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 hazards resulting from needlestick injuries and exposed to blood and body fluids potentially containing human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and other blood borne disease agents: a) Throughout The Facility - the health care workers are exposed to contaminated needles while treating patients. Observed 5/4/88 b) Throughout The Facility - the environmental service workers are exposed to contaminated needles while handling contaminated infectious waste. Observed 5/4/88 Abatement Note: One feasible and useful method to abate the alledged violations would be to effectively implement the hospital policies and procedures as adopted from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services/Center for Disease Control, to assure that all hospital employees understand these guidlines for their specific job in that: 1) Initial orientation and continuing education and training of all health-care workers - including environmental SVC- on the epidemiology, modes of transmission, and prevention of HIV and other blood-borne infections and the need for routine use of universal blood and body-fluid precautions for all patients. 2) Personnel must take precautions to prevent injuries caused by needles, scalpels, and other sharp instruments or devices. To prevent needlestick injuries, needles should not be recapped, purposely bent or broken by hand, removed from disposable syringes, clipped or otherwise manipulated by hand. After use, all disposable syringes, needles, scalpel blades, and other sharp items must be placed in puncture-proof containers for disposal.