Communicable Disease Assessment

 

This information and applies to AHS, APL and RA employees.

What You Need to Know

We have a Communicable Disease Assessment (CDA) Policy to evaluate exposure risks and ensure the safety of employees and patients.

What You Need to Do

For New Hires

If your role requires you to attend a Patient Care Location, you must submit the completed Communicable Disease Assessment form within 90 days of your start date.

For Transfers or Multiple Position Holders

Submitting a CDA form is not mandatory when transferring to a new position within the same organization or when taking on an additional role, but it is strongly recommended. Since job risks may change, WHS recommends submitting a form for reassessment.

Communicable Disease Assessment Policy

As part of our commitment to maintaining a safe and healthy workplace, we have a Communicable Disease Assessment (CDA) Policy in place. This CDA process helps assess potential exposure to infectious diseases in the workplace and ensures the safety of both employees and patients.

A communicable disease is an infectious illness that can be spread from person to person through direct contact, air, blood, body fluids, or contaminated environments. To protect yourself and others, a communicable disease assessment evaluates your health history, immunization records and job role to assess your risk of exposure to vaccine-preventable diseases. Workplace Health and Safety (WHS) will conduct this assessment and may recommend immunizations based on the risks associated with your specific duties.

CDA Requirements

Who needs to submit a CDA?

If your role involves attending any Patient Care Location (PCL)—such as a healthcare facility, clinical lab, patient home, or any other setting where you interact with or provide care to patients as part of your duties for AHS, APL, or RA—you are required to complete a CDA form.

If your role does not involve working in a PCL, you do not need to submit the CDA form.

Submission Deadline

In accordance with the CDA Policy, you are required to submit a completed CDA form to WHS within 90 days of your start date. If the form is not submitted within this timeframe, you will be considered non-immunized, and in the event of an exposure or outbreak, work exclusions or restrictions may apply.

Submit Your CDA Form

To complete your CDA, please submit the form as soon as possible, even if you are waiting for or unable to obtain your immunization records. You can send the form and any available records to:

Important Submission Guidelines

  • Digital or Electronic Signatures: WHS cannot accept CDA forms with digital or electronic signatures (e.g., iPad or tablet signatures). Please print and physically sign the document before submitting.
  • Immunization Records: WHS requires immunization records to include at least two identifiers (e.g., name, date of birth, or Public Health Number).
  • Immunization Updates: You do not need to obtain immunization updates prior to submitting your CDA form. Any recommended immunizations will be provided free of charge through a WHS clinic or referred by an Occupational Health Nurse to a public health facility.
  • Influenza & COVID-19: While the CDA process does not currently include influenza or COVID-19, you are encouraged to submit these records for outbreak management, in line with the public health COVID-19 Immunization Policy and Influenza Immunization Policy.

Questions

For more details about the CDA process and immunization requirements, refer to the Frequently Asked Questions.

For questions regarding immunizations & CDA process, email: whs.cda@ahs.ca