Health and Safety Measures for Designated Officers
Health and Safety Measures for Designated Officers
What are Designated Officers?
To protect the health of Emergency Service Workers (ESW) and to prevent further spread of infectious diseases, ESW organizations (police, fire, paramedic) have a Designated Officer who receives, and reviews reports from the Health Unit or workers directly regarding possible exposures to communicable diseases.
Roles and responsibilities
Halton Region Public Health:
- Is available to Designated Officers within Halton region for consultation.
- Reviews information on ESW exposures reported by a Designated Officer.
- Assists the Designated Officer with the assessment of the exposure risk.
- Provides recommendations for the Designated Officer to provide to the ESW following an exposure such as when and how to seek medical attention, testing and follow up.
- Notify the Designated Officer if an ESW was identified as a contact of a reportable disease.
- The Health Unit will not gather information from the ESW who was exposed; this is the role of the Designated Officer.
The Designated Officer:
- Obtains information from the ESW following an exposure and report to Halton Public Health as appropriate.
- Provides counselling, guidance, and support to exposed workers.
Training for Designated Officers
Ontario Public Services Health & Safety Association (external link) offers a 1-day training course for Designated Officers on the identification, treatment and control of communicable diseases that can be contracted in the workplace: Public Services Health & Safety Association Designated Officer Training.