Information extracted from: Health QLD website - Healthy Island
Resorts
Occupational Groupings
Tailored information has been
developed for each of the following occupational groupings.
Human Resources /
Administration
The human
resources and administration areas introduce staff to a resort
or facility are a central resource area for comments, queries
and problems. Resources should include policies and procedures
for public health risk management, such as workplace health and
safety information, disaster management and welfare matters.
All the
topics on this website are relevant to this department.
Human resources can also make use of the
Familiarisation Task as a tool to ensure staff are familiar
with the site and its contents.
Food and
Beverage Services
An important
part of a tourism resort or facility is the dining experiences.
High standards are expected by guests and good hygiene is
integral to providing quality food and beverage services.
Incorrect storage and serving facilities for food and beverages
can have very serious health implications for guests and staff
and can pose a high risk to public health. In some cases,
food-borne illnesses may affect a very large number of people in
a short space of time. In some cases, food-borne illness can be
fatal. See the
noravirus food-borne illness outbreak case study.
The business implications of illness as a result of poor food
hygiene can include a high demand on medical resources, very
dissatisfied guests, lost staff time and a damaged reputation.
Insurance claims can follow.
In addition, there is an also a trend toward good
nutrition with many people seeking ‘healthy options’ on the
menu. There are also strict legal obligations when
serving alcohol and it is important that all staff involved
in beverage services are aware of their responsibilities.
Relevant topics for Food and Beverage Staff include:
Alcohol
Service, Amenities Hygiene, Burns, Child Safety, Communicable
Diseases, Drinking Water Quality, Drug Information, Drugs and
Poisons Controls, Effluent Disposal, Emergency Procedures, First
Aid, Food Safety, Gastroenteritis - see Norovirus, Hazardous
Substances, Insect and Pest Control, Noise Management,
Nutrition, Risk Management Process, Staff Welfare and Mental
Health, Tobacco Sale and Smoking Areas, Waste Disposal,
Workplace Health and Safety.
Nursing and
Medical
Medical staff
at resorts and tourist facilities in Tropical North Queensland
must be aware of tropical diseases and health risks that are
unique to the region. These include coral cuts, stingers
(jellyfish), dengue fever and Australian Bat Lyssavirus (ABL).
Effective
medical / first aid records can also assist in identifying
trends to inform health and safety policy development and
reviews.
Relevant topics
include: Australian Bat Lyssavirus ABL, Burns, Child Safety,
Communicable Diseases, Coral and Shell Cuts, Drinking Water
Quality, Drug Information, Drugs and Poisons Controls, Emergency
Procedures, First Aid, Food Safety, Gastroenteritis - see
Needles and Syringes – Safe Disposal, Norovirus, Hazardous
Substances, Insect and Pest Control, Noise Management,
Nutrition, Risk Management Process, Sexual Health, Staff Welfare
and Mental Health, Stingers, Sun Safety, Vaccinations, Wildlife
and Public Health, Workplace Health and Safety.
The
Services Directory contains contact details for private
practice websites and health facilities.
Engineering
and Maintenance
Civil,
structural or marine engineering and maintenance services can
involve a range of risk situations in development projects and
on-going routine activities and tasks.
Many of the
hazards and potential hazards can be eliminated through the use
of a risk management process – a structured process that will
identify unsafe or potentially dangerous conditions and systems.
It is an important prevention process that can directly save
lives and prevent injury, and should form part of the
established house policies.
Relevant topics
include: Air Conditioning and Air Quality (including Legionella),
Chemical Spills, Hazardous Substances, Noise Management, Poisons
and Drugs, Vehicle Safety, Workcover.
Housekeeping
Clean
environments are vital to good health. The control of bacteria
and viruses play a major role in disease and infection control.
See the
noravirus case study to find out how important housekeeping
can be in controlling disease.
Relevant topics
include: Amenities hygiene, Bed Bugs, Chemical Spills, Drugs and
Poisons, Hazardous Substances, Waste Disposal.
Security
Security may be
defined as providing freedom from fear and anxiety and taking
precautions against the loss, theft of or damage to guests,
employees, or the establishment's property or person. Security
also includes taking precautions against fraud, assault and
vandalism.
Risk assessments should be conducted, as part of the Public
Health Risk Management approach, to identify the level of risk
within all resort workplace and non-workplace environments to
ensure the necessary devices / policies are provided to protect
personnel and the public from real or perceived harm.
Relevant topics include: Alcohol Service, Dead Bodies, Disaster
Management, Emergency Evacuation.
Recreational
Activities
Whilst
introducing guests to the various recreational activities, it is
part of the role of the Activities Coordinator and staff to
communicate the resort’s policy on safety and injury prevention
– part of the public health risk management policy.
Demonstrating commitment through safe practices and standards
communicates this message.
Safety is a key business priority in the current environment for
legal and marketing reasons to ensure the long-term viability of
an operating resort and the wider tourism industry. Public
health risk management policies are necessary to provide and
maintain a healthy island resort for guests, staff and
residents.
Relevant topics include: Boating Safety, Coral and Shell Cuts,
First Aid, Jellyfish (Stingers), Sun Safety, Water Safety,
Wildlife and Public Health.
Day Care
Centre
Particular
attention is needed when children are on holidays with their
families. Children are especially vulnerable and susceptible to
a range of illness and injuries.
There are legislative requirements for the operation of day care
facilities in Queensland. Other useful guidelines for good
health and prevention of health risk are listed below.
Public health risk management policies are necessary to provide
and maintain a healthy island resort for guests, staff and
residents.
Useful topics
include: Child Safety, Communicable Diseases, First Aid, Food
Safety, Gastrointestinal Illness (Noravirus), Risk Management,
Sun Safety, Vaccinations, Water Safety.
Useful Link
• National Childcare
Accreditation Council Inc for information on quality child
care and accreditation guidelines.
Hairdressing
Salon
There are
legislative requirements for operating hairdressing salons in
Queensland. Approvals must be obtained from the Local Council to
establish a salon or provide a mobile hairdressing service.
Salons or mobile services providing body piercing and other skin
penetration services, (eg. tattoos) are also required to obtain
approvals for these services. Separate regulations apply to
these services.
Relevant topics
include: Amenities Hygiene, Communicable Diseases, Emergency
Procedures, First Aid, Hairdressing Hygiene, Hazardous
Substances, Vaccinations, Workplace Health and Safety.
References
Queensland
Health Regulation 1996
Part 5
Hairdressers 1996
Part 15 Skin Penetration 1996 (Available from
GOPRINT)
