Infection Control

Version Number

2.0

Implementation Date

9/07/2012

Scope

Department-wide

Purpose

​This procedure describes the requirements expected by the Department of Education, Training and Employment (DETE) for the health, safety and wellbeing of staff, students and others with regard to infection control through both preventative and management strategies.

Overview

​Outlines Department of Education, Training and Employment (DETE) requirements for the health, safety and wellbeing of staff, students and others with regard to infection control through both preventative strategies and management processes. This procedure is to be read in conjunction with the Infection Control Guideline.

DETE has a general duty under the Work Health and Safety Act 2011 to prevent injury and illness in the workplace. The Department is committed to minimising the risk of exposure of staff, students and others to infectious disease agents.

Infection control practices are to be implemented at all departmental workplaces. This procedure and the Infection Control Guideline have been established to provide a minimum standard to be implemented. 

Responsibilities

​Director General 

  • Protect the health, safety and wellbeing of staff, students and others in accordance with the requirements of the Work Health and Safety Act 2011 (Qld).
  • Infection Control Programs are to be implemented at all departmental workplaces through the administration of local infection control practices in accordance with the Infection Control Procedure and Guideline. This procedure and the Infection Control Guideline have been established to provide a minimum standard to be implemented.
  • Assure that Officers-in-Charge  are aware of their responsibilities relating to infection control at their workplace.

Officers-in-Charge

  • Develop and implement local infection control practices in accordance with the Infection Control Guideline.
  • Allocate funding and resources for implementing these practices.  This includes personnel, facilities, processes and practices. 
  • Assure all staff, students and others are aware of infectious disease related hazards in their workplace, including diseases relevant to pregnancy.
  • Assure all staff are appropriately trained in the area of infection control and the ways to minimise the risk of exposure of staff, students and others to infectious disease agents.
  • Maintain accurate records of training.
  • Monitor infection control measures to ensure they are providing an adequate level of safety.

All Staff

  • Understand the Infection Control Guideline to implement appropriate infection control measures.
  • Take part in training on infection control.
  • Implement infection control practices to minimise the risk of exposure to infectious disease agents for yourself and others.
  • Be aware of infectious diseases for which your immunity has been established (via exposure or vaccination).
  • Seek advice from your medical practitioner regarding the management of your specific health conditions in your work environment.
  • Maintain an up-to-date record of your immunisation status. 

Process

​See above in Responsibilities.

Online Resources

​Supporting documents 

Online materials

 

Review Date

8/09/2013
Attribution-NonCommercial CC BY-NC

​Contagious Condition
A medical condition prescribed under the Public Health Regulation 2005 (Qld) as a contagious condition. The medical conditions currently listed as contagious conditions are - Diphtheria, Enterovirus 71 (EV71), Gastroenteritis, Haemophilus influenzae type b, Hepatitis A, Measles, Meningococcal infection (invasive), Paratyphoid, Pertussis (whooping cough), Poliomyelitis – wild type and vaccine associated, Tuberculosis, Typhoid, Varicella – zoster virus infection (chickenpox).

Others
People who are at the worksite, who are not staff or students.  This is generally volunteers, visitors and contractors.

Standard Precautions
Standard precautions are work practices that assume that all blood and body fluids are potentially infectious. Standard precautions should be used as a first-line approach to preventing infection and should be adopted for contact with all blood and body fluids.

Standard precautions include:

  • good hygiene practices, including hand washing
  • use of personal protective equipment (PPE)
  • appropriate handling and disposal of sharps and other infectious waste
  • appropriate cleaning and disinfection of contaminated items

Definitions

Authority

Related Policy Instruments

Attachments

Contact

​For further information, please contact:

Education Queensland and TAFE Regional Health and Safety Consultants

Uncontrolled Copy Disclaimer

Uncontrolled copy. Refer to the Department of Education, Training and Employment Policy and Procedure Register at http://ppr.det.qld.gov.au( http://ppr.det.qld.gov.au/ ) to ensure you have the most current version of this document.