Endorsement of resolution for enactment of legislation to enforce infection prevention and control practices within invasive personal service settings under the Health Protection and Promotion Act (Motion #11-16)

Moved by Pilon, Kirwan. Approved by the Sudbury & District Board of Health, February 18, 2016.

WHEREAS adherence to Infection Prevention and Control (IPAC) best practices is essential in reducing the risk of infectious disease transmission through invasive procedures performed in personal services settings such as tattoo and body piercing establishment; and

WHEREAS the Ontario Public Health Standards requires that boards of health perform routine inspections of all personal services settings at least once per year to ensure adherence to best practices for IPAC; and

WHEREAS the Ontario Public Health Standards requires that boards of health investigate complaints regarding potential health hazards including IPAC lapses in personal services settings; and

WHEREAS provincial legislation does not currently exist outlining legal requirements for IPAC practices and operator responsibility and;

WHEREAS creation of provincial legislation governing invasive Personal Services Settings would support a consistent progressive enforcement model amongst Ontario’s 36 public health units;

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED THAT the Sudbury & District Board of Health support the Haliburton, Kawartha, Pine Ridge District Health Unit motion recommending that the Government of Ontario enact legislation implementing IPAC requirements for invasive personal services settings under the Health Protection and Promotion Act with short-form wording under the Provincial Offences Act.

FURTHER BE IT RESOLVED THAT a copy of this motion be submitted to the Premiere of Ontario, the Minister of Health and Long-term Care, local members of Provincial Parliament, the Chief Medical Officer of Health, the Association of Local Public Health Agencies (alPHa), and all Ontario Boards of Health.

This item was last modified on February 24, 2016