In
Alberta, communicable Illnesses are transmitted to innocent children
each day. Many chronic and communicable illnesses, such as Hepatitis and
fungal infections, result from a child's exposure to an adult who is
contaminated with bacteria, viruses, parasites or other disease. With
increased care provided by out-of-home care givers, there is an
increased concern about the potential for transmission of disease
through child care givers.
In order to assist the child care industry to comply with regulations
set forth by Environmental Health, our health professionals have
developed a comprehensive health and safety program designed to meet the
specific needs of children in public care facilities by providing
inexpensive, convenient pre-employment health assessment services for
child care givers.
The Child Care Worker Health Program, pursuant to
the Public Health Act of Alberta, requires that each care giver, while
engaged in the direct care of infants and/or children, shall be:
free
from infected sores or open wounds
without
viral infection or communicable disease
free
and asymptomatic from gastrointestinal illness
absent
from the effects of substance abuse
LETS PROTECT THE
CHILDREN AT RISK
What Do We
Provide For Child Care Workers?
The Child Care Worker Health Assessment will
include the tests and informational data as listed below. Other tests
may be included according to the specific job descriptions or your
company's medical directives:
1. Documentation of any previous exposure to
occupational hazards, WCB claims and classification of injuries.
2. Documented health history including exposure to any viral,
parasitic or communicable disease such as Tuberculosis, Typhoid and
Hepatitis.
3. Temperature to test for signs of infection.
4. Visual acuity; near and far vision; depth perception; color vision
and peripheral vision.
5. Blood pressure and pulse.
6. Back strength and flexibility rating to rule out any existing or
pre-disposing back problems that may be compromised by child care
activities.
7. Musculo-skeletal examinations of the shoulders, elbows, wrists and
knees.
8. Demonstration of proper lifting techniques and/or correction of
poor lifting techniques.
9. Urinalysis to test for abnormal presence of blood, protein or
glucose.
10. Additional laboratory investigation where indicated. this may
include stool testing for microbiology, ova and parasites, swabs for
culture and collections for fungal infection."
11. Observations for open wounds, infected sores or rashes.
12. Substance abuse screening; only performed according to your
company policy.
Following
completion of each health assessment, a verbal report is given to the
designated company official. Written reports are submitted following a
review by one of our occupational health physicians. In addition, each
individual who successfully completes the health and safety assessment
will receive a laminated card, which identifies them as "Physically
Certified Child Care Workers". When each care provider has
been medically cleared, a framed "Certificate
of Health and Safety" is issued to the facility.
To find our more about our Child Care Worker Health Assessment Services, please
feel free to contact us by telephone, fax or e-mail. We will be
pleased to meet with you to discuss your company's needs and to assist
you in developing an effective program.
