Workforce immunisation will cover a variety of specific vaccinations depending on the risks associated with the work place. This risk assessment can be used by an organisation as part of their process to manage risk in the workforce.
The risk assessment should be used to estimate risk for all relevant disease or infection risks that impact upon your organisation (hospitals, day procedures and dental practices) or the services offered in specific clinical settings.
For example, a health service organisation will need to assess risk for relevant vaccine preventable diseases or infections that impact upon the scope of role and function of members of the workforce. The risks for these vaccine preventable diseases may differ between work groups or departments within the organisation.
For further guidance on this, refer to: o the Australian Guidelines for the Prevention and Control of Infections in
Healthcare (NHMRC 2010) http://www.safetyandquality.gov.au/our-work/healthcare-associated-infection/national-infection-control-guidelines/ o the Australian Immunisation Handbook (NHMRC current edition) http://www.immunise.health.gov.au/internet/immunise/publishing.nsf/Content/Handbook10-home
and o jurisdictional documents that have been developed to identify relevant risk areas to be considered by health service providers relating to specific vaccine preventable infections or diseases.
Risk Factors – to be considered when calculating risk for workforce immunisation .
1. History of vaccination or disease/infection – risk will be dependent on point 2
− Confirmed past history of vaccination or disease to specific vaccine preventable
−
− diseases or infections e.g. hepatitis B
Unsure of previous vaccination or disease status
Unvaccinated or no known history of disease or infection
2. Workforce assessment – related to point 1
− Pre-employment – information required as part of recruitment process prior to job
−
− offer being confirmed.
On commencement of work in the organisation
An existing employee being assessed
3. Opportunity for Exposure – independent risk factor
−
−
−
No direct contact with patients or clients
Contact with patients or clients – no contact with blood or body substances
Contact with patients or clients – direct or indirect contact with blood or body substances
4. Consequences of exposure – independent risk factor
− Occupational acquisition of a specific vaccine preventable disease or infection
−
−
Health care associated infection of a specific vaccine preventable disease or infection
Increased risk of acquisition of disease or infection to specific vaccine preventable diseases or infections
− No increased risk of dis infections ease or infection to specific vaccine preventable diseases or
− Corporate risk including not meeting duty of care, litigation, workers compensation claims, decreased productivity, increased insurance premiums, risk of regulatory breach.
Workforce Immunisation Risk Matrix_ August 2013
TRIM - 85083

Calculating level of risk (assessing and scoring each matrix separately)
Workforce Immunisation
2. Workforce assessment
Pre-employment
On commencement of work
Existing employee
1. History of vaccination or infection/disease
Confirmed past history of vaccination or disease
Unsure of previous vaccination or disease
1 = Low
1 = Low
2 = Low
4 = Medium
6 = Medium
8 = High
Unvaccinated or no known history of vaccination or disease
6 = Medium
8 = High
10 = Very High
No direct contact with patients or clients
3. Opportunity for exposure
Contact with patients or clients - No contact with blood or body substances
Contact with patients or clients
– Direct or indirect contact with blood or body substances
1 = Low 4 = Medium 8 = High
Risk Score
4. Consequences of exposure to a specific vaccine preventable disease or infection
Occupational acquisition
Health care associated infection
Increased risk of acquisition of disease
No increased risk of disease or infection
Corporate risk
9 = High 8 = High 6 = Medium 1 = Low 10 = Very High
Risk Factors
1, 2. History of vaccination and workforce assessment
3. Opportunity for exposure
4. Consequences of exposure
Risk Rating (score)
Score
Overall Risk Rating
Risk Factors
Low risk
Medium
High
Very High
Score
1-8
9-16
17-24
10-28
Workforce Immunisation Risk Matrix_ August 2013
TRIM - 85083