Policy E3
Policy Name: Bloodborne Pathogens
Responsibility for Maintenance: Sustainability and
Environmental Health and Safety
Date of
most recent changes: June 9, 2011
I.
Policy Statement
The
Occupational Safety & Health Administration (OSHA) issued a standard to
protect all workers exposed to human blood or body fluids as a routine part of
their job. This policy will assist Onondaga Community College employees to
minimize potential exposure to blood and body fluids, and thus to diseases
carried by these fluids.
II. Reason for Policy
The
College is required to comply with applicable requirements of the OSHA
Bloodborne Pathogen standard set forth at 29 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR)
Section 1910.1030.1 This policy and the related documents are
intended to protect employees from the health hazards associated with
Bloodborne Pathogens (e.g., Hepatitis B Virus and Human Immunodeficiency Virus)
and ensure the availability of appropriate treatment and counseling if an
employee is exposed to Bloodborne Pathogens in the course of their employment.
III. Applicability of the Policy
This
policy applies to any employee who would have occupational exposure to Blood or
other potentially infectious materials.
IV. Related Documents
- Bloodborne Pathogens Program Exposure Control Plan
- 29 Code of Federal Regulations Section 1910.1030 – Bloodborne
Pathogens Standard
V. Contacts
Subject
|
Office Name
|
Title or Position
|
Telephone Number
|
Email/URL
|
Bloodborne
Pathogen Program Review and Implementation
|
Office
of Sustainability and Environmental Health and Safety
|
Director
|
(315) 498-2847 |
[email protected]
|
VI. Definitions
Term
|
Definition
|
Blood
|
Human blood, blood components and products made from human
blood.
|
Bloodborne Pathogens
|
Pathogenic microorganisms that are present in human Blood and
can cause disease in humans. These pathogens include, but are not limited to,
hepatitis B virus (HBV) and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV).
|
Contaminated
|
The presence or the reasonably anticipated presence of Blood or
Other Potentially Infectious Materials on an item or surface.
|
Engineering Controls
|
Controls (e.g., sharps disposal containers, self-sheathing
needles, safer medical devices, such as sharps with engineered sharps injury
protections and needleless systems) that isolate or remove the Bloodborne
Pathogens hazard from the workplace.
|
Exposure Incident
|
A specific eye, mouth, other mucous membrane, non-intact skin,
or parenteral contact with Blood or Other Potentially Infectious Materials
that results from the performance of an employee's duties.
|
Occupational Exposure
|
Reasonably anticipated skin, eye, mucous membrane, or parenteral
contact with Blood or Other Potentially Infectious Materials that may result
from the performance of an employee's duties.
|
Other Potentially Infectious Materials
|
(1) The following human body fluids: semen, vaginal secretions,
cerebrospinal fluid, synovial fluid, pleural fluid, pericardial fluid,
peritoneal fluid, amniotic fluid, saliva in dental procedures, any body fluid
that is visibly contaminated with Blood, and all body fluids in situations
where it is difficult or impossible to differentiate between body fluids;
(2) Any unfixed tissue or organ (other than intact skin) from a human (living
or dead); and
(3) HIV-containing cell or tissue cultures, organ cultures, and HIV- or
HBV-containing culture medium or other solutions; and blood, organs, or other
tissues from experimental animals infected with HIV or HBV.
|
Universal Precautions
|
An approach to infection control. According to the concept of
Universal Precautions, all human Blood and certain human body fluids are
treated as if known to be infectious for HIV, HBV, and other Bloodborne
Pathogens.
|
Work Practice Controls
|
Controls that reduce the likelihood of exposure by altering the
manner in which a task is performed (e.g., prohibiting recapping of needles
by a two-handed technique).
|
VII. Procedures
The following
is a list of requirements in the Bloodborne Pathogen Standard that are
addressed in greater detail in the College’s Exposure Control Plan:
Exposure Control Plan. This is a written plan documenting how the College fulfills the
requirements of the Bloodborne Pathogen Standard. Copies of the plan are
maintained in the Office
of Sustainability and Environmental Health and Safety.
Exposure Determination. Each position code/job title has been evaluated for potential
Occupational Exposure to human Blood or Other Potentially Infectious Materials.
Copies of the exposure determination can be reviewed with the Exposure Control
Plan.
Methods of Compliance. Each of the following is a method by which to minimize exposure
to Blood or body fluids.
Universal Precautions: An approach to infection control which assumes that the Blood,
body fluids, and tissues of ALL persons are potentially infectious. Thus,
precautions to prevent Exposure Incidents will be used universally without
regard to the source.
Engineering Controls: Control measures which isolate or remove the hazard from the
workplace including sharps disposal containers and biological safety cabinets.
Work Practice Controls: Controls that reduce the likelihood of an Exposure Incident by
altering the manner in which a task is performed such as frequent hand washing
and no recapping of needles.
Personal Protective Equipment (PPE): Equipment which is
designed to place a barrier between the employee and the Blood or Other
Potentially Infectious Materials to which he/she may be exposed. The College
supplies appropriate protective clothing at no cost to employees. PPE is
required to be worn whenever exposure to Blood or Other Potentially Infectious
Materials is possible.
Housekeeping/Waste Disposal: It is everyone’s responsibility to maintain a
safe working environment for themselves and others. This includes proper clean-up
of Contaminated work areas and proper disposal of Other Potentially Infectious
Materials.
Hepatitis B Vaccination: The vaccination is highly recommended for all who have potential
occupational exposure to Blood and body fluids.
Labels/Signs: Any materials and equipment which may be Contaminated must be
labeled with a biohazard symbol.
Training: Relevant employees will receive training at orientation and annually
thereafter.
Post-Exposure Follow-up. In the event of an exposure to Blood or body fluids, contact your
supervisor, fill out an incident report, and call the Department of Campus
Safety and Security. The circumstance surrounding the exposure will be
documented and the employee will receive medical consultation, follow-up, and
treatment if necessary, in a timely manner.
General
Guidelines for Controlling Exposure to Bloodborne Pathogens.
- Treat all human Blood, body
fluids and tissue as if it is infected with a Bloodborne Pathogen.
- Refrain from physically
touching another person’s Blood, fluid or injured tissue. If you have cuts or
lesions on your hands, USE GLOVES!
- When the potential exists
for Blood or body fluid to splash into eyes or face, wear safety glasses and
mask.
- Do not eat, drink, smoke,
apply makeup or handle contact lenses in areas where Blood or Other Potentially
Infectious Materials may be present.
- Do not store food where
Other Potentially Infectious Materials are stored, such as a refrigerator.
- If you spill or splatter
Blood or Other Potentially Infectious Material, clean the substance
immediately.
- Never pick up broken glass
Contaminated with Blood or Other Potentially Infectious Materials with your
bare hands. Wear thick leather gloves or use a dust pan and broom.
- Remember – the most
potentially dangerous route for transmission of HIV and HBV infection is by
accidental needle sticks, contamination of the mucous membranes, or through
broken, abraded or irritated skin. Use appropriate caution and maximum
protection to prevent such contact.
- Never recap, clip or bend
needles. Dispose of needle/syringe and other sharps immediately after use in a
sharps container.
- Handle sharp items with safety awareness. Stay focused on the task
at hand.
- All waste Contaminated with Other Potentially Infectious
Materials, Blood, tissue, and fluid should be correctly labeled.
- Wash hands and arms thoroughly with soap and water after
contacting human Blood or Other Potentially Infectious Materials, when you
change gloves, or your gloves are Contaminated. Similarly, wash any other area
of body contact.
- Flush mucous membranes with water, immediately following contact
with body areas with Other Potentially Infectious Material.
- Report every incident involving physical contact to your
supervisor. Arrangements for follow up procedures will be made. The health risk
will then be assessed and addressed by a health professional.
- Personnel responding to an emergency shall not take Contaminated
clothing home to launder.
1
The OSHA Bloodborne Pathogen Standard has been adopted by the New York State
Commissioner of Labor as an applicable standard for the health and safety of
public employees.
Approved
by OCC Board of Trustees April 3, 2006
Updated
and approved by the President June 9, 2011