infectious
Diseases in the workplace
• The Queensland Health
“Time Out” poster is an
excellent quick reference
resource.
• Download this poster for
ready reference.
http://www.health.qld.gov.au/ph/
documents/cdb/timeout_poster.
pdf
• Teachers/school staff and
managers should model
the recommended
exclusion periods when
they are unwell.
Protocol for managing
infectious diseases
If a staff or student/parent advises of an infectious disease….
1. Maintain confidentiality, but inform the appropriate person at your
location (e.g. school admin/workplace manager)
2. Actions for School Admin/ Management
a) Determine the nature of the disease? (measles, chickenpox)
b) Confirm diagnosis (i.e. was a the disease diagnosed by a doctor?)
c) If confirmed by a doctor, seek relevant information from Qld Health.
d) When confirmed, the school / workplace may provide information to
staff/school community to be aware of symptoms and recommended
actions e.g. using a link to a Qld Health Fact Sheet.
Protocol for managing
infectious diseases continued:
• Schools / workplaces do not notify Qld
Health, but can call them for advice if
needed.
• If a prescribed contagious condition has been
diagnosed the doctor or laboratory will
notify Qld Health.
• Queensland Health will only notify a school in
particular circumstances. e.g. a community
cluster/outbreak.
Preventing the spread of infection
Hand Washing
is one of the most important measures in preventing transmission of
infection.
Hands should be washed using soap, water and then dried:
•before
– handling, preparing or eating food
•before and after
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assisting students with eating/meals
assisting students with toileting
providing first aid or medication
contact with an ill or injured person
•after
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contact with blood or body fluids
(this includes your own e.g. sneezing/coughing)
removal of protective gloves
using the toilet; and
after contact with animals.
Vaccination
• Vaccination not mandatory for staff or students of the
department.
• However where a vaccination exists, this is the highest
order of protection from the infectious disease.
• Vaccination boosts the immune system and creates
immunity that protects from an infection without causing the
suffering of the disease itself.
• Most vaccines contain a little bit of the disease germ that is
weak or dead. Vaccines do NOT contain the type of germ
that makes you sick.
• Getting the vaccine is a much safer way to make
antibodies without having to suffer the disease itself.
Occupation Specific Vaccination
Recommended Vaccinations for:
• Persons who work with children
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Influenza
MMR (measles, mumps, rubella)
Pertussis (whooping cough)
Varicella (chicken pox)
• Staff working in early childhood education and care
• All of the above plus hepatitis A.
Source: Australian Immunisation Handbook 10th Edition
Vaccination Funding
Staff Type
Disease
Funding Source
School Cleaners
School’s Officers
Teacher Aides
Hepatitis A
Hepatitis B
Workplace
Living and working in
outer islands of Torres
Strait
Japanese Encephalitis
Workplace
At risk of acquiring TB
Tuberculosis
Workplace – check with
TB Control unit
Ag studies – with risk of
exposure to Q fever
Q fever
Workplace
All staff participating in
Annual Flu Program
Seasonal Influenza
Funding determined
locally
All staff
National Immunisation
Program
vaccinations/boosters
Self funded.
Prescribed Contagious Conditions
Prescribed Contagious Conditions as defined by Queensland’s Public Health
Act 2005 - Chapter 5 Part 2
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chickenpox (varicella)
diphtheria
enterovirus 71
gastroenteritis
german measles (rubella)
haemophilus influenzae type b
(Hib)
• hepatitis A
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influenza
measles
meningococcal disease (bacterial)
poliomyelitis
typhoid and paratyphoid
tuberculosis
whooping cough (pertussis)
Fact Sheet for Schools and Education and Care Services
Public Health Act 2005 – Contagious Conditions
Fact Sheet for Schools and Education and Care Services
Information for Schools, Education and Care Services and Child Care Services
Protocols for prescribed contagious
conditions
• Under the Public Health Act 2005 children with a prescribed
contagious condition should not attend school or childcare until well
and non-infectious.
• Unvaccinated children may need to stay away during a measles
outbreak if they are at risk of infection or infecting others.
• following consultation with Qld Health , school Principals can require
children to stay away for a specified period if they have or are
suspected to have a contagious condition.
• Staff are expected to model appropriate behaviour and stay away from
the workplace if they are unwell or infectious.
• If a staff member contracts a work caused serious illness as defined by
Work Health and Safety Legislation, this is to be notified to Workplace
Health and Safety Queensland by the workplace.
Diseases related to pregnancy
Our departmental workplaces have a large number
of females on site. Infectious diseases that
could impact on pregnancy should be highlighted
and precautions noted.
Infectious Diseases that
can impact on
pregnancy.
•Measles
Those considering pregnancy or who are pregnant
should tell their doctor about their work
requirements, seek advise about any
recommended vaccinations / precautions and
know your immunisation status.
•Mumps
•Rubella
•Influenza
– Refer to the procedure Pregnancy in the
Workplace
•Chickenpox (Varicella)
– Any issues with regard to work placement or
leave should be discussed with your Officer-inCharge.
•Parvovirus
•Cytomegalovirus (CMV)
•What are your
•key responsibilities?
Know your immunisation status - Review your
immunisation records. If you don’t have any, consider a
a blood test to confirm your existing immunisation
status. You may find you need a “booster”.
Keep this information handy.
Stay home when unwell - staff are expected to
model appropriate behaviour and stay home when they
are unwell or infectious.
Promote and follow Standard Precautions for
Infection Control – good hygiene practices, hand
washing, cough and sneeze etiquette etc.
What are your
key responsibilities?
Prevent the spread of infectious diseases
 Understand and adhere to procedures
Infection Control and the Infection Control Guideline
 Understand and adhere to procedure
Management of Prescribed Contagious Conditions
 Implement and follow an Infection Control Program that has
been developed for your workplace
 Seek advice if required.
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Pandemic Planning
Interdepartmental protocols are in place for
managing a pandemic or other health threat.
Queensland’s Chief Health Officer
establishes a State Health Emergency
Coordination Centre.
• All government departments then take
direction from this team.
• Health threat responses will be tailored to
the disease type.
Take Home Message
Remember
 Workplaces may harbour infectious diseases.
 There is relevant legislation (WHS Act 2011 and Public Health Act 2005)
 There are Departmental procedures and guidelines to follow:
 Infection Control
 Management of Prescribed Contagious Conditions
 Prevent the spread of infectious disease following an
Infection Control Program including Standard Precautions
 Be aware of your own immunity status to common infectious
diseases.
 Some infectious diseases can be harmful during pregnancy.
 Seek advice if required.
Further Resources
• Queensland Health – Phone: 13HEALTH (13432584)
• Queensland Health Fact Sheets http://conditions.health.qld.gov.au/HealthConditions
• Departmental Policy: Infection Control
http://ppr.det.qld.gov.au/corp/hr/workplace/Pages/Infection-Control.aspx
• Departmental Policy: Management of Prescribed Contagious Conditions
http://education.qld.gov.au/strategic/eppr/health/index.html
• Infection Control Guideline
http://education.qld.gov.au/health/pdfs/healthsafety/infection_control_guideline.pdf
• Creating Healthier Workplaces – Infection Control
http://education.qld.gov.au/health/safety/hazards/infection.html
• Regional Senior Health and Safety Consultant
http://education.qld.gov.au/health/contacts/hscontacts.html
• Key Health and Safety Tips for Teachers
http://www.deir.qld.gov.au/workplace/documents/showDoc.html?WHS%20Fast%20Facts/he
althcommunity%20-%20teacher
• Local Qld Health Public Health Unit
http://www.health.qld.gov.au/healthyschools/contactus.asp
Questions?
Infection Control Animation
Click PLAY to run the department’s infection
control animation.
Web address: http://mediasite.eq.edu.au/mediasite/Play/5cfbdba5b124429a8166d4da9080a7211d