Information for Designated Officers

Roles and responsibilities

• Emergency service worker
  • Comply with the policies and procedures of their agency
  • Understand the risks of exposure to infectious diseases
  • Prevent or minimize risk of exposure to infectious diseases using routine practices, appropriate procedures and / or personal protective equipment
  • Immediately report possible exposures to their designated officer
  • Follow-up with medical care at local hospital / urgent care centre for testing and recommendations for post-exposure prophylaxis
• Designated officer
  • Receive reports from emergency service workers about a possible exposure
  • Assess the situation and determine if an exposure to an emergency service worker occurred
  • Document exposures on the appropriate agency form(s)
  • If the emergency service worker had significant / high-risk exposure, contact Public Health
  • If required, provide Mandatory Blood Testing Act forms for the emergency service worker and health care provider to complete
• Niagara Region Public Health
  • Receive and review information on possible exposure(s) provided by the designated officer
  • Help the designated officer determine if an exposure occurred
  • Provide education and counselling to the designated officer and / or emergency service worker, including testing, post-exposure prophylaxis and Mandatory Blood Testing Act forms, if applicable
  • If routine case management identifies an emergency service worker has been named as a contact of a reportable disease, the designated officer is informed. A public health nurse will follow-up with the emergency service worker to discuss risk of exposure and recommended prophylaxis, if applicable.
  • Process Mandatory Blood Testing Act applications

Mandatory Blood Testing Act

The Mandatory Blood Testing Act is a legal act that allows emergency service workers and other eligible individuals (known as the 'applicant') to apply to have the blood of another person (known as the 'respondent') tested for specific infectious diseases if they have come into contact with their bodily fluids.

The Mandatory Blood Testing Act covers the following infectious diseases only:

• Human Immunodeficiency Virus/Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (HIV / AIDS)
• Hepatitis B
• Hepatitis C

Learn more about the Mandatory Blood Testing Act, including how to file an application and access the forms.

It is important to remember that post exposure prophylaxis treatment should not be delayed due to the processing of an application. Anyone who believes that they may have been exposed to a communicable disease after coming into contact with blood or bodily fluids should immediately contact a health care provider to assess the risk of infection.

Resources

• Animal and insect bites

  For information about animal and insect bites contact our Environmental Health division at 905-688-8248 ext. 7590.

• Assessing for high-risk exposures

  Designated officers can consider the following questions to help determine if a significant / high-risk exposure occurred to an emergency service worker. Ask the questions in a non-judgmental / non-punitive approach and allow the emergency service worker to give as much detail as necessary.

  Ensure exposures are documented on appropriate agency form(s).

  • What happened / how did the exposure occur? For example, needle stick injury, confined in an enclosed area with someone who was coughing.
  • What was the emergency service worker potentially exposed to? For example, blood or bodily fluids, or respiratory secretions.
  • What was the length of exposure or contact?
  • What personal protective equipment was the emergency service worker wearing?
  • Did the personal protective equipment remain intact?
  • Does the emergency service worker have all scheduled and recommended vaccines?
  • What other information is available to help assess exposure? For example, suspected diagnosis of the contact.
• Immunization

  For immunization recommendations for emergency service workers visit the Canadian Immunization Guide.

  Learn where to get vaccinated in Niagara.

• Infectious diseases

  See the Diseases of Public Health Significance that are reportable to Public Health.

  Learn about:

  • HIV / AIDS
  • Hepatitis B
  • Hepatitis C

  To learn more about other infectious diseases, visit the Public Health Agency of Canada.

• Personal protective equipment

  For a series of educational and 'how to' videos, including for wearing personal protective equipment, see Public Health Ontario's YouTube playlist - routine practices and additional precautions.

• Post exposure prophylaxis

  Post exposure prophylaxis is offered after an assessment by a physician where the risk is deemed to be significant. A medical assessment, and initial supply of medication if indicated, can be provided at Niagara Health.

  To get a full prescription, follow-up with a health care provider as soon as possible.

• Training and education

  See training courses for designated officers offered by the Ontario Public Services Health and Safety Association.

  Watch Public Health's education in-service for designated officers in Niagara.

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