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BLOODBORNE PATHOGEN TRAINING
The following training program has been established to ensure that our company is in
compliance with the OSHA standard regarding bloodborne pathogen training. It has been
developed to eliminate and minimize employee exposure to bloodborne pathogens. Each
company is responsible for filling in properly specified information in their written
Bloodborne Pathogen Program.
Bloodborne pathogens are viruses, bacteria, and other microorganisms that are borne
(carried) in a person's blood stream, causing disease. If a person comes in contact with
blood infected with a bloodborne pathogen, he or she may become infected as well. Other
fluids may also spread bloodborne pathogens. These include blood products (such as
plasmas), semen, vaginal secretions, fluid in the uterus of a pregnant woman, fluids
surrounding the brain, spine, heart, joints, fluids in the chest and abdomen, and other
fluids containing visible blood.
Bloodborne Pathogens
Bloodborne pathogens are disease causing microorganisms that may be present in human
blood. They may be transmitted with any exposure to blood or OPIM (Other Potentially
Infectious Material.) Two significant bloodborne pathogens are Hepatitis B Virus (HBV)
and Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV.) Other serious viruses are Hepatitis C, D and
syphilis. Some other body fluids may also spread bloodborne pathogens. These fluids
are plasma, semen, vaginal secretions, amniotic fluid, CSF fluid and fluid in chest and
abdomen.
Symptoms of HBV & HIV
Some of the symptoms of HBV are weakness, fatigue, weight- loss, nausea, abdominal
pain, fever and headache. Jaundice, a yellow discoloration of the skin, may or may not
develop. HBV may not always manifest symptoms and can go undiagnosed.
A major source of HBV is chronic carriers. Chronic carriers will have the antigen present
at all times and can unwittingly transmit the disease to susceptible persons through
needle, or other penetrating injury, and intimate contact. HBV is more persistent than
HIV. HBV is able to survive for at least one week in dried blood.
Another bloodborne pathogen is Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV). Symptoms of
HIV might include night sweats, fever, fatigue, weight-loss, swollen glands and muscle
or joint pain. An individual infected with HBV will test positive 2-6 weeks after
symptoms develop, while one infected with HIV may take up to a year for a blood test to
become positive. The main mode of transmission for both HIV and HBV is through
contact with blood or OPIM (Other Potentially Infectious Material) with non- intact skin
or mucous membranes.
Who Should Receive the Vaccine
You may be one of many workers who risk on-the-job contact with blood and body
fluids. One way to determine whether your job requires exposure to blood or OPIM is to
ask yourself if you would be reprimanded for not helping someone who is bleeding, or
for failing to handle situations that might involve your being exposed. For example, an
employee may not have actual exposure to a bleeding patient, but the potential for
exposure may exist. If an employee is exposed to an infectious risk more than one time a
year, the employer must offer the hepatitis immunization. These immunizations are free
of charge to the employee. The employee should be afforded this immunization within
10 days of employment at the facility. If the employee wishes to refuse the
immunization, they should sign an Immunization Declination form.
Prevention
You can minimize your exposure to bloodborne pathogens by utilizing 4 strategies:
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Engineering Controls
Work Practice Controls
Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)
Universal Precautions
Engineering Controls are structural or mechanical devices such as hand washing facilities
or eye wash stations. Work Practice Controls are the behaviors necessary to use
engineering controls effectively. Personal Protective Equipment or PPE is the equipment
provided by your employer such as latex gloves, masks, gowns or face shields. Universal
Precautions is the concept that all blood and certain body fluids are to be treated as if
contaminated with bloodborne pathogens. To protect oneself further from the
transmission of bloodborne pathogens, frequent hand washing is the most effective
method. It is required that you do so after removal of gloves and other PPE. Do not
bring or wear contaminated items outside areas where any exposure MAY have occurred.
To aid in the prevention of bloodborne pathogens being transmitted to the employee,
safety precautions should be used on work surfaces. One accepted or recognized
disinfectant is a solution of 10% bleach and water. A regular cleaning schedule must be
established and followed. This schedule must occur weekly or after completion of tasks
that would contaminate surfaces.
In disposing of sharps, generally, recapping of needles should not be done. If doing a
special procedure, the one-handed technique or a mechanical device should be used. You
should never bend sharps before placing in container. Sharps containers should be only
one-half to three-fourths full.
Laundry that is soiled with blood, dried blood, or OPIM should be placed in double leakproof bags and clearly labeled BIOHAZARD. Contaminated laundry should not be
washed with regular laundry, but rather sent to a facility that handles such laundry. The
employee must wear gloves when handling laundry or waste material.
BIOHAZARD labels must be placed on containers of regulated waste, on refrigerators
and freezers that are used to store blood or OPIM, and on containers used to store,
dispose of or transport such items.
Exposure Reporting
If an exposure occurs, immediately wash the area with warm water and soap. If the
exposed area is in your mouth, rinse your mouth with water or mouthwash. If exposure is
in the eyes, flush with water or normal saline. Next, report the incident to your
supervisor. Try to remember details such as how, when and where incident occurred, and
whose blood or body fluid you have been exposed to. You may be tested for HBV or
HIV only with your consent. After an exposure incident, the employee is entitled to
medical care. It is the employer's responsibility to ensure that employee medical records
are kept confidential.
Exposure Control Plan
An Exposure Control Plan must have in place all of the above, and a copy of this must be
accessible to employees to comply with the OSHA Bloodborne Pathogen Standard. This
Plan must be renewed and updated annually.
Bloodborne Pathogen Training Quiz
1. An employer is not responsible for offering HBV immunizations to employees with
an exposure risk of only twice a year. T F
2. An employee need not report an exposure to Bloodborne Pathogens. T
F
3. An employer is not responsible for follow-up medical treatment after an exposure to
Bloodborne Pathogens. T F
4. All employees must have access to the Exposure Control Plan and be aware of its
location. T F
5. Employers must provide appropriate PPE. T
F
6. Frequent hand washing is the most effective means of protection against bloodborne
pathogens. T F
7. One acceptable disinfectant is a solution of 10% bleach and water. T
F
8. Cleaning schedules do not have to be adhered to as long as employee uses proper
PPE. T F
9. It is not necessary for an employee to wash hands after removal of PPE. T
10. An employer is responsible for HIV immunizations. T
F
F
I understand and have completed and passed the Bloodborne
Pathogen training.
Name:
Date:
Instructor:
Answer Key
1. (F)
2. (F)
3. (F)
4. (T)
5. (T)
6. (T)
7. (T)
8. (F)
9. (F)
10. (F)