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Infectious and Communicable Diseases Policy

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Section 1 - Purpose

(1) QUT recognises that certain work or study-related activities may increase the risk of contracting an infectious or communicable disease. This includes, but is not limited to, handling biological materials, providing some types of healthcare, exposure to human or animal tissues or body fluids, working with pathogenic organisms, and travelling to certain areas or countries.

(2) The University is committed to ensuring QUT community members (staff, students and authorised visitors) do not put themselves or others at risk of harm. The University actively reduces the risk of exposure to harm by assessing and controlling the risks associated with work and study practices, providing appropriate information to relevant persons, and promoting appropriate vaccination to those at risk.

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Section 2 - Application

(3) This Policy applies to QUT community members who, as part of their work or study, may be at risk of exposure to an infectious or communicable disease, and those who have responsibility for supervising these people.

(4) QUT complies with Queensland Health policies which require all members of the QUT community working in Queensland Health facilities to be appropriately immunised.

(5) Under the Public Health Act 2005 (Qld) the University is required to disclose contact information to Queensland Health to trace persons at risk and assist to prevent or minimise the spread of a notifiable condition, e.g. measles, whooping cough.

(6) This Policy does not address the communicable disease risk and travel immunisation requirements for persons travelling on QUT business overseas. The QUT Travel Policy provides further information.

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Section 3 - Roles and Responsibilities

Position
Responsibility
Vice-President (Administration) and University Registrar
Approves procedures under this Policy, including procedures involving notifiable conditions under the Public Health Act 2005(Qld).
Executive Deans of faculty/Heads of Division/Vice-Presidents/Deputy Vice-Chancellors
Ensure appropriate procedures are in place to conduct and document a risk assessment of work and study practices which may lead to exposure to infectious or communicable diseases.
Ensure appropriate local procedures are developed to manage the advice, certification and documentation process where risk requires the immunisation of individuals.
Ensure course information includes advice on possible exposure and immunisation, and meet course requirements if applicable.
Heads of School/Department/Independent Section
Ensure students are informed of possible exposure risk in sufficient time for completion of immunisation.
Managers and Supervisors
Identify work or study activities that have the potential to expose staff or students to an infectious or communicable disease.
Based on assessment of risk:
  • implement appropriate control measures to minimise exposure to an infectious or communicable disease; and
  • inform relevant people of potential exposure risk and controls, including general infection control protocols and, as relevant, vaccination.
Ensure local procedures (including recordkeeping) are established to confirm immunisation where the risk assessment recommends immunisation of individuals.
Staff or students where immunity is a condition of work or placement in Queensland Health or other healthcare facility
Must be appropriately vaccinated.
May be unable to attend Queensland Health or other specified facilities if undertaking processes or procedures which carry disease contamination risks, unless able to produce evidence of vaccination and immunity status prior to first visit.
Staff or Higher Degree Research (HDR) students where immunity is a recommended control for undertaking work or a research activity
Undertake recommended vaccination/s and provide confirmation of immunity prior to undertaking the activity for which this is required.
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Section 4 - Vaccination

(7) Infectious control procedures available to QUT, as specified by the Australian Immunisation Handbook, consider vaccination a basic precautionary measure for vaccine-preventable diseases.

(8) Vaccinations are available to QUT staff and students through the QUT Medical Centre.

(9) The organisational unit will meet all costs associated with the vaccination of staff or Higher Degree Research (HDR) students whose positions or program of study/research may place them "at risk".

(10) All other students must meet the costs of vaccination and evidence of immunity themselves, unless otherwise arranged. Course material supplied to students must highlight the requirement for vaccination.

(11) The Health, Safety and Environment webpages provide more information on assessing and HSE Risk Management and managing vaccination and immunisation.

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Section 5 - Communicable Diseases in the Wider Community

(12) There will be times when the public (including the QUT community) may have a communicable disease. Identification and treatment of such diseases is the responsibility of the individual’s medical practitioner or the appropriate unit in Queensland Health.

(13) QUT is required to comply with the advice and directions of the appropriate Public Health Unit of the Queensland Department of Health when certain infectious or communicable diseases are reported to the University. The Public Health Unit’s instructions will determine issues of disclosure, contact with individuals, information for dissemination, and from time to time, may even govern which University activities are permitted or prohibited.

(14) Further information on the management of infectious or communicable diseases including notifiable conditions is provided through the Queensland Health website and Communicable and Infectious Disease webpages (QUT staff access only).

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Section 6 - Definitions

Term Definition
Authorised Visitors Means genuine visitors that the University may, from time to time, provide with access to facilities to enhance their ability to complete tasks for the University or to liaise with the University. Such visitors may include, but are not limited, to: alumni, external auditors, regulators or consultants, potential clients or business partners, contractors or vendors, volunteers, conference delegates, and students and staff of other universities with reciprocal arrangements.
Infectious Diseases Are diseases caused by pathogenic agents or microorganisms (e.g. bacteria, viruses, fungi or parasites) when they enter the body. An infectious disease may also be transmissible from person to person or animal to person otherwise known as a communicable disease. 
Notifiable Conditions Are diseases that are required to be reported by a health care professional (e.g. doctor) to government authorities.
QUT Community Means all staff, students and authorised visitors.