BLOODBORNE PATHOGENS
TRAINING
IMPORTANT
NOTE: Employees are required to receive
annual Bloodborne Pathogens (BBP) Training.
Employees may obtain credit for the training by 1) reading the BBP
information and 2) completing the quiz and sending it to Lucy Austin. Training must be completed by September 8th
of the school year.
Training
must be done during school hours so that any questions may be directed to Lucy
Austin at 519-7600.
A copy of the
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration
(OSHA) has issued a standard that can protect you from
bloodborne pathogens. The OSHA standard
outlines steps to follow to reduce the possibility of being exposed to a
bloodborne disease. All employees who could be “reasonably anticipated” as the
result of performing required job duties to face contact with blood or other
potentially infectious materials are covered by the OSHA Bloodborne Pathogen Standard and the school’s policy.
The school Exposure Control Plan will outline the
personnel whose duties could potentially put them at risk for an exposure to a
BBP.
What are
bloodborne pathogens?
Bloodborne pathogens are microorganisms carried by
human blood and other body fluids. The
two most common BBP’s are Hepatitis B virus and HIV (human immunodeficiency
virus).
What is
Hepatitis B?
Hepatitis B is caused by a virus that attacks the
liver. The virus, which is called
hepatitis B virus (HBV), can cause lifelong infection, cirrhosis (scarring) of
the liver, liver cancer, liver failure, and death. Only a blood test can tell you if you have
the virus.
How is
Hepatitis B spread?
HBV is
spread when blood from an infected person enters the body of a person who is
not infected. For example, HBV is spread through having sex with an infected
person without using a condom, by sharing drugs, needles or “works” when
“shooting” drugs, through needle sticks or sharps exposures on the job or from
an infected mother to her baby during birth.
What are the
symptoms of hepatitis B?
Sometimes a person with HBV infection has no
symptoms at all. The older you are, the
more apt you are to have symptoms. You
might be infected with HBV (and be spreading the virus) and not know it.
If you have symptoms, they might include:
*yellow
skin or yellowing of the whites of your eyes
*tiredness
*loss of
appetite
*nausea
*abdominal
discomfort
*dark
urine
*clay-colored bowel movements
*joint
pain
Is there a
cure for HBV?
There are no medications available for recently
acquired HBV. Hepatitis B vaccine is available
for the prevention of HBV infection.
There are antiviral drugs available for the treatment of chronic HBV
infection. People of all ages get
hepatitis B and about 5,000 die per year of sickness caused by HBV.
How long can
HBV survive outside the body?
HBV can survive outside the body at least 7 days
and still be capable of causing infection.
What is HIV?
The human immunodeficiency virus is a virus that
kills your body’s “CD4 cells”. CD4 cells help your body fight off infection and
disease. AIDS – the acquired
immunodeficiency syndrome – is a disease you get when HIV destroys your body’s
immune system. Normally, your immune
system helps you fight off illness. When
your immune system fails you can become very sick and can die. There is no cure or vaccine for AIDS.
How is
HIV/AIDS spread?
HIV transmission may occur through unprotected sex
with an infected person, sharing a needle and syringe with an infected person,
open cuts, or mucous membranes of the eyes or inside of the nose.
What are the
symptoms of HIV/AIDS?
You may have HIV and still feel perfectly
healthy. Symptoms include:
*Flu-like
symptoms
*Fever
*Diarrhea
*Fatigue
Is there a
cure for HIV/AIDS?
No, at this time there is no cure for
HIV/AIDS. Many people with HIV and AIDS
are living longer, healthier lives today, thanks to new and effective
treatments.
How long can
HIV survive outside of the body?
The HIV virus will not survive long outside of the
human body.
Prevention
of Bloodborne diseases
The Exposure Control Plan identifies the personnel
covered by the OSHA standard, analyzes the potential risk of each job, and
recommends how to reduce the potential of exposure of blood or other infectious
materials through workplace controls, protective equipment and other methods. Universal precautions shall be observed to
prevent contact with blood or potentially infectious materials. Engineering and work practice controls shall
be used to eliminate or minimize employee exposure. Where occupational exposure remains after institution
of these controls, personal protective equipment shall also be used.
Universal
precautions apply to blood, other body fluids containing visible blood, semen,
and vaginal secretions. Universal precautions also apply to tissues and to the
following fluids: cerebrospinal, synovial, pleural, peritoneal, pericardial,
and amniotic fluids. Universal precautions do not apply to feces, nasal
secretions, sputum, sweat, tears, urine, and vomitus unless they contain
visible blood. Universal precautions do not apply to saliva except when visibly
contaminated with blood or in the dental setting where blood contamination of
saliva is predictable.
Universal
precautions involve the use of protective barriers (PPE) such as gloves, gowns,
aprons, masks, or protective eyewear, which can reduce the risk of exposure of
the health care worker's skin or mucous membranes to potentially infective
materials. In addition, under universal precautions, it is recommended that all
health care workers take precautions to prevent injuries caused by needles,
scalpels, and other sharp instruments or devices.
Gloves should be
worn during contact with blood or other body fluids. Cuts, or sores, or breaks on exposed skin
should be covered with a bandage. Hands
and other parts of the body should be washed immediately with soap and water
after contact with blood or other body fluids and surfaces should be
disinfected appropriately.
Single-use
disposable gloves are used when administering first aid. If you have an allergy
to latex or other components of the gloves, there are hypo-allergenic gloves
available upon request. Never wash or
reuse a single-use disposable glove. To
remove the gloves, never touch the outside of the gloves to bare skin. Dispose
of contaminated gloves in a plastic-lined container and dispose of the
contaminated bag. Wash hands immediately
after removing gloves.
Work Practice Controls
Work practice
controls are specific procedures you must follow on the job to reduce your
exposure to blood or other potentially infectious materials.
Handwashing –
employees shall wash hands immediately or as soon as feasible after removal of
gloves. You should wash hands and any
other skin with soap and water, or flush mucous membranes with water
immediately or as soon as feasible following contact of such body areas with
blood or other potentially infectious materials.
Contaminated
needles and other sharps – contaminated needles and other contaminated sharps
shall not be bent, recapped, sheared, or broken before disposal. Immediately or as soon as possible after use,
contaminated sharps shall be placed in appropriate containers for disposal. Sharps containers should be label or
color-coded, leak proof containers.
Personal Hygiene
– Eating, drinking, smoking, applying cosmetics, or lip balm and handling
contact lenses are prohibited in work areas where there is a reasonable
likelihood of occupational exposure.
Food and drink should not be kept in refrigerators, freezers, shelves,
cabinets, or countertops where blood or other potentially infectious materials
are stored or likely to be encountered.
Personal
Protective equipment – The type of PPE appropriate for your job varies with the
task and the exposure you anticipate.
The school will issue PPE or make it readily available at no cost to
you. Remove PPE that is torn, punctured,
or poor quality. If your clothing should
become contaminated, remove soiled clothing as soon as feasible and place in a
plastic bag, the clothing should be laundered appropriately to decontaminate.
Pocket mask and mechanical respiratory devices are designed to isolate you from
contact with a victim’s saliva. Avoid
unprotected mouth-to mouth resuscitation.
GOOD HOUSEKEEPING
Sports equipment
that may become contaminated with blood or other potentially infectious
materials shall be examined regularly and decontaminated or disposed as
necessary.
Broken glassware
that may be contaminated should not be picked up directly with the hands. It should be cleaned using mechanical means,
such as a brush and dust pan.
Employees having
contact with contaminated laundry should wear protective gloves and other
appropriate personal protective equipment.
Contaminated laundry shall be handled as little as possible. It should be bagged or containerized, and
whenever wet, should be placed and transported in leak-proof bags or
containers. Contaminated laundry with
blood or other infectious materials will be washed separately in hot water and
a bleach solution for disinfection.
Clean and decontaminate all equipment and working
surfaces as soon as possible after contact with blood or other potentially
infectious materials. Use an appropriate
disinfectant.
Bins, pails, cans and other receptacles that are
reused and have a likelihood of being contaminated shall be inspected and
decontaminated on a regularly scheduled basis.
Biohazard
label
This symbol warns you that the container holds
blood or other potentially infectious materials.
Hepatitis B
vaccine
The Hepatitis B vaccine is available at no cost to
the employee whose job is classified as “at risk” for occupational
exposure. Please notify the school nurse
if you are unsure about your job classification or if you are eligible for the
vaccine and would like to begin the series of three vaccines.
First
Responders
Each school has identified first responders. These individuals have received training in
CPR and First Aid.
If exposed
to a blood or other body fluids, what next?
If you think there is a possibility that you have
been exposed to blood or other body fluids, wash the exposed area immediately
with soap and water. Flush any mucus
membranes that may have been exposed with running water. Immediately report the exposure to the school
nurse or supervisor. You will be given a
form to take with you to Halifax Works and receive an evaluation. A complete investigation will be done
concerning the exposure and recommendations will be made as to how to prevent other
future exposures from happening.
If you have any questions or concerns, please
contact your school nurse
This training module meets the yearly requirements
for training in bloodborne pathogens.
You will receive credit for the training after completing the quiz and
returning the quiz to Lucy Austin.
If you do not return the quiz by Sept. 14th,
you will be required to attend training at a mandatory staff meeting.
Resources:
Centers for Disease Control, www.cdc.gov