Immunisations in the Workplace

Immunisations in the workplace

.pdf

Download PDF • 254KB

With Covid-19 vaccination mandates lifting in NZ (April 4th 2022) it seems like the somewhat controversial topic at work is gone. However, for many companies the topic should be looked at more closely when it comes to immunisations protecting us from other workplace diseases workers are at risk of.

Immunisations as a Hazard Risk Control

There are many other diseases found in the workplace that we should be using immunisations as a control for. Many companies over-look immunisations as a control on their hazard risk register and employee engagement.

Many jobs have a higher risk of exposure to infectious diseases, and for some, there is even a higher risk of spreading these diseases to people who are either too sick or too young to be immunised. Some jobs that may have a risk of coming into contact with infectious diseases include:

•Health Care, Aged Care or Disability Care Workers

•People regulary working with children, older people or people with a disability

•People working with animals (livestock transporter, vet, farmer, abattoir workers, groomers)

•Emergency and essential services workers

•People exposed to blood, body fluids or sewerage

•Laboratory Personnel

•Plumbers and drainlayers

•Childcare or child education workers

•Hospitality workers

•People who handle human tissue at work (eg. tattooists, embalmers, body piecers, funeral workers)

What Immunisations Are Needed?

Alongside the routine immunisations you should have received when you were younger and any booster immunisations required, some different immunisations that are needed for some high-risk jobs include:

• Influenza (Flu Jab)

• Whooping Cough

• Hepatitis A

• Hepatitis B