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 OR ARE POTENTIALLY EXPOSED TO BLOODBORNE PATHOGENS, SUCH AS, HEPATITIS B VIRUS (HBV) AND HUMAN IMMUNODEFICIENCY VIRUS (HIV): A) HEALTH CARE WORKERS, SUCH AS DENTAL HYGIENISTS AND DENTAL ASSISTANTS, WERE EXPOSED TO THE HAZARD OF BEING INFECTED BY HEPATITIS B VIRUS AND/OR HUMAN IMMUNODEFICIENCY VIRUS THROUGH POSSIBLE DIRECT CONTACT WITH BLOOD OR OTHER BODY FLUIDS. FEASIBLE AND USEFUL ABATEMENT METHODS FOR REDUCING THIS HAZARD, AMONG OTHERS ARE: 1) PROVIDE HEPATITIS B VACCINATIONS, FREE-OF-CHARGE, TO ALL EXPOSED AND POTENTIALLY EXPOSED EMPLOYEES. 2) INSTITUTE A STERILIZATION QUALITY CONTROL PROGRAM WHEREBY SPORE STRIPS ARE USED ON A MONTHLY BASIS TO ENSURE THAT ADEQUATE TEMPERATURE AND PRESSURE WERE REACHED DURING AUTOCLAVING TO ENSURE STERILITY OF THE REUSABLE EQUIPMENT. 3) DEVISE AND IMPLEMENT A FOLLOW-UP PROCEDURE AFTER POSSIBLE EXPOSURES TO HEPATITIS B, HUMAN IMMUNODEFICIENCY VIRUS AND/OR OTHER BLOODBORNE PATHOGENS. 4) DEVISE AND IMPLEMENT A TRAINING AND EDUCATION PROGRAM, WITH EDUCATION ON PRECAUTIONARY MEASURES, EPIDEMIOLOGY, MODES OF TRANSMISSION AND PREVENTION OF BLOODBORNE PATHOGENS, SUCH AS HEPATITIS B VIRUS AND HUMAN IMMUNODEFICIENCY VIRUS FOR EMPLOYEES. TRAINING SHALL INCLUDE PROPER WORK PRACTICES, UNIVERSAL PRECAUTIONS, DESIGNATION OF CONTAMINATED ARTICLES/INFECTIOUS WASTE, AND PROCEDURES TO BE USED IF THEY ARE EXPOSED TO A NEEDLESTICK OR OTHER SHARPS OR TO BODY FLUIDS.