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The role of the Occupational Medicine Unit (OMU) is to provide a service to all Canberra Health Services (CHS) employees for preventing the likelihood of infectious diseases transmission to health care workers (HCW).

The OMU provides CHS staff with the following services:

  • Occupational Assessments, Screening and Vaccination Compliance for HCW.
  • Management of HCW with Blood and Body Fluids Exposures (BBFE) such as needlestick, other sharps, splash, scratch, and bite incidents.
  • Respirator N-95/P2 Fit Testing for HCW.
  • Occupational Infectious Disease Outbreak Management.
  • Hand Hygiene Related Skin Irritation Management for HCW.

Note: OMU does not provide travel vaccinations or employee health medical services.

The OMU at Canberra Hospital covers all CHS sites, excluding North Canberra Hospital and Clare Holland House.

CHS Occupational Assessment, Screening and Vaccination (OASV) Procedure.

All Category A CHS HCW, students, contractors and volunteers must comply with the mandatory requirements of the occupational assessment, screening and vaccination procedure to minimise the risk of transmitting infectious diseases among colleagues and patients.

If you are a known vaccine non-responder and/or have a medical contraindication to a vaccine or have a question about your vaccinations or immunity, please fill out "OMU FORM 5" and contact the Occupational Medicine Unit on (02) 5124 2321 for the Canberra Hospital or (02) 6201 6684 for the North Canberra Hospital.

The CHS Occupational Assessment, Screening and Vaccination [DOCX 331kB] procedure has more detailed information on requirements for CHS HCW.

  • All necessary information sheets and forms can be found in the page.
  • For assistance with onboarding please contact your recruitment team.

All OMU forms for onboarding purposes can be accessed by your recruitment team.

CHS OASV Mandatory Requirements:

  1. COVID-19 - evidence of any one of the following:
    • One (1) primary dose TGA approved COVID-19 vaccine (in accordance with the Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation (ATAGI) Guidelines).
    • Previous infection with SARS-CoV-2 as demonstrated by documentation of detection of SARS-CoV-2 RNA by a medical pathology laboratory using nucleic acid amplification (also known as PCR test).
    • Previous infection without immunisation against SARS-CoV-2 as demonstrated by documentation of detection of SARS-CoV-2 antibody in the blood by a medical pathology laboratory (Note: this evidence should ONLY be used if either of the above is not available).
  2. Diphtheria, tetanus, and pertussis (dTpa):
    • One dose needed every 10 years.
  3. Tuberculosis (TB) screening:
    • Completion of the Tuberculosis (TB) Screening and Assessment Tool (OMU Form 3). If a risk is identified, please follow the instructions on the form if further screening is required prior to your employment.
  4. Measles, Mumps, Rubella (MMR) Immunity - evidence of any one of the following:
    • Two doses, one month apart.
    • Blood test result with detected IgG antibody for Measles, Mumps and Rubella.
    • Evidence of being born prior to 1966.
  5. Varicella Zoster Virus (chickenpox) Immunity - evidence of either:
    • Two doses, one month apart.
    • Blood test result with detected IgG antibody for Varicella (Chickenpox).
  6. Hepatitis B Immunity (vaccination history):
    • Documented evidence of age-appropriate course of Hepatitis B vaccinations (usually 3 doses, please inform OMU if you are unable to provide this evidence).
  7. Hepatitis B Immunity (blood test results):
    • Blood test confirming Hepatitis B immunity, Anti-HBs (Hepatitis B antibody) equal to, or greater than 10mIU/mL.
  8. Influenza vaccination is highly recommended every year (not mandatory).

Documentation includes a hard copy or electronic report from a Medical Pathology Laboratory.

Blood and Body Fluid Exposure Management

A Blood and Body Fluid Exposure (BBFE) is an incident where a healthcare worker is exposed to a patient's blood or body fluids through a needlestick injury, contaminated sharp, splash, scratch, or bite.

The CHS Management of Occupational Blood and Body Fluid Exposures (BBFE) [DOCX 564kB] procedure has more detailed information for HCW.

Following a blood and body fluids exposure (BBFE) incident, you should:

  1. Inform your supervisor.
  2. Initiate immediate first aid
  3. Contact OMU (02) 5124 2321 Monday to Friday (excluding public holidays) 8am to 4pm (contact after-hours CNC via switchboard '9' outside these hours).
  4. Complete a Staff Incident Report via RISKMAN.

Immediate First Aid post BBFE

Needlestick and other sharps injuries:

  1. Allow active bleeding.
  2. Clean with soap and water and rinse well.
  3. Cover with waterproof dressing.
  4. If soap and water is not available, use an alcohol-based hand rub to wash the cuts or punctures of the skin, or the intact skin.

Eye exposure:

  1. Irrigate eyes (remove contact lenses) with water or saline.

Mucous membrane (mouth and nose) exposure:

  1. Spit out or blow nose.
  2. Irrigate mouth or nose with water.

Intact skin (scratches):

  1. Clean with soap and water and rinse well.

Contaminated clothing:

  1. Remove clothing and shower if necessary.
  2. Change clothes if required.

Depending on the nature of the exposure injury, further assessment and treatment by an appropriate medical officer may be required, for example, suturing after a scalpel injury.

Hand Hygiene Related Skin Irritation Management

The purpose of this service is to provide guidance on how the OMU (Staff Health Department for NCH) can support HCW across the Canberra Health Services Network with the management of skin irritation of the hands related to hand hygiene.

In your initial consultation the OMU or SHD Registered Nurse will conduct a skin assessment of your hands, utilising the National Hand Hygiene Initiative (NHHI) Generic Skin Care Questionnaire and Assessment and will provide advice and an action plan in relation to the products you must use to help resolve the skin irritation.

To book an appointment please contact us via phone or email.

The CHS Management of Hand Hygiene Related Skin Irritation in Healthcare Workers [DOCX 416kB] procedure has more detailed information for CHS HCW.

Respirator Fit Testing

OMU offers Fit Testing to all CHS staff members and students completing placement at CHS facilities. Fit testing is a validated process of determining the type and size of Particulate Filter Respirator (N95/P2 respirator) that achieves an adequate seal on an individual's face.

Fit testing is not mandatory. What is most important when wearing a single use respirator, whether you have had Fit Test or not, is Fit Checking. Please see the attached flyer for the principles of Fit Checking.

To book an appointment please call (02) 5124 2321 or email chs.fittesting@act.gov.au for Canberra Hospital

For further information please refer to the Respiratory Protection program [DOCX 548kB] procedure.

Occupational Medicine Unit Procedures

Contact us

For more information please contact:

Canberra Hospital OMU

Phone: (02) 5124 2321
Email: CHSOMU@act.gov.au
Building 15, Level 1, Canberra Hospital
Monday to Friday 8am to 4pm

North Canberra Hospital SHD

Phone: (02) 6201 6684
Email: CHSNCH.staffhealth@act.gov.au
Level 2, Sr. Mark Maher Building
Monday to Friday 8.30am to 5pm