Bloodborne Pathogens

 

BLOODBORNE PATHOGENS PROGRAM




I.    PURPOSE

The purpose of this program is to minimize or eliminate all  employees’ exposure to Bloodborne pathogens, mainly that of Hepatitis B Virus (HBV), Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV), and other Bloodborne pathogens which could lead to disease or death.  This program has been developed and implemented to comply with the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, 29 CFR 1910.1030 Bloodborne Pathogens Standard.



II.    SCOPE

This program applies to all employees who are identified as authorized first responders, and are first aid/CPR trained. In addition, this includes all other employees who may, in the course of their normal employment, be required to handle, come in contact with, or dispose of any materials containing contaminated or potentially contaminated blood and/or body fluids.



III.    RESPONSIBILITIES

A.    Operation/Production Manager is responsible for the following:

1.    Administer all aspects of the Bloodborne Pathogens Program.

2.    Assure training for all affected employees and maintain documentation records indefinitely.

3.    Assure that all employees in the department who are trained in First Aid/CPR attend annual training sessions in accordance with this program.

4.    Assure that only properly trained employees perform clean up of potentially contaminated blood and/or body fluids.

B.    All affected Employees are responsible for the following:

1.    Attend and actively participate in scheduled annual training.

2.    Report any exposure to the Operation/Production Manager and participate in required follow up procedures.

IV.    EXPOSURE DETERMINATION

A.    Potentially, employees may be exposed to blood and/or body fluids in the course or normal employment.  First Responders and effected employees will be trained in CPR, First Aid.  Re-training for CPR and Bloodborne Pathogen training is annually, and First Aid is every two years.

B.    This policy applies to any employee who is trained and certified to administer First Aid, CPR and Bloodborne Pathogen clean-up.



V.    ENGINEERING AND WORK PRACTICE CONTROLS

A.    All blood, body fluids, and other potentially infectious materials will be handled as a hazardous material, unless those precautions interfere with the proper delivery of first aid/CPR, health care, or create significant risk to the personal safety of the employee. Everyone shall use the universal precautions service. Which means treat everyone as though they are infectious.

B.    Following contact with blood and/or body fluids, employees will wash their hands with soap (antiseptic cleaner) and water immediately, or as soon as possible after removing gloves or other personal protective equipment.

C.    Eating, drinking, smoking, applying cosmetics, and handling contact lenses is prohibited in medical treatment areas where a potential for contact with blood and/or body fluids exists.

D.    Food and drink will not be stored in refrigerators, freezers, cabinets, or on counter tops where blood, body fluids, or other potentially infectious materials are stored, or in areas of possible contamination.



VI.    PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT

A.    When there is a potential for occupational exposure to blood and/or bodily fluids, the following personal protective equipment will be used. It is available at no cost to the employees.


1.    Disposable Gloves - will be worn when there is a potential for the hands to have contact with blood and/or body fluids. Gloves will be worn when treating an injured employee, no matter how minor the cut or injury, or when cleaning contaminated or potentially contaminated surfaces. Disposable gloves will be used only once and will not be washed or disinfected for reuse.  Only disposable gloves that are constructed of latex, vinyl, or nitrile will be used, and are stored in the First Aid Kit.

2.    Utility Gloves - will be used for general cleaning purposes only, and may be disinfected for reuse if the integrity of the glove is not compromised.  If the utility gloves become cracked, torn, punctured, or otherwise deteriorated, they will be thrown away with other contaminated waste.

3.    Masks, eye protection and aprons/smocks may be worn when there is a potential for splashes, sprays, spatters, droplets, or aerosols of blood and/or body fluids that may be generated and there is a potential for eye, nose, and mouth contamination.  Masks and eye protection are stored at designated area and in the FIRST AID KIT.

4.    Resuscitation equipment such as pocket CPR masks will have one way mouthpieces.  They are stored in the First Aid Kit.
B.    First Aid & Bloodborne Kits are located at the following locations: 1)     
2)        
3)        

C.    All soiled or used personal protective equipment will be removed from the work area immediately or as soon as possible, and placed in an appropriate container.

D.    All personal protective equipment that is re-usable such as eye protection will be disinfected and returned to the area for reuse as soon as possible.

E.    After removing gloves or other personal protective equipment or in cases where direct contact with blood and/or body fluids may have occurred unexpectedly, hands and other skin surfaces will be washed with soap (antiseptic cleaner) and water immediately or as soon as possible after removing protective equipment. Where water is not available, antiseptic hand cleaner and disinfectant towelettes will be made available.



VII.    HOUSEKEEPING

A.    All surfaces will be properly cleaned and disinfected immediately or as soon as possible after contact with blood and/or body fluids.  Surfaces will be disinfected using disinfectant towelettes which are approved for use as a hospital disinfectant, or a freshly made mixture of one (1) part sodium hypochlorite (household bleach) diluted with ten (10) parts water.

B.    Protective coverings, which may be used to cover work surfaces, will be removed and replaced when they become contaminated. They will be disposed of as contaminated material.

C.    All bins, cans, pails, and similar receptacles intended for reuse which have the potential of becoming contaminated with blood and/or body fluids will be cleaned and decontaminated on a regular basis, or immediately after visible contamination.

D.    Contaminated broken glass will not be picked-up by hand, but will be cleaned up using a brush and dustpan, vacuum, cotton swab, or tweezers, depending upon the situation.

E.    Designated hazardous waste receptacles will be emptied on an as needed basis.  All trained employees should avoid using their hands to remove the trash from the container at the first aid station to avoid the possibility of exposure due to the unauthorized improper disposal.

F.    All reusable items contaminated with blood and/or body fluids will be disinfected using, a freshly made mixture of one (1) part household bleach diluted with ten (10) parts water.

G.    All contaminated or potentially contaminated wastes such as gloves, towels, swabs, band aids, gauze pads, shop rags, broken glass, etc. will be disposed of using the HAZARDOUS WASTE RECEPTACLE BY ALL FIRST AID KITS.



VIII.    CLEAN-UP PROCEDURES

A.    All spills of potentially infectious materials such as blood, vomit, urine, etc. will be treated as if known to be infected with HBV or HIV and will be cleaned up using the BODILY FLUID DISPOSAL KIT AND DISPOSE OF THEM IN THE HAZARDOUS WASTE RECEPTACLE BY THE FIRST AID KIT.



B.    All liquid wastes must be cleaned up in the following manner:

1.    Apply a powder or liquid disinfectant over the entire contaminated area of fluid.  The powder or liquid can be used on any surface such as counter tops, floors, or machine surfaces.

2.    Let the powder or liquid sit for a minimum of ten minutes. Make sure the entire contaminated area has been covered.
3.    Then, use a disinfectant-cleaning towel to wipe up the spill.

4.    After the material is cleaned up, the area must be disinfected again using a disinfectant towel wipe or a mixture of one part household bleach diluted with ten parts water.



C.    All dry waste must be cleaned up in the following manner:

1.    If the blood and/or body fluid are already dry, then apply a liquid disinfectant to the entire contaminated area.

2.    Let the liquid disinfectant sit for a minimum of ten minutes. Make sure the entire contaminated area has been covered.

3.    Then, use a disinfectant-cleaning towel to wipe up the spill.

4.    After the material is cleaned up, the area must be disinfected again using disinfectant towel wipe or a mixture of one part household bleach diluted with ten parts water.



IX.    INFECTIOUS WASTE DISPOSAL

A.    All infectious or potentially infectious wastes will be disposed of using the hazardous waste receptacle, which is a closeable, leak proof container. The hazardous waste receptacle(s) are located at the following locations:

1)        
2)        
3)        

B.    Contaminated laundry including, but not limited to, clothing, uniforms, and shop rags, will be placed in a labeled and color-coded (orange/red) plastic bag for disposal in the Hazardous Waste Receptacle.

1.    Any employee's personal clothing that is contaminated with blood and/or body fluids must be removed before the employee leaves. The clothing will be disposed in the appropriate container.

C.    All contaminated or potentially contaminated waste must be disposed of in accordance with all federal, state, and local hazardous waste laws. The Safety Coordinator will retain all waste disposal records indefinitely.

1.    At this time feminine hygiene products are not considered to be a hazardous waste by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and can therefore be disposed of in the regular garbage.

2.    Contaminated or potentially contaminated wastes are not covered by the 90-day waste accumulation provision under the EPA.



X.    SIGNS AND LABELS

A.    Biohazard warning labels will be attached to all containers of infectious and/or potentially infectious materials.

B.    Labels will be fluorescent oranges (red/orange) with the biohazard symbol in a contrasting color.

C.    Bags that are used for disposal or transportation of materials that are potentially contaminated with blood and/or body fluids will be or red/orange with a Biohazard symbol on them.



XI.    HEPATITIS B VACCINATION

A.    All employees certified to administer First Aid, CPR and Bloodborne Pathogen clean-up will be given the option to receive the HBV vaccination. If the employee initially declines the HBV vaccination, they must sign the OSHA Hepatitis B Vaccination Declination Form. If, at a later date, the employee decides that the vaccination is wanted, it will be provided at no cost to the employee.

B.    If the employee has previously received the HBV vaccination or if the Antibody testing reveals the person has their own immunity, then the Vaccination is not necessary.

C.    If at a future date a booster dose is recommended, it will be provided at no cost to the employee.


XII.    POST EXPOSURE EVALUATION AND FOLLOW-UP

All employees, who have had an exposure incident to blood and/or body fluids such as a splash to the eyes, mouth, or contact with exposed abraded skin, will be offered a confidential medical follow-up evaluation, vaccination, and
post-exposure medical management at no cost.  The follow-up must be performed under the direction of an authorized physician, clinic, or personal physician according to the following provisions:

A.    The Operation/Production Manager will provide the physician a description of the employee's job duties and explanation or summary of the potential exposure to a Bloodborne pathogen.

B.    The physician will be requested to provide an incident exposure status report. This record will be used to document the route(s) of exposure, HBV and HIV antibody status of the source patient(s) if known the circumstances under which the exposure occurred, and all follow-up actions taken.

C.    If the source patient can be determined, permission will be obtained before collecting and testing the source patient's blood.  The testing will determine the presence of HBV or HIV.  Any information obtained from the evaluation of the source patient's blood will remain strictly confidential.

Note:  We recognize that the source patient can refuse to submit to any blood tests at this time.

D.    The exposed employee's blood will be tested for HBV and HIV status as soon as possible after exposure.  Actual antibody or antigen testing of the blood serum may be done at that time or at a later date, if the employee requests.

E.    The Operation/Production Manager will obtain and provide to the exposed     employee a copy of the physician’s written report.  The evaluation should     include specific findings or diagnoses, which are relevant to the     employee’s ability to receive the HBV vaccination. The treating
    physician will be requested to discuss the HBV symptoms and methods
    of treatment with the employee.  All other findings or diagnoses will     remain confidential.

F.    The affected employee must sign the Bloodborne Pathogens Exposure Incident Record, stating that they have been informed of the results of their medical evaluation.



XIII.    MEDICAL RECORDS

A.    All post-exposure records with respect to this program will be maintained     by the Operation/Production Manager in the employees Confidential     Medical File for the duration of employment plus thirty (30) years. This     information will be kept.

B.    The medical file will include the following:

1.    A copy of the employee's Hepatitis B vaccination record and medical records relative to the employee's ability to receive the vaccination.

2.    A copy of the physician's incident exposure status report, medical testing, and all follow-up reports.



XIV.    TRAINING REQUIREMENTS

A.    Upon their job assignment, and on an annual basis thereafter, training will be provided to medical personnel, First Aid/CPR trained, supervisors, first responders, or any other employees including anyone who may in the course of their normal employment be required to handle, come in contact with, or dispose of any materials containing contaminated or potentially contaminated blood and/or body fluids. Any employees who may be occupationally exposed to blood, body fluids, or other potentially infectious materials will also be trained.

B.    Training will be performed on an annual basis by an authorized provider of a nationally recognized training program.

Note:  Non-health care professionals that intend to perform training on this program must have documentation verifying that they have undergone specialized training on bloodborne pathogens.

C.    Training will include the following:

1.    A review of the OSHA, 1910.1030 Bloodborne Pathogens Standard and a brief explanation of its contents.

2.    A general explanation of the epidemiology and symptoms of bloodborne diseases, modes of transmission, infection control, and the appropriate steps to take to avoid contact with blood, body fluids or other potentially infectious materials.


3.    Information on the location, types, and use of personal protective equipment available, and proper disposal and decontamination of this equipment after use.

4.    Information on the Hepatitis B vaccination and what type of medical evaluation/follow-up is available after exposure.

5.    Explain the proper use of biohazard warning labels and signs.

6.    An explanation of the post exposure procedure.



D.    All related training will be documented and maintained by the Operation/Production Manager.



XV.    RECORDKEEPING

Exposure incidents in which the employee is exposed to blood and/or body fluids will be entered on the facility's OSHA 300 Log and Summary of Occupational Injuries and Illnesses, and all other occupational illnesses.  Exposure incidents include, but are not limited to: human bites; needle sticks; blood or body fluid splash to eyes or other mucous membranes; or contact with unprotected, abraded skin.