Bloodborne Pathogens

Bloodborne Pathogens

StandardUnit 3

Lesson 1: Overview of the Standard

Objectives:In this lesson, you will:• Identify regulations included in the

Bloodborne Pathogens Standard.• List the regulations related to the

Needlestick Safety and Prevention Act.

Bloodborne Pathogens Standard• Set of guidelines to avoid spreading

bloodborne diseases like Hepatitis B & C and HIV

• Created by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) in 1991

• Must be followed by healthcare facilities and employees or risk penalties

• Exposure control plan• Identify at-risk

employees• Hepatitis B vaccine• Personal protective

equipment• Hand washing stations• Clean work environment

• Signs and color-coded containers to mark biohazardous areas

• Procedure for handling exposures

• Employee training on bloodborne pathogen safety

Provisions of the Standard

Needlestick Safety and Prevention Act

• Passed by Congress in 2001• Focused on safer medical devices

and methods of recordkeeping– Identifying and using safer medical

devices to avoid accidents– Getting input from employees who

work directly with patients– Maintaining a log of injuries related

to sharps

Lesson 1: Overview of the Standard

Summary:In this lesson, you have:• Identified regulations included in the

Bloodborne Pathogens Standard.• Listed the regulations related to the

Needlestick Safety and Prevention Act.

Lesson 2: Exposure Control Plan

Objectives:In this lesson, you will:• Discover the contents of an

exposure control plan.• Identify employees who are at

increased risk of exposure.

Exposure Control Plan• List of employees who

might be exposed• Guidelines to prevent

exposure• Training about bloodborne

pathogens and the exposure control plan

• Methods used to maintain records

• Exposure procedure

At-Risk Employees

• Listed in the exposure determination section of the plan

• Any employee whose job requires them to come into contact with blood or other possibly infectious bodily fluids

Hepatitis B Vaccination

• At-risk employees are eligible for this free vaccine

• Available at no cost within 10 days of employment

• Not required and can be received for free at any time

Lesson 2: Exposure Control Plan

Summary:In this lesson, you have:• Discovered the contents of an

exposure control plan.• Identified employees who are

at increased risk of exposure.

Lesson 3:Workplace

Control Practices

Objectives:In this lesson, you will:• Discover a variety of ways that

facilities can reduce the risk of exposure.• Identify safety devices.• Document work practice controls

in an exposure control plan.

Disinfecting

• Employees must clean surfaces and equipment immediately after spill or use.

• A bleach solution with 1 part bleach and 10 parts water should be used as a disinfectant.

Disposing of Waste• Infectious waste should

immediately be sorted into the appropriate container.

• Red or orange coloring, along with the biohazardous waste symbol, must be used to mark biohazardous waste containers.

Safer Medical Devices

• Required part of the exposure control plan

• Evaluated by a safety committee that uses employee input

• One example is self-sheathing syringes

Lesson 3:Workplace

Control Practices

Summary:In this lesson, you have:• Discovered a variety of ways that

facilities can reduce the risk of exposure.• Identified safety devices.• Documented work practice controls

in an exposure control plan.

Lesson 4:Training and

Recordkeeping

Objectives:In this lesson, you will:• Explore the training requirements

of the Bloodborne Pathogens Standard.• Identify the records that must be

kept according to the Standard.

Bloodborne Pathogens Training

Must be completed:• When employment begins• As needed as policies change• Each year

Medical Records• Kept for all employees with

occupational exposure• Kept for at least 30 years after

employment ends• Include:– Name & social security number– Hepatitis B vaccination status– Report of exposure– Evaluator’s written opinion

Sharps Injury Log

• Kept for at least five years• Reviewed each year as part of

the safer devices evaluation• Includes:– The date of the injury– The type and brand of the

sharps device involved– Where the incident occurred– How the incident occurred

Training Records

• Kept for 3 years• Include:– Date of training– Trainer’s name– Attendees’ names– Summary of

material covered

Lesson 4:Training and

Recordkeeping

Summary:In this lesson, you have:• Explored the training

requirements of the Bloodborne Pathogens Standard.• Identified the records that must be

kept according to the Standard.

Lesson 5:Exposure Reporting

Objectives:In this lesson, you will:• Explore post-exposure procedures.• Learn about the recordkeeping

involved with exposure incidents.

Immediately After Exposure

• Wash the area with soap and water.

• Tell the doctor in charge and the office manager what has happened.

Post-Exposure Procedures

• Create a medical record with information about the exposure incident

• Can also include:– Lab testing to see if

infection has occurred– Antiviral medication to

help prevent infection

Creating an Exposure Record

• Information about the event and test results are recorded.

• The employee’s family doctor gives a written opinion.

• Everything in the record is considered confidential.

Lesson 5:Exposure Reporting

Summary:In this lesson, you have:• Explored post-exposure

procedures.• Learned about the recordkeeping

involved with exposure incidents.