Download Reducing Risk of Communicable Disease Policy

All Personnel
OP 4119.42.02/4219.42.02/4319.42.02(a)
REDUCING RISK OF COMMUNICABLE DISEASE
To protect the health of all students and staff, the County Office has established safe
practices for the management of communicable diseases. Each case involving an employee
with a serious or life threatening infectious disease is managed on a case-by-case basis
according to SCOE policies and guidelines established by Public Health Department, as
applicable.
Purpose: To prevent the spread of communicable disease to County Office students and
staff.
Timeline: Immediately upon suspicion or detection of communicable disease or condition.
Procedures:
1.
Co-workers or supervisor notifies the school nurse of any instance of suspected
contagious disease.
2.
School nurse, if available will examine the employee and contact the Public Health
Department, when appropriate;
3.
Co-workers or supervisor must immediately notify the program administrator.
4.
The program administrator develops a plan for the employee to leave the work site to
seek appropriate medical care, and notifies appropriate staff if a communicable
disease is verified.
5.
School nurse communicates case management recommendations to site administrator,
as appropriate.
6.
School nurse and/or administrator coordinates with the Public Health Department to
plan and implement case finding and any recommended follow-up.
7.
If an employee incurs an exposure to blood or other potentially infectious materials,
the employee will he directed to report the exposure incident as described in the
Sonoma County Office of Education Bloodborne Pathogens Exposure Control Plan.
The employee will receive directions regarding the procedure for obtaining a
confidential medical evaluation and follow-up.
8.
Employee is authorized to return to work when Human Resources receives written
verification from a medical practitioner indicating that the employee is no longer
contagious and is able to return to work.
9.
If the employee is released with restrictions, the provisions of reasonable
accommodation will apply.
OP 4119.42.02/4219.42.02/4319.42.02(b)
REDUCING RISK OF COMMUNICABLE DISEASE (continued)
During an outbreak of influenza or other highly contagious disease, employees may be asked
to follow procedures to reduce the spread of the disease such as the following:
1.
Practice good hand hygiene often throughout the day by using soap and water, hand
sanitizer, or hand wipes. To kill an influenza virus hands must be washed with soap
and water for 15 seconds and hand sanitizers or wipes must be used for 10 seconds
and have an alcohol content of at least 60%.
2.
Wear Personal Protective Equipment such as specialized clothing or equipment worn
to protect someone against a hazard including an infectious disease. It can range from
a mask or a pair of gloves to a combination of gear.
3.
Consult with a health care provider about using a prophylaxis medication such as
antimicrobial or antiviral medications. Such medications are taken by a healthy
individual (e.g. nurse, contact) to prevent illness before or after being exposed to an
individual with an infectious disease (e.g. influenza).
4.
Adhere to an order of quarantine. The Public Health Officer may determine it is
necessary to quarantine an employee or group of employees. (See OP
4119.42.03/4219.42.03/4319.42.03, Quarantine for a Pandemic.)
5.
Practice respiratory etiquette, or good coughing and sneezing manners to minimizing
the spread of viruses which are passed from human-to-human in the tiny droplets of
moisture that come out of the nose or mouth when coughing, sneezing, or talking.
Healthy and sick people should cover their nose and mouth when sneezing, coughing,
or blowing their nose and then put the used tissue in the trash to prevent the spread of
germs.
6.
Practice social distancing through telecommuting, alternative works schedules,
reduced staffing, isolation, and similar strategies, as recommended by the Public
Health department.
SONOMA COUNTY OFFICE OF EDUCATION
Policy Reference: SP 4119.42/4219.42/4319.42, Exposure Control Plan for Blood-borne
Pathogens
Procedure approved: June 10, 2008
(4560.01)