Posted By paul harman Can anybody advise me please. We are currently carrying out window replacements on a block of local authority flats and have been told by a resident of a flat yet to be worked on, that he has HIV. He will not tell us if he uses intravenous drugs or if sharps are present within the property. We are carrying out his wishes in keeping the fact that he has HIV a secret at the moment but should I inform the operatives who will be working in his flat about it. Would it be classed as a workplace hazard that should be risk assessed therefore ensuring that all operatives are informed? Please help.

Posted By Nick House Apologies - I meant to say, you cannot tell the operatives without the tennants permission.

Posted By Steve B Paul, the HSE have published guidance on Blood Bourne Viruses In the work place INDG242 available free to download on the HSE website. I would suggest you start there. Regards Steve B

Posted By Mike Miller My organisation carries out the same type of works and occasionally we have similar problems. The LA,s usually has contracts with specialist environmental contractors who carry out a 'sweep' of dwellings to clear them of hazardous materialwhen identified. Then as the previous colleague said, a risk assessment will have to be done on the 'known risks' I agree that you cannot discuss the tenants medical condition as it would be a breach of confidentiality, however you are obliged to tell your workers of any 'known risks' present. You will just have to be tactful and to do this it may be prudent to have tool box talks on needle stick injuries and contact with body fluids as a general awareness tool. Do this prior to the start of the job. I am afraid that this is a problem which is prevalent within social housing. I always make a point of including this subject as part of the site induction on day one. The other important point is to make sure the operatives are aware of what to do in the event that they find a sharp or even worse become impaled on one! best of luck. Mike

Posted By peter gotch Hi Paul, Let's assume for a minute that you don't know about this particular tenant's medical condition. That there may be risk from sharps etc seems to me to be reasonably foreseeable in this and similar projects. Hence your risk assessment could cover the situation for the project rather than for the individual flat. Your workforce should as a matter of course be looking out for signs of the potential for biohazards. Regards, Peter

Posted By Steve B Well done Phil for spotting my deliberate mistake, nice to know someone is awake........