Effective Date:  August 15, 2003

 

Approved By:   President F. Gilbert on:  September 09, 2003

 

Lakehead University is committed to providing a safe working and learning environment for its faculty, staff and students.  With this in mind, the University has developed a policy to address concerns regarding reportable infectious diseases as defined by the Ministry of Health.

 

This policy has been developed for the purpose of addressing communicable diseases that pose a threat to the University because of the potential for rapid transmission of infection to the University community.  Examples of such infectious diseases include Anthrax, Meningitis, Measles, Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS), Tuberculosis (TB), Hepatitis and other types of non-sexually transmitted reportable diseases.

 

1.  Any member of the University community concerned for their personal health  because of an infectious disease, or is aware that someone at the University has an  infectious disease should report, in confidence, this concern to his or her  supervisor, department head or any other person in authority.  The person in  authority shall  report, in confidence, the concern to the Manager, Health and  Counselling Centre if the concern relates to the health of a student, or to the  Human Resources Officer – Health and Safety, if the concern relates to the health  of a staff member.

2. If it is confirmed by a member of the University community has contracted a  reportable infectious disease the Thunder Bay District Health Unit will advise the  University as to what action is required to be taken.  The University will comply  with any such directives.

 

 

The President, will decide, in consultation with the VP (Academic) and the Executive Director, University Services (and the Chair of the Infectious Disease Response Team) whether to proceed with or to postpone examinations in the event that a member(s) of the University community has contracted reportable infectious disease.

 

If the Thunder Bay District Health Unit decides that action must be taken, the Manager of Health and Counselling Center in conjunction with the Human Resources Officer, Health and Safety will convene a meeting of the Infectious  Disease Response Committee to ensure the University complies with the directives of the TB District Health Unit.
 
 The Infectious Disease Response Committee shall consist of, but not necessarily  be limited to:

 Executive Director, University Services - Chair 
 Manager, Health & Counselling Centre
 Manager, Residence and Conference Services  
 Representative, Office of Communications
 Representative, Physical Department
 Manager, Security Services
 Vice- Provost Student Affairs 
 H.R. Officer –Health & Safety 
 President, LUSU

 

All official communications with respect to any incident of a reportable, communicable disease, and especially communications with the media must be channeled through the Office of Communications.  The Office of Communications will ensure that an appropriate communications protocol is developed with input from the Infectious Disease Response Committee and other departments or individuals as may be appropriate.

 

Except where required by law under no circumstances will the identity of the individual(s) be disclosed.

The Infectious Disease Response Committee shall convene in the aftermath of an incident to review the events to determine the appropriateness and effectiveness of the response.  Furthermore, the Committee may meet to determine whether any further preventive action is necessary, and prepare for any external inquests or enquiries arising from the event.

This responsibility for the review of this policy rests with the Executive Director.  The policy should be reviewed at least every three (3) years.