Infectious Diseases
Bloodborne and infectious diseases are another major safety and health concern of AFSCME members, particularly those who are working in institutional settings. AFSCME has several publications in this area:Needle Points: AN AFSCME Guide to Sharps Safety
This publication shows some of the steps you can take to reduce the incidence of needlestick injuries in your workplace.
When AIDS Comes to Work: An AFSCME Guide for Stewards
This publication not only deals with the prevention of transmission of HIV/AIDS in the workplace but also has tips on how the union can help members who have been afflicted with this illness.
AFSCME Health and Safety Fact Sheets are available online on:
The following Web sites may also be helpful to you in researching an infectious disease problem:
National Center for HIV, STD, and TB Prevention
Part of the Centers for Disease Control, this Web site offers the most current statistics on these illnesses and information on how to prevent and treat them.
HIV InSite
Produced by the University of California San Francisco, this site is especially useful for scientific articles about AIDS/HIV. It also has a strong international focus for research on how other countries are managing this health problem.
HepNet: The Hepatitis Information Network
This Canadian Web site contains a lot of information to assist hepatitis patients in managing their disease. It also provides abstracts and links to recent articles about hepatitis. The information is organized both by audience (patient/health care provider) and type (Hepatitis A, B, C, etc…).