Communicable Diseases
Legislative/Regulatory Requirements
The Occupational Health and Safety Act sets out the responsibilities of employers, supervisors and workers for workplace safety. Among other obligations the Act requires employers to “take every precaution reasonable in the circumstances for the protection of a worker” and to “acquaint a worker or a person in authority over a worker with any hazard in the workplace and in the handling, storage, use, disposal and transport” of biological agents.
Board Policy
It is the policy of the Regional Municipality of York Police Services Board with respect to communicable diseases that the Chief of Police will:
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develop and maintain procedures that are consistent with the most recent edition of the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care’s Preventing and Assessing Occupational Exposures to Selected Communicable Diseases – An Information Manual for Designated Officers;
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designate and train one or more members as a Communicable Disease Coordinator(s);
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ensure that each Communicable Disease Coordinator is provided with a copy of the most recent edition of the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care’s Preventing and Assessing Occupational Exposures to Selected Communicable Diseases – An Information Manual for Designated Officers; and
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work, where possible, with the local medical officer of health, to develop a post-exposure plan that addresses roles and responsibilities, reporting protocols, medical evaluation, intervention, confidentiality, access to treatments and follow-up support for workers who have suffered a high-risk occupational exposure to a communicable disease.