Text For Citation: 01 Item/Group: 001 Hazard: BLOODBORNE

Section 5(a)(1) of the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970: The employer did not furnish employment and a place of employment which were free from recognized hazards that were causing or likely to cause death or serious physical harm to employees in that: a) On or about April 19, 1989, appropriate post-exposure medical evaluation and follow-up procedures were not established and provided for laboratory employees exposed to the hazard of being infected with HBV and or HIV through direct contact with blood or other potentially infectous materials i.e. incidents of percutaneous (needle stick or cut) exposure, or mucous membrane (splash to eye, nasal, mucosa, or mouth) exposure, or tocutaneous exposure of chapped, abraded, or otherwise non-intact skin. Feasible abatement methods for reducing this hazard include: A confidential medical examination and follow-up including the following 1) Documentation of the HBV nd HIV infection status of the source patient (if known) and, 2) Follow-up of the exposed employee including antigen and/or antibody testing (HBV/HIV), counseling, illness reporting and safe and effective post-exposure phrophylaxis as indicated according to standard recommendations for medical practice. References: Centers for Disease Control. Recommendations for Prevention of HIV Transmission in Health-Care Settings: MMWR 1987;36 (Suppl. 2S). Centers for Disease Control. Immunization Practices Advisory Committee. Recommendations for Protection Against Viral Hepatitis. MMWR 1985;35: 313-24, 329-35. Note: It is recommended that the facility develop policies for documentation and tracking of post-exposure evaluations and follow-up procedures (Re: HBV/HIV) which address or specify requirements for: 1) Documentation of source patient identification and circumstances under which exposure occurred. 2) Testing (HIV) of source patients in situations in which consent cannot be obtained (e.g. an unconscious patient). 3) Documentation of seronegative source patients "risk-factors" evaluation. 4) Development of a chronological tracking system to assure timely administration of vaccines and procedures (e.g. HB vaccine, serial HIV testing) and notification to exposed employees of results of tests and evaluations, and dates of future vaccinations/innoculations tests or procedures that may be required.