Download Risk Controls

Control of Biological
Agents
Training Objectives
By the end of this session participants
will:
• Understand WorkSafeBC Regulations
regarding this topic
• Understand the purpose of the program
• Be able to identify Biological Hazards
and control procedures
Agenda
•
•
•
•
•
WorkSafeBC Regulation Requirements
Definitions
Symptoms and Effects
Method of Transmission
Exposure Control Plan
Agenda (continued)
•
•
•
•
•
Risk Identification & Assessment
Controls
Hepatitis B Vaccine
Response Procedures
Labeling and Identification
WorkSafeBC OHS Regulation
• Compile list of tasks with possible
exposure
• If exposure is possible, an Exposure
Control Plan is required
• Develop work procedures
• Labeling of materials
• Vaccination available
Definitions
• Biological Agents include:
•
•
•
•
•
Viruses
Bacterium
Prion
Fungus
Some other biological agents
Definitions
• Bloodborne Diseases
• Bloodborne pathogens such as:
•
•
Hepatitis B and C (HBV, HCV)
Other WorkSafeBC specified biohazardous
materials
Definitions
• Occupational Exposure
• Reasonably anticipated exposure as a
result of employment
Symptoms and Effects
• HIV: Human Immunodeficiency Virus
• Causes AIDS
• No cure or vaccination
• HBV: Hepatitis B virus
• Causes liver disease
• Vaccination available
• HCV: Hepatitis C virus
• Causes liver disease, liver cancer
• No cure
Symptoms and Effects
• HIV
• Causes AIDS (Acquired Immune
Deficiency Syndrome)
• May take many years before AIDS
develops
• HIV attacks the body’s immune system
• AIDS is a fatal disease
Symptoms and Effects
• Hepatitis B Virus (HBV)
• Short or long term liver swelling
• Permanent liver damage and scarring
(cirrhosis)
• Liver cancer in some
Symptoms and Effects
• Hepatitis B Virus - continued
•
•
•
•
Symptoms range from flu-like to none at all
Person is infectious even if no symptoms
1% die from initial infection
10% are chronically infected
Symptoms and Effects
• Hepatitis C Virus (HCV)
• Acute and chronic liver disease
• More likely to cause chronic hepatitis, liver
scarring and liver cancer than HBV
Symptoms and Effects
• Hepatitis C Virus – continued
• Often no symptoms initially
• 90% become chronically infected
• 1 – 2 % of population in BC is affected
Method of Transmission
• Transmitted through contact with
infected human blood and other body
fluids such as:
•
•
•
•
Semen
Vaginal fluids
Cerebrospinal fluid
Synovial fluid
•
•
•
•
Pleural fluid
Peritoneal fluid
Amniotic fluid
Saliva – HBV only
Method of Transmission
• May be transmitted in 3 ways:
• Through cut or punctured skin
• Splash of infectious fluid on mucous
membranes (eyes, mouth, nose)
• Splash of infectious fluid onto non-intact
skin
Method of Transmission
• HIV
• very fragile outside the human body
• HBV
• can live in dried blood for 10 days or more
• HCV
• unknown how long it survives in the
environment
Exposure Control Plan
• The Exposure Control Plan must:
• Be in writing
• List responsibilities
• Include:
•
•
•
•
Risk assessment
Training
Written work procedures
Hygiene and decontamination facilities
Exposure Control Plan
• The Exposure Control Plan – continued
• Health monitoring
• Documentation
Exposure Control Plan
• The Plan is based on:
•
•
•
•
Statistical information
History at similar workplaces
Known exposures and/or near misses
Input from workers
Risk Assessment
• Risk Assessment
• A systematic approach to quantify a risk
• Components include:
• Likelihood
• Frequency
• Consequence
Risk Assessment
• Identify at risk jobs/tasks. Examples
include:
•
•
•
•
Police
Firefighters
Parks workers
Solid waste disposal
workers
• Cleaning Staff
•
•
•
•
•
Sewage workers
Recreation staff
Plumbers
Road Crews
First Aid
Attendants
Risk Controls
1.
2.
3.
4.
Elimination
Substitution
Engineering Controls
Work Practice Controls, which may include
•
•
•
Standard Infection Control Precautions
Good housekeeping practices
Safe work procedures
5. Personal Protective Equipment
Risk Controls
1. Elimination
• Must be the 1st option
•
•
Is it necessary to do the task?
Can it be done another way?
Risk Controls
2. Substitution
• Substitute the process with a less
hazardous procedure
• Substitute the process with an alternate
procedure
Risk Controls
3. Engineering Controls
• Remove or isolate the hazard(s)
• Use of:
•
•
•
•
•
tools to control
sharps containers
splatter guards
biohazard cabinets
good laboratory practices
Risk Controls
4. Work Practice Controls
• Reduce the likelihood of exposure by
altering the way a task is performed
Risk Controls
• Work Practice Controls include:
• Standard Infection Control Precautions
• Treat all human blood and other potentially
infectious materials as infectious.
• Take appropriate precautions in all cases
• Do not assume there is low risk
Risk Controls
• Work Practice Controls include:
• Housekeeping practices
•
•
•
•
•
Identify locations of concern
Clean high risk areas
Size and nature of the spill
Cleaning instructions
Type of disinfectant (MSDS)
Risk Controls
• Work Practice Controls include:
• Safe Work Procedures
Risk Controls
5. Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)
•
•
•
•
•
Vital in all situations
Must be available to workers
Must be suitable to the hazard
Workers must be instructed in its use
Must fit properly
Risk Controls
• PPE may include:
• Face shields
• Gloves
• Aprons, gowns, shoe covers
Risk Controls
• Safe Work Procedures
• General rules
• Handling and
disposal of
contaminated
laundry
• Picking up sharps
• Removing
disposable gloves
• Handling garbage
• Hand washing
• Spill cleanup
• What to do if
exposed
Risk Controls
• General Rules
• Wash hands and remove protective
clothing before eating, drinking, smoking,
handling contact lenses, applying lip balm
or cosmetics
Risk Controls
• General Rules - continued
• Keep hands away from eyes, nose, and
mouth
• Frequent hand washing is best defense
against spreading infection
Risk Controls
• Contaminated Laundry
• Isolate and minimize handling
• Separate contaminated laundry from other
laundry
• Bag the laundry at point of use
• Identify if taken to outside facilities
• Do not sort or rinse on site
Risk Controls
• Picking Up Sharps (1)
•
•
•
•
Must be trained
Use the proper equipment and PPE
No sharps in pockets
Do not put sharps in regular garbage
Risk Controls
• Picking Up Sharps (2)
•
•
•
•
•
•
Disposable waterproof gloves
Place container next to sharp (do not hold)
Use tongs or pliers (or pick up by shaft)
Place the needle end or sharp end first
Do not fill container
Dispose of container
Risk Controls – Removing
Disposable Gloves
Risk Controls
• Handling Garbage (1)
•
•
•
•
Handle as little as possible
Watch for sharps
Do not compress
Do not reach into containers with bare
hands
• Do not pick up loose garbage unless using
puncture/liquid resistant gloves
Risk Controls
• Handling Garbage (2)
•
•
•
•
Do not completely fill bags
Hold by top of bag only
Hold away from the body
Do not support bottom of bag with your
hand
Risk Controls
• Hand Washing (1)
•
•
•
One of the most important and easiest
prevention practices
Frequent hand washing is the best
defense against spreading infection
Keep hands away from your eyes, nose
and mouth
Risk Controls
• Hand Washing (2)
• Wash hands and remove protective
clothing:
• Before eating, drinking, smoking, handling
contact lenses, applying lip balm or cosmetics
• Suspect glove torn or leaking
• After removing gloves
• After contact with with blood or body fluids
• Before leaving work area
Proper hand washing
Risk Controls
• Spill Cleanup and Decontamination
• Use proper PPE
• Spills must be cleaned up immediately
• Use a freshly mixed 1:10 bleach solution or
an approved germicide / disinfectant
• Refer to written safe work procedures
Exposure Response
• What to do if exposed (1)
•
•
•
•
Get First Aid if injury requires it
Get medical attention immediately
Report the incident to your supervisor
Document – complete the report form
Exposure Response
• What To Do If Exposed (2)
• Sharp Injury or Bite
•
•
•
•
Let the wound bleed freely
Promote bleeding
Wash the affected area
Seek medical attention immediately
Exposure Response
• What To Do If Exposed (3)
• Contact With Intact Skin
•
•
•
•
Immediately wash exposed area
Do not use bleach or caustic disinfectant
Vehicles should carry waterless hand cleaner
Remember: intact skin is a barrier to
transmission of diseases
Exposure Response
• What To Do If Exposed (4)
• Contact With Non-Intact Skin or Mucous
Membranes
• Immediately flush the affected area with large
amounts of water
• Seek medical attention immediately (treat as a
medical emergency)
Exposure Response
• Medical Evaluation
•
•
•
•
Type of fluid or material
Type of exposure
Status of the source
Status of the worker
All medical information is confidential
Exposure Response
• Reporting the Exposure
• Report all exposures/injuries where:
• injury penetrates through intact skin or mucous
membrane
• there is an exposure to non-intact skin (healing
wound, dermatitis, chapped or scraped skin)
Vaccinations
• If a vaccine is available for a known
occupational hazard (as per
WorkSafeBC Regulation) the employer
will make it available to workers free of
charge.
Review
• Protect yourself on and off the job –
know what you are working with
• Practice good personal hygiene
• Follow procedures. Use gloves and
protective clothing
• Wash your hands often
• Keep areas clean - report problems
immediately to supervisors
Summary
• Today’s discussion included:
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
WorkSafeBC Regulations
Definitions
Symptoms and Effects
Method of Transmission
Exposure Control Plan
Risk Assessments and Controls
Exposure Response, and
Vaccinations
Questions