Posted By Andrew Robertson-Böber Where staff refuse to receive inoculations (Hep B, Rabies etc.) in high risk industries (such as Health Care workers, field workers, etc.) how do you mitigate the risk? My interpretation is that even with something such as signed indemnity providing evidence of ‘risk accepted voluntarily’ one cannot underwrite statutory law – i.e. the old legal adage that there is no such thing as consensual manslaughter. If anyone has any case examples of this or opinions I would be grateful if you would pitch in. Andrew Robertson-Böber PGCert CMIOSH

Posted By Ron Impey You also need to consider people who react badly to the first jab and are advised not to proceed with the rest of the course, or who for other valid reason cannot have the Hep B immunisation. Another consideration is a person who receives the immunisation but for whatever reason does not develop adequate immunity to the virus. For instance someone with a poor immune system. Try to ascertain why the worker is refusing to have the innoculations. If it is due to unfounded fears about adverse effects, provide reassurance. http://eastmeadow.k12.ny.us/right/Blood.asf http://www.osha.gov/SLTC.../asitshouldbedone/hb.asx

Posted By John Murgatroyd You need to be more paranoid. The incidence of type 1 diabetes rises sharply among those given the hep B inoculation....the inoculation gives little or no immunity in up to 30% of those "immunised"....and unless your "workers" are exposed to blood or sharps injury, or have sex with infected persons. it is probably of little use. Good protective equipment is of more use...like gloves. This vaccine is not given as a routine vaccine. It is only given to people who are at high risk of contracting hepatitis B. These risk groups include, travellers to high risk areas, healthcare workers who have direct contact with blood, people such as haemophiliacs who frequently receive blood transfusions or blood products, close contacts of people with hepatitis B, babies born to mothers with hepatitis B, people with chronic kidney failure, staff and clients of residential accomodation for the mentally handicapped, workers in mortuaries, prisoners and intravenous drug abusers. Well, that's the theory........it has been noticed that since you'll pay someone to do the deed they will have little morality in explaining that it may not be needed, and may even cause the person receiving it more problems than they may have had anyway. The following are some of the side effects that are known to be associated with this medicine. Because a side effect is stated here, it does not mean that all people using this medicine will experience that or any side effect. Headache Rash Fatigue Disturbances of the gut such as diarrhoea, constipation, nausea, vomiting or abdominal pain Cold or flu-like symptoms Fever (pyrexia) Pins and needles (paraesthesia) Dizziness Pain in the joints (arthralgia) Pain in the muscles (myalgia) Itching (pruritis) Soreness at injection site Redness around injection site Hardening of skin around injection site Allergic reactions such as skin rash, swelling of the lips, tongue and throat (angioedema) or narrowing of the airways (bronchospasm) Oh, and the medical professional giving the injection should make sure that female workers are not pregnant.....although many don't. In fact, since I've been "immunised" to a whole load of things I can quite happily confess to having felt absolutely bloody terrible after some of the jabs...hep b was one of those....and it didn't give me immunity either !!!!....laugh ?....I nearly split my sides.... Do you ever question whether your staff NEED the injections ? Or do you just believe the people you pay to give them ?