Blood and - University of Queensland

Risk Assessment and TrainingEach department/school/centre is responsible for ensuring the safety of staff, students, contractors and visitorsby maintaining an ongoing and appropriate risk identification and management process, which includes thefollowing:Identifying the tasks in which potentially infectious material is handled;Assessing the associated risks;Applying local safe work instructions and procedures which result in theMinimisation of the risk involved;Implementing the relevant immunisation requirements;Ensuring personal hygiene is appropriate;Inducting new staff, students and contractors as well as visitors to the area to ensure they are familiarand compliant with the above;Informing all female employees or pregnant woman of the risk to the unborn child of occupationalexposure to certain microorganisms such as Toxoplasma gondii, Listeria monocytogenes, Coxiella burnetii,rubella and hepatitis B, C and E viruses.Risk assessment and management should be carried out using the UQ Risk Assessment Database at:http://www.uq.edu.au/ohs/index.html?page=29960The following types of incidents must be specifically addressed in safe local work instructions: Introduction of blood, blood products, tissue or body fluids through the skin or onto mucosal surfaces (eg.Inside mouth, nose or onto eyes); Reporting of any “near miss” incidents onto mucosal surfaces (eg. inside mouth, nose and into the eye, orneedle stick injuries); Splashes to exposed skin including the face.ImmunisationThe University’s Immunisation Policy and Guideline should be read in detail as those handling human or animalblood, blood products, tissues and body fluids or performing exposure prone invasive procedures are at risk ofcontracting infectious diseases, some of which are vaccine-preventable.Staff and students should refer to their school or centre’s immunisation requirements. The University alsorecognises that many of its students and staff perform duties or placements in Queensland Government facilitiesand these students and staff (and the University) are obliged to observe the immunisation requirements imposedby the state government. In particular Queensland Health requires that all potentially at risk health care staff andvisitors (including students) be vaccinated against hepatitis B. The University of Queensland adopts and complieswith Queensland Health policy in this area.Baseline Serum SampleIt is not recommended that blood samples be taken routinely from new or current staff and students for baselineserum levels. However it may be required as a result of the outcome of a risk assessment and the facilitycontainment level involved. Persons working in Physical Containment 3 (PC3) facilities will require healthmonitoring. This may include initial and periodic examinations requiring a medical examination, chest X-ray andwhere relevant, a baseline serum sample. Such blood samples must be taken after obtaining informed consent.The sample must be stored securely and appropriately bearing in mind the medical and legal implicationsinvolved in the subsequent use of such specimens.Local Safe Work Procedures for Working with Blood and Body Fluids Page 2 of 8Occupational Health & Safety Division May 2012 , v3.2