Creating Healthier Workplaces > Health and Safety > Hazards in Schools >

Infection Control

Departmental procedures and guidelines
Resources
Legislation and other links

Schools/TAFEs and other departmental workplaces are common sites for transmission of infectious and diseases. Departmental workplaces therefore have an important role in ensuring awareness of infection control processes and implementing infection control programs.

The development of an Infection Control Program, including the application of standard precautions is an effective way to prevent or minimise the spread of infection, illness and disease to staff, students and others. 'Standard precautions' is a term used in health sectors and describes the assumption that all blood and bodily fluids/substances are potentially infectious and should be treated accordingly. E.g. good hygiene and hand washing, use of personal protective equipment, appropriate waste disposal, vaccination, cleaning and sanitation.

The importance of proactively implementing standard precautions and good hygiene practices cannot be understated as:

in DET workplaces there are large numbers of people in close contact on a daily basis
individuals can be infectious during the time period before symptoms are obvious
non-vaccinated staff/students/visitors
DET activities (injury/contact sports)

Departmental Procedures and Guidelines

HLS-PR-029: Infection Control
Infection control guideline
Infection Control Presentation : minimising the spread of infectious disease in the workplace
HLS-PR-004: Management of Prescribed Contagious Conditions
HLS-PR-011: Control of Head Lice (Pediculosis) in Schools

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Resources

Queensland Health Time Out Poster / Exclusion Table
Some medical conditions require exclusion from school or child care to prevent the spread of infectious diseases among staff and children.
Hand washing and glove removal posters
Poster which should be laminated and placed above hand basins and in first aid areas.
Hand washing poster
Poster which should be laminated and placed above hand basins.
Hepatitis A and B vaccination fact sheet
Provides information on Hepatitis A and Hepatitis B. Information is also provided on who is at risk, vaccination recommendations and costs. Links are available for further information.
Influenza and flu hygiene
OHS tool kit module - Infection control
Q fever fact sheet
Staff and students involved in certain agricultural studies may be at risk of contracting Q fever. This fact sheet provides information on the prevention of Q fever in schools.
Queensland Health Information Directory
A directory of fact sheets providing information on infectious diseases and other conditions.
Recommended childhood vaccination schedule
National Health and Medical Research Council's recommended vaccination schedule for Australia.
Safe handling and disposal of needles and syringes
Information for the prevention of needle stick injures and recommended procedures to follow should an injury occur.

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Legislation and other links

Public Health Act 2005
Kids Health
Jargon-free health information for 'kids', 'teens' and 'parents' including articles, animations, games and resources.
National Health and Medical Research Council
Provides independent advice on all aspects of health and health care delivery in Australia.
Queensland Health
Staying healthy in childcare
Provides simple but effective methods for minimising the spread of infections for many common childhood diseases.
The Australian Immunisation Handbook

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This page was last reviewed on 06 Mar 2012 at 12:02PM