Download THE SCHOOL DISTRICT OF PALM BEACH COUNTY

THE SCHOOL DISTRICT OF PALM BEACH COUNTY
BLOODBORNE PATHOGENS EXPOSURE CONTROL PLAN
1.
PURPOSE/DEFINITIONS
PURPOSE
The purpose of this Exposure Control Plan is to establish a program that will
eliminate or minimize employee occupational exposure to blood or other
potentially infectious materials, as directed by the Occupational Safety and
Health Administration (OSHA) Bloodborne Pathogens Standard, 29 CFR
1910.1030. (Appendix 1)
DEFINITIONS - Apply throughout the plan:
"BLOOD" means human blood, human blood components, and products made
from human blood.
"BLOODBORNE PATHOGENS" refers to pathogenic microorganisms that are
present in human blood and can cause disease in humans. These pathogens
include, but are not limited to, Hepatitis B Virus (HBV) and Human
Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV).
"CONTAMINATED" means the presence or the reasonably anticipated presence
of blood or other potentially infectious materials on an item or surface.
"CONTAMINATED LAUNDRY" means laundry which has been soiled with blood
or other potentially infectious materials.
"CONTAMINATED SHARPS" means any contaminated object that can penetrate
the skin.
"DECONTAMINATE" means the use of physical or chemical process to remove,
inactivate, or destroy bloodborne pathogens on a surface or item to the point
where they are no longer capable of transmitting infectious particles and the
surface or item is rendered safe for handling, use or disposal.
"DISINFECT" means to cleanse of harmful microorganisms.
"ENGINEERING CONTROLS" are those controls which isolate or remove the
bloodborne pathogens hazard from the work place. Examples of engineering
controls include puncture-resistant sharps containers, disposable airway
equipment, and disposable CPR pocket masks.
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"EXPOSURE INCIDENT" means a specific eye, mouth, other mucous
membrane, non-intact skin, or parenteral contact with blood or other potentially
infectious materials that result from the performance of an employee's duty.
"HBV" means Hepatitis B Virus.
"HIV" means Human Immunodeficiency Virus.
"OCCUPATIONAL EXPOSURE" means reasonably anticipated skin, eye,
mucous membrane, or parenteral contact with blood or other potentially
infectious materials that may result from the performance of an employee's job
duties.
"OTHER POTENTIALLY INFECTIOUS MATERIAL" (OPIM) means:
(1)
The following human body fluids: semen, vaginal secretions,
cerebrospinal fluid, synovial fluid, pleural fluid, pericardial fluid,
peritoneal fluid, amniotic fluid, saliva in dental procedures, that is
visibly contaminated with blood, and all body fluids in situations
where it is difficult or impossible to differentiate between body
fluids.
(2)
Any unfixed tissue or organ (other than intact skin) from a human
(living or dead); and
(3)
HIV-containing cell or tissue cultures, organ cultures, and HIV-or
HBV-containing culture medium or other solutions; and blood,
organs, or other tissues from experimental animals infected with
HIV or HBV.
"PARENTERAL" means piercing mucous membranes or the skin barrier through
such events as punctures, human bites, cuts and abrasions.
"PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT" means
equipment worn by an employee for protection against
clothes (e.g., uniforms, pants, shirts or blouses) not
protection against a hazard are not considered to
equipment.
specialized clothing or
a hazard. General work
intended to function as
be personal protective
"REGULATED BIOHAZARDOUS WASTE" means solid waste or liquid waste
which may present a threat of infection to humans. The term includes, but is not
limited to, non liquid human tissue and body parts; laboratory and veterinary
waste which contain human disease- causing agents; discarded sharps; human
blood, human blood products and body fluid. The following are also included:
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(a)
Used, absorbent materials as bandages, gauze, or sponges
supersaturated, having the potential to drip or splash, with blood or
body fluids from areas such as operating rooms, delivery rooms,
trauma centers, emergency rooms or autopsy rooms.
(b)
Devices which retain visible blood adhering to inner surfaces after
use and rinsing such as intravenous tubing, hemodialysis filters,
and catheters. Medical devices used in the treatment of Hepatitis B
Virus or Human Immunodeficiency Virus suspected or positive
patients shall be segregated as biohazardous waste.
(c)
Other contaminated solid waste materials which represent a
significant risk of infection because they are generated in medical
facilities which care for persons suffering from diseases requiring
strict isolation criteria and listed by the U.S. Department of Health
and Human Services, Center for Disease Control, " CDC Guideline
for Isolation Precautions in Hospitals," July/August 1983.
"SANITARY" means free from elements, as filth or bacteria that endangers
health.
"SANITIZE" means to make sanitary.
"SOURCE INDIVIDUAL" means any person, living or dead, whose blood or other
potentially infectious materials may be a source of occupational exposure to the
employee.
"STERILIZE" means the use of a physical or chemical procedure to destroy all
microbial life.
"UNIVERSAL PRECAUTIONS" means an approach to infection control in which
all human blood and certain human body fluids are treated as if known to be
infectious for HIV, HBV and other bloodborne pathogens. See Appendix 2 for a
more thorough definition and specific work practices.
"WORK PRACTICE CONTROLS" means controls that reduce the likelihood of
employee exposure to blood or other potentially infectious materials by altering
the manner in which a task is performed.
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