Text For Citation: 02 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: a) The hazards to employees working with blood and body fluids thus causing or likely to cause employee exposure to and contraction of Hepatitis B Virus (HBV) and/or Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV). Health Care workers exposed include physicians, nurses, nursing assistants, phlebotomists, medical technologists, technicians, housekeeping and maintenance personnel; on or about 7/26/89. Feasible abatement methods for reducing this hazard, include but are not limited to: TRAINING AND EDUCATION Training and Education of Health Care Workers such as but not limited to physicians, pathologists, dentists, dental technicians, x-ray technicians, phlebotomists, emergency room, intensive care and operating nurses and technicians, laboratory and blood bank technicians housekeeping personnel, laundry workers, orderlies, morticians, research laboratory workers, paramedics and medical examiners. Such training and education shall be at the time of initial employment and at least annually thereafter. The training materials used shall be appropriate in content and vocabulary to educational level, literacy, and language background of the employees being trained. The Training and Education Program shall contain as a minimum the following elements; I) A general explanation of the modes of transmission of bloodborne pathogens; II) An explanation of the employer's Infection Control Program; III) An explanation of the appropriate methods for recognizing tasks and other activities that will involve exposure to blood or body fluids or other potentially infectious materials; IV) An explanation of the use and limitations of work practices that will prevent or reduce employee exposure, including appropriate engineering controls, work practices, and personal protective equipment. V) An explanation of the basis for selection of personal protective equipment; VI) Information on the Hepatitis B Vaccination, including information on its efficacy, safety and the benefits of being vaccinated; VII) Information on the appropriate actions to be taken and the person to contact in an emergency; VIII) An explanation of the procedures to follow if an exposure incident occurs, including the method of reporting the incident and the medical follow-up that will be made available. IX) An explanation of the signs and labels and/or color coding used in the workplace; and X) A copy of the Center for Disease Control (CDC) Guidelines. WRITTEN INFECTION CONTROL PROGRAM The employer shall design and implement a written Infection Control Program to minimize or eliminate employee exposure. This Infection Control Program shall be reviewed and updated as necessary to reflect significant changes in tasks or procedures. This program shall contain as a minimum the following: I) A determination of the exposure potential of all employees; II) The schedule and method of implementation of the Infection Control Program. The writen Infection Control Program shall be made available to all employees during the training program. HEPATITIS B VACCINATION The facility's infection control policy regarding Hepatitis B vaccinations shall address all circumstances warranting such vaccinations and shall identify employees at substantial risk of directly contacting body fluids. All such employees shall be offered Hepatitis B vaccinations in amounts and at time prescribed by standard medical practice. FOLLOW-UP PROCEDURES AFTER POSSIBLE EXPOSURE TO HIV/HBV): I) If a health care worker has a percutaneous (needlestick) or cut or mucous membrane, (splash to eye, nasal mucosa, or mouth exposure) to blood or body fluids or has a cutaneous exposure to blood or body fluids when the worker's skin is chapped, abraded, or otherwise nonintact, the source pateint shall be informed of the incident and tested for HIV and HBV infections, after consent is obtained. II) If patient consent is refused or if the source patient tests positive, the health care worker shall be evaluated clinically by HIV antibody testing as soon as possible and advised to report and seek medical evaluation of any acute febrile illness that occurs within 12 weeks after exposure. HIV seronegative workers shall be restested 6 weeks post-exposure and on a periodic basis thereafter (12 weeks and 6 months after exposure). III) Follow-up procedures shall be taken for haelth care workers exposed or potentially exposed to HBV. The type of procedures depend on the immunization status of the worker (i.e., whether HBV vaccination has been received and antibody response is adequate) and the HBV serologic status of the source patient.