NCJ Number
111415
Journal
Security Management Volume: 32 Issue: 5 Dated: (May 1988) Pages: 88-91
Date Published
1988
Length
4 pages
Annotation
This article discusses the Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS) in the workplace.
Abstract
People respond in three different ways to AIDS: (1) some develop relatively mild symptoms, as in AIDS-related complex (ARC), (2) others develop severe symptoms and succumb to pneumonia, cancer, or other illnesses, and (3) some develop no visible symptoms. Victims are hemophiliacs who received infected blood, homosexual and bisexual males, intravenous drug users, and members of the heterosexual community. The AIDS virus is normally spread by an exchange of body fluids during sexual contact. The number of potential AIDS carriers handled daily by a public or private security employee determines the degree of risk associated with that job. Responsible managers need to gather information, listen to key people, analyze the data, and develop a plan designed to give employees a reasonable level of protection against AIDS. The cost of training programs, protective equipment, policy and procedure development, and consultant services may prevent managers from addressing the issue, as well as ignorance and resistance to change. A good strategy in implementing policy would include: (1) having all employees work together in developing programs, (2) making the policy universal, and (3) making the program cost effective.