Download Bloodborne Pathogens - School District of Black River Falls

Bloodborne Pathogens
An overview of the OSHA standard
designed to protect you from
bloodborne pathogens
Introduction
 Exposure
to bloodborne pathogens can
occur anywhere including your
workplace.
 Infection on the job most often occurs
by direct exposure to blood.
 At school, your risk is low because
contact with blood is infrequent--but still
possible.
Bloodborne Diseases
 Blood
can carry many diseases
 The 3 most common are
 HIV
(human immunodeficiency virus)
 HBV (hepatitis B virus)
 HCV (hepatitis C virus)
Human Immunodeficiency Virus
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HIV attacks the body’s immune system
A person can be infected with HIV and take years to
develop symptoms
Symptoms can be flu-like--fatigue, fever, diarrhea
A person infected with HIV will develop AIDS and/or
AIDS related illnesses—cancer, neurological
problems, opportunistic infections
HIV is transmitted through sexual contact or contact
with blood and other body fluids
There is NO vaccine to prevent HIV
Hepatitis B Virus
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Hepatitis--“inflammation of the liver”—can cause
serious liver damage, cirrhosis, and death
Symptoms can be flu-like—fatigue, nausea, vomiting,
abdominal pain, jaundice—and can become so
severe that hospitalization is needed or a person may
have NO symptoms at all
A person without symptoms may not know that he is
infected
HBV can be transmitted by blood, saliva and other
body fluids
HBV can be transmitted to family members, sexual
partners and unborn infants
Hepatitis C Virus
HCV also affects the liver
 Symptoms may be flu-like as with HBV
 75% of people with HCV have NO symptoms
and 85% of these will develop chronic liver
disease
 A blood test is needed to determine if the
virus is HBV or HCV
 HCV is the #1 indicator for liver transplant
 There is NO vaccine to prevent HCV
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Transmission
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Bloodborne diseases are found in
 Blood
 Other body fluids containing visible blood
 Semen or vaginal secretions
 Loose or torn skin
Bloodborne diseases can enter the body through
 Open cuts, abrasions, nicks in the skin
 Dermatitis
 Acne
 Mucous membranes of eyes, mouth or nose
Transmission
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Infection can be spread by injury from a
contaminated object such as
 Broken glass
 Needles
 Knives or other sharp metals
Indirectly, a person can transmit bloodborne diseases
by touching an infected surface or object and
transferring the disease to their
 eyes
 nose
 mouth
 open skin
Transmission
A
major source for transmission of
hepatitis is contaminated surfaces.
 HBV
can survive for at least one week
on environmental surfaces at room
temperature.
Standard Precautions
 All
persons are treated the same
regardless of age, sex, socioeconomic
class or geographic location.
 Every
person and every body fluid is
treated as a potential source of
infectious disease.
Exposure Control Plan
The School District has developed its own
Exposure Control Plan
 The Plan
 Identifies all staff involved
 Identifies potential risks with each job
 Determines ways to decrease risk of
exposure to bloodborne pathogens on
the job
 A copy is found in each building’s office

Protect Yourself
5
strategies to decrease the risk of
exposure to bloodborne pathogens
 Work Practice Controls
 Personal Protective Equipment
 Housekeeping
 Engineering Controls
 Hepatitis B Vaccine
Work Practice Controls

Wash your hands
After glove removal
 If you have direct contact with blood
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Personal Hygiene
Do not consume food or beverage or apply
make-up where occupational exposure is
likely
 Minimize splashing, spraying, or generation of
droplets when blood is involved
 Do not store food or beverage where it could
come in contact with blood or other infectious
materials

Personal Protective Equipment
Types of PPE
 Gloves
 Gowns
 Protective eyewear
 Masks
 Resuscitation devices
 The use of PPE is determined by the amount
of anticipated exposure
 The District provides any equipment that is
needed

Personal Protective Equipment
 General
Rules
 PPE
must be appropriate for task
 PPE must fit properly
 PPE must be free from defects
 PPE must be used each time there is
contact with potentially infectious
materials
 Training on the use of PPE must occur
Personal Protective Equipment
Gloves
 Must be worn when dealing with blood
or other potentially infectious materials
 Use once and dispose
 Replace if torn or damaged
 Wash your hands when task is done
 Cover cuts and abrasions with bandaids first
 Utility gloves may be decontaminated and
reused if they are intact

Housekeeping
 Contaminated
surfaces need to be
cleaned as soon as possible
 Never handle sharp objects—broken
glass—with bare hands
 Contaminated sharp objects must be
placed in a puncture-resistant container
 Custodians trained and equipped to
clean up accidents in the classroom
Engineering Controls
 Red
cans
 Dispose of contaminated waste-drippable, pourable, squeezable-ONLY
 Located in each nurse’s office
 If you’re in doubt, use the red can
Hepatitis B Vaccine
The District provides this as a benefit for all
employees considered at risk for exposure
 If you have not had the vaccine, and would
like to receive it,please see the nurse.
 If you have an exposure and have not had the
vaccine, you can begin the series within 24
hours (and complete it) to acquire protection

Exposure
Notify your supervisor and/or the nurse
 You are entitled to
 A confidential medical evaluation
 Blood tests
 Post-exposure treatment if available
 Follow-up counseling
 This is coordinated through Krohn Clinic or
Black River Memorial Hospital

Summary
 Treat
everyone the same
 Anticipate your exposure
 Protect yourself--use the appropriate
equipment
 Get the Hepatitis B vaccine series
 Familiarize yourself with the ECP
Signature page
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I have received and read the information pertaining to
Bloodborne Pathogens.
I understand that if I have any questions regarding
this information I should contact a District nurse.
Name
Date
Please return this form to Randi Arneson