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 employees were exposed to the following conditions which increase the risk of employees contracting bloodborne diseases: a) Health care workers such as nurses were exposed to the hazard of being infected by bloodborne pathogens such as the Hepatitis B Virus (HBV) through possible direct contact with blood or other body fluids. Feasible abatement methods for reducing this hazard, among others, are the provision of a Hepatitis B Vaccination Program, free of charge, to all employees who are at substantial risk of directly contacting potentially infectious body fluids. b) Health care workers such as nurses were exposed to the hazard of being infected by bloodborne pathogens such as the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) and the Hepatitis B Virus (HIV) through possible direct contact with blood or othr body fluids. Feasible and useful abatement methods for reducing this hazard, among others, are the development and implementation of an Infection Control Program which specifies what procedures must be followed after an employee experiences a percutaneous, mucous membrane, or non-intact skin exposure to patient blood or body fluids. The source patient must be informed of the employee exposure incident and tested for HIV and HBV infections unless the patient refuses consent to such testing. If the source patient tests positive or refuses to be tested, the employee must be evaluated clinically and seek medical evaluation of any acute febrile illness that occurs within twelve weeks after ex- posure. HIV seronegative workers must be retested six weeks post- exposure and on a periodic basis thereafter (normally twelve weeks and six months after exposure). For health care workers exposed or potentially exposed to HBV, the recommendations of the CDC Immunization Practices Advisory Committee: regarding HBV post exposure prophylaxis (published in the June 7, 1985 Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report) must be followed. If an employee refused to submit to a medical test or procedure described above, no adverse action can be taken against the employee since these medical procedures were designed for the benefit of the exposed employee. c) Health care workers such as nurses, nursing technicians, housekeeping depatment workers and laundry department workers were exposed to the hazard of being infected by bloodborne pathogens such as the Hepatitis B Virus (HBV) and the Human Immunodeficiency Virus. (HIV) through possible direct contact with blood or other body fluids. Feasible and useful abatement methods for reducing this hazard, among others are the provision of a comprehensive training program covering all of the matters listed below: 1. Procedures to be followed after employee clothing becomes contaminated with significant quantities fo resident blood; 2. Procedures to be followed after employee experiences a percutaneous, mucous membrane, or non-intact skin exposure to resident blood or body fluids; 3. The proper procedures to be followed to safely containerize and label refuse and lauderable fabric which have become significantly contaminated with resident blood or other porentially infectious body fluids; 4. The personal protective clothing and equipment to be worn during the handling of residents with draining wounds, nose bleeds, skin tears or lacerations resulting from a fall; 5. The modes of transmission of HBV and HIV; 6. The epidemiology of HBV and HIV; 7. Possible risks to a fetus; 8. The contents of CDC's "Update: Universal Precautions for prevention of transmission if HIV, HBV and other blood borne pathogens in health care settings"; 9. The contents of the employer's Hepatitis B Vaccination Program; and 10. The proper procedures for cleaning and disinfecting non-disposable items and surfaces which become contaminated with blood or other potentially infectious fluids.