Occupational Health

What you need to know about occupational health

Certain occupations, (particularly those associated with healthcare), may lead to an increased risk of some vaccine-preventable diseases. It is also possible for workers to transmit infections such as Flu, Measles, Mumps, Pertussis, Rubella, Tuberculosis and Varicella to susceptible patients (particularly those with weak immune systems).

Where workers are at significant risk of acquiring a vaccine-preventable disease through their occupation or when they may put patients at risk by transmitting a disease, employers should implement a comprehensive occupational vaccination program and should take all reasonable steps to ensure workers are vaccinated.

Common occupational vaccinations include:

• Hepatitis B
• Influenza
• Measles, Mumps and Rubella (MMR)
• Diphtheria, Tetanus and Polio (DTP)
• Varicella (Chicken Pox)

Why are vaccines important?

These diseases can cause death or serious illness, some of which there is no cure. These diseases can be transmitted through a number of different ways and include:

• Faecal-oral contact – poor hand washing, ingestion of contaminated food or water.
• Close contact with an infected person, for example someone with whom you work.
• Contaminated raw fruit and vegetables, milk and milk products.
• Direct body fluid contact – e.g. caring for injured people.
• Use of contaminated equipment – e.g. unsafe needles (even in medical settings), or sharing razors.
• Bacterial spores entering minor wounds and burns via soil, dust or animal faeces.
• Sneezes or coughs.

Vaccine Prices For Occupational Health