The Agency is committed to addressing the issue of HIV/AIDS in the workplace.
The Agency recognizes the importance of non-discrimination on the basis of HIV infection.
Training will be provided to all Agency staff in the necessary precautions and procedures for responding and preventing exposure to infected individuals or infected body fluids.
Since medical examination cannot reliably identify all individuals infected with HIV (human immunodeficiency virus), blood and body fluid precautions should be consistently used by all staff. This approach is referred to as "universal precautions" and includes the following procedures:
- All staff will routinely use appropriate barrier precautions to prevent skin and mucous membrane exposure where there is potential contact with blood or other body fluids of any individual. Gloves will be worn for touching blood, body fluids, mucous membranes or non-intact skin of all individuals and for handling items or surfaces soiled with blood or body fluids. Gloves should be changed after contact with each individual. Gloves will be carefully disposed of and removed from the premises.
- Hands and other skin surfaces will be washed and lathered for two minutes, immediately and thoroughly if contaminated with blood or other body fluids. Hands will be washed immediately after gloves are removed.
- All staff will take precautions to prevent injuries caused by needles and other sharp devices. To prevent needlestick injuries, needles will not be recapped, purposely bent or broken by hand, removed from disposable syringes or unnecessarily manipulated by hand. The needle or device will be placed in a Sharp’s container and taken for safe disposal to a local drug store.
- Although saliva has not been implicated in HIV transmission, it has been identified as a means of hepatitis B transmission, therefore mouthpieces will be provided for mouth-to-mouth procedures.
- All staff with exudative lesions or weeping dermatitis will refrain from all direct personal contact with staff and clients until the condition resolves.
- Exposure to all blood and body fluids will be documented and the report forwarded to the appropriate Service Director, who will advise the Executive Director as soon as possible.
- Anyone exposed to blood through a puncture wound or on broken skin should promote free bleeding from the affected site, wash the site and apply a topical antiseptic. Medical evaluation should be completed as soon as possible.
- Javex disinfectant (one part javex, nine parts water), rubber gloves, disposable paper towels and plastic bags will be used in the cleaning of all body fluid spills and will be disposed of by double bagging.
CONFIDENTIALITY
STAFF
A staff with an HIV infection has a right to privacy and to have private medical information held in the strictest confidence, as long as the staff's condition does not directly endanger the health of others.
Any staff who learns that another staff has an HIV infection will not disclose that information to anyone unless the health of others is directly in danger, in which case the information will only be disclosed to those with a legitimate need to know. The staff who has the HIV infection will be consulted with respect to the issue of confidentiality and his/her approval will be requested prior to disclosing the information concerning his HIV infection to anyone else.
CLIENTS
The Agency has a responsibility to respect the confidentiality of information provided by a client, including information concerning a client's HIV infection. However, the Agency also has a responsibility to inform its staff of any workplace conditions that might affect his/her health.
A staff who has information concerning a client's HIV infection will not disclose that information to anyone unless the health of others is directly endangered, in which case the information will only be disclosed to those with a legitimate need to know.
RIGHT TO EMPLOYMENT
All staff infected with HIV have the right to continue his/her employment subject to his/her continued ability to perform his/her job duties, subject to medical advice and Board of Health.
If at any time a staff's medical condition adversely affects his/her ability to perform his/her job duties, "sick leave", as outlined in the Human Resources Policy, will be considered.
The Agency reserves the right to require examination by a physician selected by the Agency in order to ascertain the staff's ability to perform his/her job duties on a periodic basis.
RIGHT TO SERVICES
The Agency recognizes the rights of its clients to receive services without discrimination based on illness or perceived illness. The Agency also recognizes its obligation to protect public health.
All clients with HIV referred to the Agency or receiving services will be treated without discrimination. Clients with HIV creating safety concerns within the community will be reported to the local medical officer of health if required by law.
STAFF PERFORMANCE RELATING TO HIV/AIDS
It is the policy of the Agency that, in view of medical information and statistical reports, there is no justification for a staff to refuse to work with a co-worker who is infected with HIV, solely on the basis of such infection.
The Agency also recognizes and supports the spirit of the applicable laws, which prohibit discrimination against, or harassment of a staff by any other co-worker or Supervisor due to his/her medical condition or the presence of HIV.
A staff who, unreasonably or without reasonable cause, refuses to perform his/her job duties due to the presence of a co-worker or client infected with HIV, will be considered to have breached a condition of his employment and will be treated accordingly.
The appropriate Service Director will proceed with an internal investigation in response to any complaint lodged by a staff or client of the Agency who claims to have been discriminated against by virtue of his/her medical condition or the presence of HIV.
MEDICAL, PSYCHOLOGICAL, SOCIAL REFERRAL
Medical, psychological and social services will be made known and available to staff and clients concerned or infected with HIV.
Service Directors will maintain on file a list of community resources available for those individuals requesting it.
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