Infection
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Infection Control Principles and Practices for Local
Public Health Agencies
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Policy Issues
What is the definition of a volunteer, for
the purposes of coverage by OSHA standards?
A volunteer is someone who receives no form of
compensation from the entity using the services of the volunteer. This
includes uniforms and meals. However, an occasional celebration that
includes a meal does not negate volunteer status.
Although volunteers are not covered under OSHA
standards, it is in the best interests of the agency and the volunteers
to afford them the same protections as employees when performing job
tasks that require PPE and other safety measures.
If I work for another agency, which PPE policies and
procedures do I follow - the ones from the agency I work for or from the
agency to which I am providing assistance?
Follow all safety procedures, including PPE use, from
the agency for which you are providing assistance. It is the
responsibility of the receiving agency to provide PPE and training on
its proper use before job tasks requiring PPE are performed.
If employees from other agencies need respiratory
protection that requires medical evaluation and fit testing, should the
receiving agency require those employees to have their own medical
evaluation and fit testing done, or does the receiving agency have to
provide it?
The receiving agency is responsible for providing
medical evaluation, fit testing and training to those needing
respiratory protection.
Is fit-testing and medical evaluation required during a
public health emergency?
There may be limited time when deploying people to
respond to an emergency.
All components of a respiratory protection program
should be conducted during a public health emergency, including
fit-testing, medical evaluation, and training, in order to protect
employees and volunteers to the greatest extent possible. However, OSHA
officials have indicated that health care organizations will not be
fined for practices that occur during an infectious disease outbreak.
Where will home health agencies, Emergency Medical
Services, group homes, and fire departments get PPE supplies during a
public health emergency?
These agencies are responsible for providing their
employees with current day-to-day supplies of appropriate PPE as well as
ensuring that sufficient supplies are available during a public health
emergency. PPE should be ordered directly from suppliers, as other
sources such as hospitals or public health agencies will not have
stockpiles to distribute to employers in their area.
Should local public health agencies purchase supplies of
respirators or masks for use by the general public?
No. You should not purchase these items for the general
public. Consider having these items on hand only at mass clinics or
local public health agencies where members of the general public may
present with signs and symptoms of communicable diseases.
If a local public health agency enlists the aid of
employees from other agencies or from volunteers during a public health
emergency, is the local public health agency required to provide PPE for
them as if they were their own employees?
Local public health agencies should protect volunteers
and employees from other agencies in the same way they
protect their own employees.
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For Infection Control Information
Gwen Borlaug Infection Control Epidemiologist
WI Division of Public Health
Bureau of Communicable Diseases
608-267-7711 Phone
608-261-4976 Fax
Last Revised: June 29, 2011 |
