8.2 Response to a Pandemic

Response to a Pandemic

8.2

March 2020

Response to a Pandemic Contents Preamble ............................................................................................................................. 3 The Pandemic Threat ....................................................................................................... 3 Strategy for a Pandemic or Outbreak of a Highly Communicable Disease ...................... 3 Coronavirus (COVID-19) .................................................................................................. 4 Details .............................................................................................................................. 4 The Symptoms ................................................................................................................. 4 Procedure ............................................................................................................................ 5 Summary ............................................................................................................................. 5 Supporting Documents ........................................................................................................ 6 Policies ............................................................................................................................. 6 Forms ............................................................................................................................... 6 Information Sheets ........................................................................................................... 6 Training ............................................................................................................................ 6 Legislation ........................................................................................................................ 6 Websites .......................................................................................................................... 6 Responsible Officers ............................................................................................................ 6 NDIS Practice Standards and Quality Indicators ................................................................. 7 2.2 Risk Management ...................................................................................................... 7 Version Details ..................................................................................................................... 7

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Preamble History has shown that on a regular basis Pandemic outbreaks occur in which human lives become very vulnerable. This policy is designed to give some basic guidelines for an event of this nature where service recipients, staff and stakeholders become at risk. It should be understood that in any eventuality that enacts this policy that the Director may be required to enact urgent response plans designated by Government. This may mean a variance or a rejection of elements of this policy but are endorsed by the intent of the policy.

The intent of this policy is: “To minimise the risk of infection, minimise the risk of cross contamination and facilitate mechanisms to control any outbreak of a communicable disease.�

The Pandemic Threat Pandemics happen when a novel influenza virus emerges that infects and can be efficiently transmitted between humans. Animals are the most likely reservoir for these emerging viruses; avian viruses played a role in the last three influenza pandemics. Two of these pandemic-causing viruses remain in circulation and are responsible for the majority of influenza cases each year.

Pandemics have occurred intermittently over centuries. The last three pandemics, in 1918, 1957 and 1968, killed approximately 40 million, 2 million and 1 million people worldwide, respectively. Although the timing cannot be predicted, history and science suggest that we will face one or more pandemics in this century.

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All staff or agents of BigDog Support Services Pty Ltd (BigDog) will ensure that all reasonable efforts are made to facilitate the eradication and prevention of any communicable disease when its existence becomes known of within the regional bounds of the organisation.

BigDog will be charged with the responsibility to assess risk within supported settings and implement protocols to minimise risk.

BigDog will work in conjunction with recommendations from an approved health authority in the development and implementation of protocols.

BigDog will restrict access to communal areas such as office settings, group program, meetings, and community settings.

BigDog will reserve the right to reject services to infected individuals where a safe community response is unable to be established. In such a case the infected or effected participants are to be referred immediately to Government authorities.

BigDog will take all reasonable efforts to assist in any inoculation processes if available to reduce the risk of infections. As endorsed by an appropriate medical authority within resource capabilities.

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Coronavirus (COVID-19) Coronaviruses are zoonotic, meaning they are transmitted between animals and people.

Detailed investigations found that SARS-CoV was transmitted from civet cats to humans and MERS-CoV from dromedary camels to humans. Several known coronaviruses are circulating in animals that have not yet infected humans.

Common signs of infection include respiratory symptoms, fever, cough, shortness of breath and breathing difficulties. In more severe cases, infection can cause pneumonia, severe acute respiratory syndrome, kidney failure and even death.

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If you have a runny nose and sputum, you have a common cold Coronavirus pneumonia is a dry cough with no runny nose.

This new virus is not heat-resistant and will be killed by a temperature of just 26/27 degrees. It hates the Sun. If someone sneezes with it, it takes about 10 feet before it drops to the ground and is no longer airborne.

If it drops on a metal surface it will live for at least 12 hours - so if you come into contact with any metal surface - wash your hands as soon as you can with a bacterial soap.

On fabric it can survive for 6-12 hours. normal laundry detergent will kill it.

Drinking warm water is effective for all viruses. Try not to drink liquids with ice.

Wash your hands frequently as the virus can only live on your hands for 5-10 minutes, but - a lot can happen during that time - you can rub your eyes, pick your nose unwittingly and so on.

You should also gargle as a prevention. A simple solution of salt in warm water will suffice.

We can't emphasise enough - drink plenty of water!

Thoroughly cook meat and eggs.

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It will first infect the throat, so you'll have a sore throat lasting 3/4 days The virus then blends into a nasal fluid that enters the trachea and then the lungs, causing pneumonia. This takes about 5/6 days further.

With the pneumonia comes high fever and difficulty in breathing.

The nasal congestion is not like the normal kind. You feel like you're drowning. It's imperative you then seek immediate attention.

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The Director of BigDog will determine through a risk assessment process when the service should be delivering essential services only.

Once this determination is made, all employees, volunteers and participants will be informed as to the outcome of the determination and any changes to their support arrangements for the duration of the response.

This can include changes to locations of support, changes to rostering of staff, and cancellation of non-essential support.

All employees, volunteers and participants will be asked to inform Management immediately of any suspected infection that is transmissible.

All employees, volunteers and in some cases, participants will be asked to utilise personal protective equipment as directed.

Management of BigDog will ensure that all stakeholders are kept informed as to recommendations while dealing with the pandemic.

All rostering of support staff is to be conducted in a manner that restricts opportunities for cross contamination eg; sectionalising staff to designated sites.

Movement of staff and participants between serviced settings is to be minimised or ceased dependent upon the level of risk posed.

All new referral activity is to be viewed with the added risk being a primary concern, a medical clearance may need to be requested prior to any staff or participant coming into contact with a participant referred to BigDog. BigDog will ensure that all staff are given appropriate training in barrier protection practices and are supplied appropriate protective attire and equipment within resource capabilities.

BigDog will cease all community-based programs where acceptable security from infection is not assured.

Medical clearance will be sought from any participant who requires a service response during a declared epidemic period.

A Director will determine when the risk has subsided enough to resume usual service delivery and will communicate this to all stakeholders.

Summary Home isolation, quarantine periods and/or the spread of COVID-19 can be stressful and may leave you feeling concerned. BigDog will assist participants and their families to connect with a range of support services available, including talking to a councillor or other mental health professional.

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Supporting Documents Policies WHS Policy WHS Reporting Policy Safety, Well-being and Human Rights Policy

Forms Activities Risk Assessment Activity Risk Assessment Hazard Assessment Form Incident Report Form WHS incident Report Form WHS Safety Audit

Information Sheets Australian Health Sector Emergency Response Plan for COVID-19 Cough Etiquette How to Wash and Dry Hands

Training LiveBig!........................................ Living and Life Skills Program CHCOHS301A ............................ Participate in Workplace Safety Procedures

Legislation Environmental Protection Act 1994 (QLD) National Disability Insurance Scheme Act 2013

Websites Australian Government ................ www.health.gov.au Coronavirus Helpline ................... 1800 020 080

Responsible Officers Steven Paull ............ Director Courtney Carroll ....... Operations Manager Steve Asgill .............. WHS Officer

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NDIS Practice Standards and Quality Indicators BigDog Support Services Pty Ltd (BigDog) is a registered NDIS provider and is required to apply the scheme’s practice standard and quality indicators.

The standards have been developed to create an important benchmark to assess provider performance and ensure that high quality and safe supports and services are provided to NDIS participants.

The four core modules are: 1.0 Rights and Responsibilities; 2.0 Governance and Operational Management; 3.0 The Provision of Supports; and 4.0 The Support Provision Environment.

2.2 Risk Management Risks to participants, workers and the provider are identified and managed Support delivery is linked to a risk management system which includes: o Incident Management o Work Health and Safety

Version Details Date

V

Details

July 2010

1.0 New Policy

March 2012

1.1 Header includes new logo and page of pages

October 2013

2.0 HSQF Standards replace Service Standard Indicators Training sub-heading added to Supporting Documents Word converted to Office 2013 DOCX

February 2015

2.1 Updated terms 'Client' and ‘Service Recipient’ to NDIS term 'Participant' LiveBig! Life skills program included

July 2016

3.0 Changed to a procedure Added procedure and changed some words

January 2019

4.0 Updated to new logo and style guide

December 2019

4.1 Updated to include Coronavirus

January 2020

5.0 Removed HSQF Standards Indicators and Policy matched with NDIS Practice Standards and Quality Indicators Front cover updated to Standards colour identification Supporting Policies updated

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