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Infection is caused by pathogens ('bugs') such as bacteria, viruses, protozoa or fungi getting into or onto the body. It can take some time before the microbes multiply enough to trigger symptoms of illness, which means an infected person may unwittingly be spreading the disease during this incubation period. Infection control in the workplace aims to prevent pathogens from coming into contact with a person in the first place. Employers are obliged under the Occupational Health and Safety Act 2004 to provide a safe workplace for their employees, including the provision of adequate infection control procedures and the right equipment and training. Transmission of infectionInfectious agents can be spread in a variety of ways, including:
Assumption of riskThe basis of good infection control in the workplace is to assume that everyone is potentially infectious. Proper procedures have to be followed at all times. Every workplace should have an appropriate first aid kit, with at least one staff member trained in first aid. Equipment such as gloves, gowns, eye goggles and face shields should be provided if necessary. Workplace infection control – personal hygiene practicesInfection control procedures relating to good personal hygiene include:
Food preparation and workplace infection controlWhen preparing food:
Infection control and workplace cleanlinessInfection control procedures relating to cleanliness in the workplace include:
Dealing with spills of body fluidsExamples of body fluids include blood, saliva, urine and faeces. When dealing with spills of body fluids, infection control procedures need to be followed carefully. Always:
Infection control – disposing of infectious wasteTo dispose of infectious waste that has been contaminated with blood or other body fluids:
Workplace infection control – handling contaminated sharpsInfection control procedures when handling needles and other sharp contaminated objects include:
Infection control – occupational exposure to body fluidsIf you come in contact with blood or body fluids:
Employers and occupational health and safety representatives should investigate all incidents involving contact with blood or body fluids, and take action to prevent a similar incident from happening again. Where to get help
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A fact of life that will never change is that bacteria and viruses are everywhere around us. Some ‘bad’, some ‘good’ and some won’t affect us at all. Coughing, breathing, touching and bodily fluids can all spread these microorganisms between us and even lead to serious deadly diseases. Coronavirus (COVID-19)The World Health Organisation (WHO) assesses the risk of the current Coronavirus to be very high in China, high at the regional level and high at the global level based on the categorisation of "a global evaluation of risk, covering severity, spread and capacity to cope". Thus, it is very important that everyone understands how to protect themselves and others. More information about WHO's advice for the public can be found here. Head to the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) for Victorian updates.
When providing First Aid, you should think of each situation as potentially infectious. When there are wounds that contain blood, CPR that can involve saliva, or even a case of poisoning that could feature vomit, there is the potential to be exposed to any type of bodily fluid when interacting with someone who is unwell. While rare, there have been documented cases of disease transmission of Tuberculosis and Hepatitis to First Aiders. Being aware of these risks means you can put measures in place to reduce them. You should aim to minimise the possibility of spreading disease both to benefit yourself and the person you are providing First Aid to. Standard Precautions for Infection ControlThere are some basic practices to follow to prevent spreading infections when providing First Aid, whether there are known or unknown infections present:
If you treat the procedures for infection control as automatic each time a First Aid incident is attended, there will be little room for microorganisms to sneak through.
Washing hands effectively is the number one way to stop infections in their tracks. In fact, it can prevent about 30% of diarrhoea related sicknesses and about 20% of respiratory infections (source). It sounds so simple and we do it every day, however, many adults don’t follow best practice and are spreading disease unknowingly and unwittingly. It’s more than just running your hands underwater for a few seconds. A few tips you should follow to make sure you’re doing it properly:
However, you should never touch any wounds or used dressings with your bare hands, which is where personal protective equipment is vital.
As a First Aider, you may be at higher risk of infection due to your role. To protect yourself and the casualty/s you are providing First Aid to, keep infection control front of mind at all times. One small lapse in procedure could put you or others at risk, however following our guide will mean that your exposure is limited. Download our free guide on how to provide First Aid safely during COVID-19.
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