COLUMBUS COUNTY HEALTH DEPARTMENTS
BLOODBORNE AND RESPIRATORY PATHOGEN EXPOSURE
CONTROL METHODS
Policy Title:
Bloodborne and Respiratory Pathogen Exposure Control Methods
Program Area:
All staff
Policy combined & date
Combined with disposal of
contaminated waste 7-7-15
Approval Date:
Effective Date:
Revision
Date(s):
1/2000
1/10/2003, 5/31/2013
Approved by:
Kimberly L. Smith RN, BSN, MSHCA, Health Director
Approved by:
Hilda Memory RN. BS, MSHA, Director of Nursing
Purpose:
Columbus County Health Department (CCHD) staff will attend OSHA training and adhere to the
standards set forth in the training and policies to prevent and control the spread of any
bloodborne or respiratory pathogens to themselves, patients, or co-workers.
Definitions:
It is the policy that CCHD staff utilizes OSHA guidelines and policies to prevent and control the
spread of any bloodborne or respiratory pathogens to themselves, patients, or co-workers.
Responsibilities:
All staff including but not limited to administrative, in-house clinical, Home Health, and support
staff.
Procedures:
Hand washing

Hands shall be washed frequently during care provision, whether or not gloves were
worn.

If water is not available, a waterless hand washing product will be used according to
product instructions

Hand washing is required each time gloves are removed or skin contact occurs with
blood or their potentially infectious materials.
Administrative/Safety
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COLUMBUS COUNTY HEALTH DEPARTMENTS
BLOODBORNE AND RESPIRATORY PATHOGEN EXPOSURE
CONTROL METHODS

Immediately and thoroughly wash hands and other skin surfaces that may be
contaminated with body fluid before and after treating and/or examining each
patient.
Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)
Gloves must be worn when it can reasonably be anticipated that the staff may have hand contact
with blood, other potentially infectious materials, mucous membranes, non-intact skin, and when
performing vascular access procedures.

The staff shall have gloves available to them at all times.

Gloves must be replaced if torn, punctured, contaminated, or their ability to fit as a
barrier is compromised.

Disposable gloves are never washed or decontaminated.
 Gloves are to be worn when collecting all specimens to prevent contamination from body
fluid specimens or blood.
Masks in combination with eye protection devices, such as goggles or glasses with side shields,
or chin length face shields, shall be worn whenever splashes, spray, spatter, or droplets of blood
or other potentially infectious materials may be generated and eye, nose or mouth contamination
can be reasonably anticipated.
Gowns and aprons shall be worn if reasonable anticipation of clothing exposure to blood or other
potentially infectious materials exists.
Per OSHA regulations: Staff in category, roles should wear lab coats when providing clinical
services.
All personal protective equipment must be removed before leaving the work area, or when it
becomes contaminated.
Disposal of Contaminated Items
1. Always wash hands before and after contact with contaminated items. Exercise
extreme care to prevent accidental contamination or exposure to the contaminated
items.
2. Gloves are always worn to handle contaminated dressings or supplies. Gowns or
aprons should also be worn if there is a large spill or contamination.
3. Place all contaminated items (dressings, catheters or catheter care supplies, IV
supplies, suction tubing, disposable oxygen tubing, disposable diapers or CHUX
pads, etc.) in a biohazard plastic bag.
4. Needles and all sharps must be placed in sharps containers.
5. Remove gloves, place used gloves in the bag and secure the bag.
6. Bags and sharps containers are stored in a locked room and picked up by Medical
Waste Systems Inc. out of Florence, South Carolina.
7. Wash Hands.
Administrative/Safety
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COLUMBUS COUNTY HEALTH DEPARTMENTS
BLOODBORNE AND RESPIRATORY PATHOGEN EXPOSURE
CONTROL METHODS
REGULATED WASTE DISPOSAL
Disposal of all waste will be in accordance with applicable state and local regulations. The state
regulations are summarized below.

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Puncture proof containers/red sharps containers are available in all areas where syringes and
needles are used for a procedure. Sharps containers must be maintained in an upright
position during use. These sharps containers must be sealed tightly. Containers should be
discarded when 2/3 full and staff members are not to compress the contents or reach hands
into the container for any reason.
Bodily wastes, including urine, feces, and any body fluids will be discarded in the sewer or
septic tank by way of the commode.
Contaminated dressings, tubes, catheters or any medical supplies will be discarded in a
plastic bag, closed and placed in biohazard bags in all health department settings. Dressing
materials in the home setting maybe placed in plastic bags in household trash.
Personal protective equipment will be removed, discarded in a plastic bag, and placed in
the old trash.
If the outside of the waste bag is contaminated with blood or other body fluid, then double
bagging is necessary.
HBV VACCINATION
All Columbus County Health Department and Home Health Staff (excluding contract staff) with
occupational exposure to bloodborne pathogens are strongly encouraged to be vaccinated with the
Hepatitis B vaccine. All costs associated with the vaccination process, including post vaccination
screening for immunity to Hepatitis B and any necessary booster doses, will be paid by Columbus
County Health Department. However, contract staff will be offered the vaccine or booster
and will be billed for the service and any follow up screening required.

If previously vaccinated, the staff member must submit written verification to his/her
supervisor within 5 working days of employment.

The staff member's immediate Supervisor will be responsible for ensuring that the
first dose of vaccine is made available to the staff member within 10 working days of
initial assignment. Subsequent doses are to be administered according to current
Centers for Disease Control recommendations.
Tags, Labels and Bags

Warning labels will be placed on all containers of regulated waste. This includes sharps
containers and plastic bags used for the disposal of contaminated dressings or
personal protective equipment. The label must have the word "Biohazard" or the
symbol for biohazard.
Administrative/Safety
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COLUMBUS COUNTY HEALTH DEPARTMENTS
BLOODBORNE AND RESPIRATORY PATHOGEN EXPOSURE
CONTROL METHODS

Red bags or red containers may be substituted for labels on containers of
regulated wastes.
HOUSEKEEPING PRACTICES (Spills and breakages)
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Liquid spills, such as vomitus, urine or blood, shall be cleaned using gloves, by first soaking
up the liquid with absorbent material, then washing the surface with an approved
disinfectant or a 1:10 solution of household bleach.
All broken glassware shall be cleaned up using mechanical means such as a dust pan and
brush. The use of hands to directly pick up broken glassware is strictly prohibited.
Staff members will wear appropriate personal protective equipment during cleaning of areas
potentially contaminated with infectious materials.
Worksites
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Work sites will be maintained in a clean and sanitary condition in accordance with a written
schedule for cleaning and decontamination.
All equipment and environment and working surfaces shall be cleaned and
decontaminated after contact with blood or other potentially infectious materials.
Protective coverings, such as plastic wrap, aluminum foil, or impervious backed absorbent paper
used to cover equipment and environmental surfaces, shall be removed and replaced as soon as
they become overtly contaminated or at the end of the work shift.
All bins, pails, cans and similar receptacles., intended for reuse, which have a
reasonable likelihood for becoming contaminated with blood or other potentially infectious
materials shall be inspected and decontaminated on a regular and scheduled basis and
cleaned and decontaminated immediately, or as soon as feasible, upon visible
contamination.
Broken glassware, which may be contaminated, shall only be cleaned up using mechanical means.
All spills shall be immediately contained and cleaned up by appropriate professional staff or
others trained and equipped to work with potentially concentrated infectious materials.
Laundry Practices

All staff members will wear gloves when contacting contaminated or potentially
contaminated laundry.

If contact with clothing is anticipated, an apron or gown will also be worn.
Administrative/Safety
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COLUMBUS COUNTY HEALTH DEPARTMENTS
BLOODBORNE AND RESPIRATORY PATHOGEN EXPOSURE
CONTROL METHODS
Training Records
Training records will be maintained for (3) years from the date on which the training occurred. The
training records will include:
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Dates of all training sessions.
Contents or a summary of the training sessions.
Names and qualifications of persons conducting the training.
Names and job titles of all persons attending the training sessions.
Training and Education Of Staff
Health Department/Home Health Supervisors will ensure training of all staff members. The initial
training and annual retraining will consist of the following elements:

A copy of the Bloodborne Pathogens Standard will be provided and explained.

A general explanation of the epidemiology and symptoms of bloodborne diseases.

An explanation of the modes of transmission of bloodborne pathogens.
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An explanation of the exposure control plan established by the Health Department.

An explanation of the appropriate methods for recognizing tasks and other activities
that may involve exposure to blood and other potentially infectious material.
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An explanation of the use and limitations of practices that will prevent or reduce exposure including
appropriate engineering controls, work practices, and personal protective equipment.
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Information on the types, proper use, location, removal, handling, decontamination and/or
disposal of personal equipment.
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An explanation of the basis for selection of personal protective equipment.

Information on Hepatitis B vaccine including information on their efficacy, safety, methods
of administration, the benefits of being vaccinated, and the availability of the vaccine free of
charge

Information on the appropriate actions to take and persons to contact in an emergency
involving blood or other potentially infectious materials.

An explanation of the procedure to follow if an exposure incident occurs, including the method
of reporting the incident and the medical follow-up that will be made available.

Information on the post-exposure follow-up that the employer is required to provide for exposed
individuals.

An explanation of the signs and labels and color-coding requirements of the OSHA
standard.

An opportunity for interactive questions and answers with the persons conducting the training
session.
Administrative/Safety
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COLUMBUS COUNTY HEALTH DEPARTMENTS
BLOODBORNE AND RESPIRATORY PATHOGEN EXPOSURE
CONTROL METHODS
Laws and Rules:
Reference(s):
OSHA
Administrative/Safety
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