HIV/AIDS, Hepatitis B and C
The Health Act requires all cases of scheduled infectious diseases to be reported to the Health Department of WA. This includes HIV infection, Lymphadenopathy Syndrome, asymptomatic infection, Hepatitis B and Hepatitis C.
The Health Department is responsible for initiating the control procedures for infectious diseases. Policies on HIV/AIDS infection are developed by the WA Task Force, on which WorkSafe is represented.
Employees who have a positive test for AIDS antibodies and are healthy do not need to be excluded from their normal duties, with two exceptions. As with others suffering from an infectious disease, they should not participate in training for the administration of mouth-to-mouth resuscitation and they should not care for patients who have any disease that affects the immune system, due to the risk of transmitting infections to these patients.
Your employer should make sure Hepatitis B and C or HIV/AIDS positive employees follow some general precautions to prevent the transmission of the disease. This includes:
not donating blood;
covering any cuts or abrasions with a waterproof dressing;
wearing gloves when dealing with patients if skin is broken;
washing hands thoroughly after contact with their own blood or body fluids;
not sharing personal items such as razors and toothbrushes; and
having regular follow-up medical assessments (in the case of HIV/AIDS).
There is no likelihood of catching HIV/AIDS or Hepatitis B or C from casual contact at work. As Hepatitis B and C and HIV/AIDS are blood born diseases, it is not necessary for the employer to be informed that the employee is infected, unless warranted by their particular situation, such as doctors and dentists where the risk of infection is increased due to contact with body fluids. Open communication, understanding, support and assistance are needed.
