OFFICE OF ACADEMIC ENGAGEMENT
Employee Resource Guide
Bloodborne Pathogen Exposure
ERG 500.07
References
Purpose
This plan intends to eliminate or reduce employee’s exposure to bloodborne pathogens. Bloodborne pathogens are microorganisms that may be present in human blood and other potentially infectious materials (OPIM); for example, semen, vaginal secretions, cerebrospinal fluid, and more; and can cause disease in humans. These include, but are not limited to, Hepatitis B Virus (HBV), Hepatitis C Virus (HCV), and Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV).
Scope
This exposure control plan covers OAE employees designated by the department as having reasonable anticipated occupational exposure to human blood or OPIM. According to WAC 296-823-100, this includes “employees assigned to provide emergency first aid by their employer.”
Presently, no OAE employees clean up blood or OPIM as a function of their assigned duties. First aid-trained OAE employees may encounter blood or OPIM while rendering first aid and shall understand the contents of this chapter.
Responsibilities
Supervisors: Require first aid-trained OAE employees familiarize themselves with this policy, provide employees BBP training, and arrange for employees to visit the emergency room immediately after a needle stick or other suspected exposure to blood or OPIM breaking the skin barrier.
Employees: Immediately inform their supervisor when previously unidentified tasks present potential BBP exposure, receive the HBV vaccine per health care provider’s recommendations OR sign the HBV vaccine declination form, attend and participate in BBP training, wear personal protective equipment (PPE) and adhere to BBP policies and procedures, and visit the emergency room immediately after a needle stick or other suspected exposure to blood or OPIM breaking the skin barrier.
Training
No employees of OAE will be assigned to clean up blood or OPIM nor will any have a reasonable expectation of exposure.
All first aid trained employees must understand the contents of this APP chapter and receive BBP training on an annual basis. BBP training can be found in WSU Safety Courses in Skillport with the name “Bloodborne Pathogens (BBP).”
Requirements
Employees designated as having reasonable anticipated occupational exposure to BBP are to follow the universal precautions. Universal precautions are an approach to infection control where all human blood and OPIM are treated as if known to be infected with BBP. Accordingly, employees will use appropriate PPE and work practice controls to eliminate or reduce their exposure.
Personal Protective Equipment
PPE provides a barrier to prevent employees from contacting human blood or OPIM. PPE is considered suitable if it does not permit blood or OPIM to pass through or reach the person’s skin, personal clothing, eyes, mouth, or other mucous membranes under normal conditions of use. PPE includes disposable or other suitable gloves, eye protection, face masks, CPR masks, and coveralls. Disposable gloves should be replaced every six months.
PPE must be worn when it is reasonably anticipated that employees may have contact with blood or OPIM.
Disposable (single use) gloves will be replaces as soon as possible of they are torn, punctured, or when their ability to function as a barrier is compromised. Nitrile gloves are available for employees who are allergic to latex gloves.
CPR masks or similar barriers are required when performing CPR.
Work Practice Controls
The following work practices are used to reduce the potential for employee exposure to BBP.
- Whenever possible, the injured person should self-administer first aid and clean up any human blood or OPIM and contaminated waste resulting from the injury.
- Employees wash their hands with soap and running water immediately or as soon as possible after removing gloves and/or other personal protective equipment.
- Employees wash their hands and any other exposed skin with soap and water or flush mucous membranes with water for 15 minutes immediately or as soon as possible following contact with blood or OPIM.
- Eating, drinking, applying cosmetics or lip balm, and handling contact lenses are prohibited in areas where blood or OPIM are present.
- All other employees promptly contact Facilities Services Dispatch (509-335-9000) to report blood/OPIM spills. Dispatch notifies Custodial Services who will evaluate the spill and, if possible, clean it up. If the spill is too large or in an area not served by Custodial Services, Dispatch notifies WHITCOM at 911 for assistance. Contaminated surfaces or equipment must be disinfected with either a commercially available disinfectant or a 1:10 dilution of household bleach. Diluted bleach solutions should be prepared for each use and not stored as this could affect the solution’s potency.
Spill Cleanup Procedures
When contacting EHS or Facilities for a spill cleanup, obtain as much information as possible including:
- Spill location
- Area affected by the spill (materials and approximate square footage)
Note: EHS personnel will not respond to cleanup spills associated with violent acts, e.g. murder, suicide. EHS assistance may be requested to contain the area.
Engineering Controls
Engineering controls separate bloodborne pathogens from workers. The flowing engineering controls will be used:
- Use “grabbers” or a broom and dustpan to pick up sharp objects
- Use barricades, caution nape, door locks, or ask others to help keep unauthorized people from entering any area potentially contaminated with blood or OPIM. Facilities or EHS employees who clean the area will assist upon arrival
Disposal of Items Contaminated with Blood/OPIM
First Aid Procedures: All visibly contaminated or potentially contaminated items such as gloves, gauze, and bandages will be placed and disposed of in leak proof, puncture resistant containers that are marked with orange-red labels bearing the word “Biohazard” and the biohazard symbol in contrasting color. Contact Facilities Operations Waste Management at 509-335-9175 or 509-335-4530 for instructions in disposing of a biohazard bag. Do not dispose of contaminated or potentially contaminated items or biohazard bags in regular waste receptacles!
Each first-aid kit will be provided with a biohazard bag for disposal of visibly contaminated or potentially contaminated items such as gloves, gauze, and bandages. Biohazard bags are available through WSU Central Stores (509-335-4583).
Hepatitis B Virus Vaccinations
Employees who provide first aid do not need to be offered the Hepatitis B vaccination until after an exposure incident. An exposure incident means a specific injection, mucous membrane, or non-intact skin contact with blood or OPIM while providing first-aid. Contact EHS (509-335-3041) for more information.
Post Exposure Follow-up
All employees who may have been exposed to human blood or OPIM should immediately wash the contaminated area with plenty of soap and running water. Employees with mucous membrane exposure should rinse with water for fifteen minutes. If there is a suspected exposure, contact EHS.
The employee exposed to human blood or OPIM should seek medical attention as soon as possible. Preferably within two hours, the employee should go to the emergency room (ER) and describe exposure. The employee or the employee’s supervisor completes the WSU Health Care Professional’s Opinion for Post-Exposure Evaluation Form. The completed form is to be provided to the Health Care Professional. The Health Care Professional is also provided and completes the WSU Health Care Professional’s Opinion for Post-Exposure Follow-Up Form.
An Incident Report is to be completed with the following information:
- A description of the exposed employee’s job duties at the time of the exposure.
- Documentation of the routes of exposure.
Annual Review
This exposure control plan will be reviewed annually as part of an overall safety program review, whenever necessary to reflect new or modified tasks and procedures that affect occupational exposure, and to reflect new or revised employee positions with occupational exposure.