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Role and Responsibilities of Council
Council's Environmental Health Unit is responsible for the investigation of outbreaks of infectious diseases in conjunction with the State Government's Department of Health.
Environmental Health Officers may become involved in the public health management of cases of infectious diseases in various ways:
- Cases may be referred by the Department of Human Services for further investigation.
- Cases may be reported directly to them from the local community.
- They may become aware of cases as a result of their own observations and investigations.
Download files
Minimum exclusion periods for Schools and Children's Services Centres
Protect Yourself Poster – Hand washing
Protect Yourself Poster – Coughing and Sneezing
Flu & You Brochure
Seasonal/Avian/Pandemic Influenza (flu) – Information for the general public
Mosquito control around the home
Avoid getting bitten by mosquitoes
Sharps Disposal
Syringe bin locations
The Swan Hill Rural City Council provide syringe disposal bins in a majority of our public toilets which is monitored and maintained by a contracting service, should you have a concern regarding the maintenance of these bins please contact Council's Public Health Services on 5036 2591.
The locations of public toilets with syringe disposal are available from the The National Public Toilet Map.
Guidelines for needle stick injury
For information on needle-stick injuries please refer to the Better Health Channel.
Syringe Collection
A syringe collection and disposal service is provided for syringes on public land. If you do observe syringes on public land please contact the Public Health Services on 5036 2591 to arrange for their safe disposal. Please be prepared to provide a detailed description of the location of the syringe.
NOTE: Syringes on private property are the responsibility of the owner/occupier.
Safe retrieval and disposal of needles and syringes
Do
1) Tell Children never to pick up needles and syringes, but to call an adult.
2) Place used needles in a suitable container (i.e. sharps container)
3) Store the container in areas that are child and animal proof.
4) Pick up the syringe by the barrel end (blunt end) with gloves or metal tongs
Don't
1) Toss syringes loose in the bin
2) Clip needles with scissors
3) Dispose of syringes in the toilet
4) Place syringes in aluminium cans or glass containers
5) Place the "Sharps Container" in the bin. This presents some risks to waste collection workers because even heavy duty containers will break under sufficient pressure.
For more information on this matter please contact Council's Public Health Services on 5036 2591.
External Web links
Swan Hill Rural City Council is not responsible for the accuracy or reliability of content on linked web sites.
Infectious Diseases Epidemiology and Surveillance
www.health.vic.gov.au/ideas
Guidelines for Investigation of Gastrointestinal Illness
www.health.vic.gov.au/ideas/diseases/gas_ill_index
Infection Control and Cleaning in Hospitals
www.health.vic.gov.au/ideas/diseases/gas_ill_index
Pandemic Influenza
www.health.vic.gov.au/pandemicinfluenza
Preparing Victorians for the mosquito season
www.health.vic.gov.au/ideas/diseases/mosquito-season
Please contact The Department of Human Services or an Environmental Health Officer to discuss matters related to the above in more detail.
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