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#1 Posted : 23 November 2004 09:27:00(UTC)
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Posted By Malcolm Hogarth
We are an organisation that 'interfaces' with the general public.I am informed that some of our clients have told us that they have Hepatitis B. This has obviously alarmed some of the staff and I am looking for ways to deal with this and to reassure the staff without going overboard. It has been suggested that staff may need innoculations as a precaution. What would be the situation if we proposed this and the staff responded by refusing to be innoculated? I have done a little research into this already but as usual have recieved differing advice. Have any of you had to deal with this sort of situation and if so how did you resolve it?
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#2 Posted : 23 November 2004 09:34:00(UTC)
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Posted By Paul Leadbetter
Malcolm

Although some of your clients may be infected with Hep B, are your staff at any risk of being infected? What is the anticipated route of transmission?

Paul
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#3 Posted : 23 November 2004 09:37:00(UTC)
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Posted By Jonathan Breeze
Have you checked out the HSE publication "Blood Borne Viruses in the Workplace" yet?

It can be downloaded at:

http://www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/indg342.pdf

I understand that HSE prioritises other methods of control first and considers innoculation to be a last resort.

I will watch this thread with interest as it is a current issue in our organisation too.

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#4 Posted : 23 November 2004 10:05:00(UTC)
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Posted By peter gotch
Malcolm

Check out

http://www.vhpb.org/

Regards, Peter
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#5 Posted : 23 November 2004 11:27:00(UTC)
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Posted By Keith Brisley
Interesting topic - I have recently had an enquiry - to provide training in the safe handling of discarded syringes. Sounds like we're (perhaps) addressing similar issues. Does anyone know of an available training package or source of info to build such a package?
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#6 Posted : 23 November 2004 11:51:00(UTC)
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Posted By Jonathan Breeze
Interestingly Keith we addressed that very issue by improving site security so drug users could no longer use the premises.

This eliminated potential staff exposure to needles along with a host of other issues (fire, public liability, fly tipping, rough sleepers, potential loss of contracts, etc.)

Hep B jabs for staff cleaning up nedlesticks didn't enter into it as it would have been a sticking plaster remedy.

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