Text For Citation: 01 Item/Group: 001B 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 health care workers (incinerator operators) working in the area of the corridor of Scaife Hall and Presbyterian University Hospital were exposed to the hazard of being infected by HBV and/or HIV through possible direct contact with blood or other body fluids: a) Corridor of Scaife Hall and Presbyterian University Hospital: Incinerator operators who experience occupational exposures to blood borne pathogens including, but not limited to, hepatitis B virus (HBV) and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), were not provided information and training with respect to such exposures. Feasible and useful abatement methods for reducing this hazard, among others, are: 1) Implement a training program for all incinerator operators at the time of initial employment and at least annually thereafter; and, 2) Ensure the training program contains the following elements: A) A general explanation of the epidemiology and symptoms of blood borne diseases; B) An explanation of the modes of transmission of blood borne pathogens; C) An explanation of the use and limitations of practices that will prevent or reduce exposure including appropriate engineering controls, work practices, and personal protective equipment; D) Information on the types, proper use, location, removal, handling, discontamination and/or disposal of personal protective equipment; E) Information on the hepatitis B vaccine, including information on its efficacy,l safety and benefits; F) Information on the appropriate actions to take and persons to contact in an emergency; G) An explanation of the procedure to follow if an exposure incident occurs; H) An explanation of signs, labels, and/or color coding requirements; and, I) Information on universal precautions as established by the Center for Disease Control (CDC).