This induction presentation provides an overview of infection control for departmental staff. It discusses how infectious diseases spread easily in workplaces if controls are not in place. Key elements of an effective infection control program are outlined, including promoting infection control as standard practice, implementing appropriate protocols and providing training. Staff responsibilities around immunization, staying home when sick, and following standard precautions like hand washing are also reviewed. The presentation emphasizes preventing the spread of diseases through implementing an infection control program tailored to each workplace.

1. Infection Control
Induction for departmental staff
This is a comprehensive presentation.
Presenters are encouraged to tailor the content to suit specific
needs while covering relevant content.

2. Click on picture to play the animation.

3. Overview
Infection control is important in departmental workplaces.
There are specific diseases that can spread easily in our
workplaces if controls are not in place.
To protect your own health as well as the health of those
around you, an understanding of infectious diseases,
how they are spread and how to control them is
fundamental.

4. Infectious Diseases
Infectious diseases are diseases you can “catch”.
Humans are susceptible to a wide range of diseases that
can be contracted from:
• Other people (e.g. measles)
• Insects (e.g. mosquitoes)
• Animals = zoonosis (e.g. bats, horses, cattle)
• The environment (e.g. contaminated water, waste).

5. Departmental Workplaces
Infectious diseases spread easily
in our workplaces - why?
Groups of people, in close contact, for
extended periods and on a daily basis
e.g. classrooms.
Culture of attendance (staff/students/others)
Even when sick.
Possible contact with asymptomatic carriers
e.g. contagious before the symptoms show.
Non-vaccinated populations
Environmental
e.g. Returning to workplaces that may have been flooded,
contaminated with waste water/surface water.

6. Departmental Workplaces continued
Hygiene issues
e.g. poor cough and sneeze etiquette, hand washing.
Workplace activities
e.g. contact sports, special education, first aid.
Work duties
e.g. cleaning and maintenance, toileting.
Community engagement
e.g. Visitors and volunteers
Curriculum
e.g. Handling animals, food preparation and
food consumption, science activities.
Locations
e.g. Mosquito-borne diseases (Ross River, Dengue,
Japanese Encephalitis).

7. How infectious diseases are transmitted
— modes of transmission
Contact transmission
– direct contact with infectious blood or body substances.
Droplet transmission
– infectious agent in large droplets (respiratory secretions / splash /
splatter).
Airborne transmission
– infectious agent in aerosols and are inhaled.
Food-borne transmission
– consumption of contaminated food.
Water-borne transmission
– consumption of contaminated water.
Vector-borne transmission
– carried by a vector e.g. mosquito bites etc.

8. Airborne/Droplet Transmission
Large particles (droplets) can carry viruses and bacteria through
the air which can then be deposited onto mucous membranes (eye,
nose, mouth) of a susceptible person (e.g. via sneezing, coughing,
talking).
e.g. whooping cough, rubella, mumps, influenza, meningococcal disease.
Small particles (aerosols) that are airborne, may also be
deposited on mucous membranes or inhaled directly.
e.g. tuberculosis, Q fever, legionella, chicken pox, measles.

9. Contact Transmission
Direct contact
When blood or bodily substances from a person or animal come in
direct contact with another person in such a way that it can enter
their body.
e.g. Infected blood or other bodily fluid enters
another person’s system directly, via a wound or
via mucous membrane
e.g. needle stick injury, diseases passed from mother to
foetus, saliva exchange.
e.g. Infected blood or other body fluid from an
animal, enters another person’s system via a
wound or via mucous membranes
e.g. bat lyssavirus (scratch/bite), Ross River virus
(mosquito).

10. Contact Transmission – Indirect
Indirect contact
When germs from an infected host or other
source are passively transmitted to another
person e.g. via an inanimate object.
Inanimate objects: e.g. surfaces, keyboards, mouse,
telephone, iPad, utensils, cups, toothbrushes, razors, soiled
linen, taps and sinks etc.

11. Controlling Infectious Diseases
Controlling infectious diseases requires a
“multi-faceted” approach considering:
• Modes of transmission
• Evolving diseases and germ resistance
• People’s behaviour, knowledge & beliefs
• Environment (where we work, learn & play)
• Changing circumstances & emergencies
• Individual requirements & group requirements
The department therefore requires a tailored
Infection Control Program be implemented

12. Infection Control Program
Key elements of and effective Infection Control Program

13. How to Implement Infection Control
• Promote infection control as standard practice.
• Know the risks in your workplace, how diseases are
transmitted and how to implement controls.
• Have processes and protocols in place.
• Have appropriate facilities and consumables
(allocate funds).
• Signage e.g. correct hand washing technique.
• Provide and take part in training sessions.
• Maintain records of training.
• Promote vaccination.
• Adopt a risk management approach to infection
control.

14. Potential Infectious
Diseases in the
Workplace
• The Queensland Health
“Time Out” poster is an
excellent quick reference
resource.
• Download this poster for
ready reference:
http://www.health.qld.gov.au/
ph/documents/cdb/timeout_
poster.pdf
• Teachers/school staff and
managers should model the
recommended exclusion
periods when they are
unwell.

15. Protocol for managing infectious diseases
If a staff or student/parent advises of an infectious disease…
1. Maintain confidentiality, but inform the appropriate person at
your location (e.g. school admin/workplace manager).
2. Actions for School Admin/ Management
a) Determine the nature of the disease? (measles, chickenpox)
b) Confirm diagnosis (i.e. was the disease diagnosed by a
doctor?)
c) If confirmed by a doctor, seek relevant information from
Queensland Health.
d) When confirmed, the school/workplace may provide
information to staff/school community to be aware of
symptoms and recommended actions e.g. using a link to a
Queensland Health Fact Sheet.

16. Protocol for managing infectious diseases
continued
• Schools / workplaces do not notify
Queensland Health, but can call them for
advice if needed.
• If a prescribed contagious condition has been
diagnosed the doctor or laboratory will notify
Queensland Health.
• Queensland Health will only notify a school in
particular circumstances, e.g. a community
cluster/outbreak.

17. Preventing the spread of infection
Hand Washing
Hand washing is one of the most important measures in preventing
transmission of infection.
Hands should be washed using soap, water and then dried:
• BEFORE
‒ handling, preparing or eating food
• BEFORE AND AFTER
‒ assisting students with eating/meals
‒ assisting students with toileting
‒ providing first aid or medication
‒ contact with an ill or injured person
• AFTER
‒ contact with blood or body fluids
(this includes your own e.g. sneezing/coughing)
‒ removal of protective gloves
‒ using the toilet; and
‒ after contact with animals.

18. Vaccination
• Vaccination is not mandatory for staff or students of the department.
• However where a vaccination exists, this is the highest order of protection
from the infectious disease.
• Vaccination boosts the immune system and creates immunity that
protects from an infection without causing the suffering of the disease
itself.
• Most vaccines contain a little bit of the disease germ that is weak or dead.
Vaccines do NOT contain the type of germ that makes you sick.
• Getting the vaccine is a much safer way to make antibodies without
having to suffer the disease itself.

19. Occupation Specific Vaccination
Recommended Vaccinations for:
• Persons who work with children
‒ Influenza
‒ MMR (measles, mumps, rubella)
‒ Pertussis (whooping cough)
‒ Varicella (chicken pox).
• Staff working in early childhood education
and care
‒ All of the above plus hepatitis A.
Source: Australian Immunisation Handbook
10th Edition

20. Vaccination Funding
Staff Type Disease Funding Source
School Cleaners
School’s Officers
Teacher Aides
Hepatitis A
Hepatitis B
Workplace
Living and working in outer
islands of Torres Strait
Japanese Encephalitis Workplace
At risk of acquiring TB Tuberculosis Workplace – check with TB
Control unit
Ag studies – with risk of
exposure to Q fever
Q fever Workplace
All staff participating in
Annual Flu Program
Seasonal Influenza Funding determined locally
All staff National Immunisation
Program
vaccinations/boosters
Self funded

21. Prescribed Contagious Conditions
Prescribed Contagious Conditions as defined by
Queensland’s Public Health Act 2005 - Chapter 5 Part 2
• chickenpox (varicella)
• diphtheria
• enterovirus 71
• gastroenteritis
• german measles (rubella)
• haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib)
• hepatitis A
• influenza
• measles
• meningococcal disease (bacterial)
• poliomyelitis
• typhoid and paratyphoid
• tuberculosis
• whooping cough (pertussis)
Fact Sheet for Schools and Education and Care Services
Public Health Act 2005 – Contagious Conditions
Fact Sheet for Schools and Education and Care Services
Information for Schools, Education and Care Services and Child Care
Services

22. Protocols for prescribed contagious
conditions
• Under the Public Health Act 2005 children with a prescribed contagious
condition should not attend school or childcare until well and non-infectious.
• Unvaccinated children may need to stay away during a measles outbreak if
they are at risk of infection or infecting others.
• Following consultation with Queensland Health, school principals can
require children to stay away for a specified period if they have or are
suspected to have a contagious condition.
• Staff are expected to model appropriate behaviour and stay away from the
workplace if they are unwell or infectious.
• If a staff member contracts a work-caused serious illness as defined by
Work Health and Safety Legislation, this is to be notified to Workplace
Health and Safety Queensland by the workplace.

23. Diseases related to pregnancy
Our departmental workplaces have a large
number of females on site. Infectious
diseases that could impact on pregnancy
should be highlighted and precautions noted.
Those considering pregnancy or who are
pregnant should tell their doctor about their
work requirements, seek advice about any
recommended vaccinations/precautions and
know your immunisation status.
• Refer to the procedure Pregnancy in the
Workplace
• Any issues with regard to work placement
or leave should be discussed with your
Officer-in-Charge.
Infectious Diseases that
can impact on
pregnancy.
• Measles
• Mumps
• Rubella
• Influenza
• Chickenpox (Varicella)
• Cytomegalovirus (CMV)
• Parvovirus

24. What are your key responsibilities?
Know your immunisation status
Review your immunisation records. If you don’t have any, consider a blood
test to confirm your existing immunisation status. You may find you need a
“booster”.
Keep this information handy.
Stay home when unwell
Staff are expected to model appropriate behaviour and stay home when
they are unwell or infectious.
Promote and follow Standard Precautions for Infection Control
Good hygiene practices, hand washing, cough and sneeze etiquette etc.

25. What are your responsibilities?
Prevent the spread of infectious diseases
• Understand and adhere to procedures
Infection Control and the Infection Control Guideline
• Understand and adhere to procedure
Management of Prescribed Contagious Conditions
• Implement and follow an Infection Control Program that has been
developed for your workplace
• Seek advice if required.

26. Pandemic Planning
Interdepartmental protocols are in place for managing a pandemic or
other health threat.
Queensland’s Chief Health Officer establishes a State Health
Emergency Coordination Centre.
• All government departments then take direction from this team.
• Health threat responses will be tailored to the disease type.

27. Take Home Message
Remember
• Workplaces may harbour infectious diseases.
• There is relevant legislation (WHS Act 2011 and Public Health Act 2005).
• There are Departmental procedures and guidelines to follow:
─ Infection Control
─ Management of Prescribed Contagious Conditions
• Prevent the spread of infectious disease following an Infection Control
Program including Standard Precautions.
• Be aware of your own immunity status to common infectious diseases.
• Some infectious diseases can be harmful during pregnancy.
• Seek advice if required.

28. Further Resources
• Queensland Health – Phone: 13HEALTH (13432584)
• Queensland Health Fact Sheets
http://conditions.health.qld.gov.au/HealthConditions
• Departmental Policy: Infection Control
http://ppr.det.qld.gov.au/corp/hr/workplace/Pages/Infection-Control.aspx
• Departmental Policy: Management of Prescribed Contagious Conditions
http://ppr.det.qld.gov.au/education/community/Pages/Management-of-Prescribed-Contagious-
Conditions.aspx
• Infection Control Guideline
https://education.qld.gov.au/initiativesstrategies/Documents/infection-control-guidline.pdf
• Creating Healthier Workplaces – Infection Control
https://education.qld.gov.au/initiatives-and-strategies/health-and-
wellbeing/workplaces/safety/hazards
• Regional Senior Health and Safety Consultant
https://education.qld.gov.au/initiatives-and-strategies/health-and-wellbeing/workplaces/contacts
• Key Health and Safety Tips for Teachers
https://www.worksafe.qld.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0011/28010/Most-common-injuries-to-
teachers.pdf
• Local Qld Health Public Health Unit
https://www.health.qld.gov.au/system-governance/contact-us/contact/public-health-units

29. Questions?

30. Infection Control Animation
Click PLAY to run the department’s infection control
animation.
Web address: http://mediasite.eq.edu.au/mediasite/Play/5cfbdba5b124429a8166d4da9080a7211d