Text For Citation: 03 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 of exposure to and contraction of Hepatitis B Virus (HBV) and or Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) through possible direct contact with infectious blood or other body fluids resulting from recapping needles and improper disposal of waste with proper warning signs. Health care workers poten- tially exposed employees include doctors, medical administration paramedics, occupational health technicians, and housekeeping employees. Feasible abatement methods for reducing this hazard, include but are not limited to: (1) Provide sufficient training to employees in the utilization of universal precautions as described in CDC guidelines, for protection against HIV and HBV. Training should provide employees with information necessary to determine when appropriate universal precautions should be followed. The training should ensure that employees: (a) Properly dispose of waste material potentially con- taminated with blood and body fluids, such as guaze, needles, paper towels, sharps etc. in designated re- ceptacles. Recapped or unsheathed needles, IV sy- ringes and piggyback shall be disposed of in proper receptacles, and not mixed with non-infectious waste. (b) Training shall be developed based upon the work procedures for the employees' assigned jobs. The training shall be given to all employees potentially exposed to blood-borne infectious agents and manage- ment personnel effected. The training program shall be repeated on an as needed basis. Establish a periodic review of the training to ensure workers are implemented the protective work practices. (c) A review and evaluation of the established program shall be conducted at least anually to determine its continued effectiveness. This shall include a review of workers exposure incidents. This program shall be implemented expeditiously. (2) Health care workers shall be counseled as to the possible risks to the fetus from HBV/HIV and other possible associ- ated infectious agents. (3) The elimination of current practices of resheathing/recapp- ing of needles. Needles and sharps ready for disposal shall be disposed of in properly designated receptacles. The current practice of recapping may result in doctor, paramedics, doctors, assistant, housekeeping and other healthcare workers being injured by needles potentially contaminated with blood and/or body fluids infected with HBV/HIV. (4) All employees who may be potentially exposed to Hepatitis B shall be offered the Hepatitis B vaccination in amounts and at timed prescribed by standard medical practices. (5) Provide housekeeping guidelines and address the proper pre- cautions to be taken while disposing of waste materials potentially contaminated with blood and body fluids, such as gauze, paper towels sharps etc. involving substantial risk of direct exposure to body fluids. Follow DCD guide- lines regarding the use of appropriate disinfectant solu- tions for sanitary cleaning of contaminated surfaces.