OSHA Bloodborne Pathogens Standards
WHAT IS
OSHA?
•
OSHA is the acronym used for the:
Occupational Safety and Health Administration
•
•
A branch of the Department of Labor.
The Federal Government agency that regulates
health & safety at the workplace.
How did OSHA come about?
• Voted into law from the OSHA Act of 1970.
• Because of serious concerns for workers
exposure to blood and certain other body fluids
the contain bloodborne pathogens. In
recognition of these potential hazards, the
bloodborne pathogen standard 29CFR
1910.1030 was implemented to minimize
workplace hazardous conditions.
What are
Bloodborne Pathogens?
• Bloodborne Pathogens are disease-causing
microorganisms such as the virus and bacteria
that are presented in human blood and certain
other body fluids, and can transmit to other
humans.
• Many people carry bloodborne pathogens
without any visible symptoms
• Many people carry bloodborne pathogens
without even knowing it.
Which two Bloodborne
Pathogens most concern
OSHA ?
• HIV (Human Immunodeficiency Virus)
• HBV (Hepatitis B Virus)
What is HIV and why is it
dangerous?
• HIV is the virus that causes Acquired
Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS)
• HIV currently has no preventative vaccination or cure.
There are medications to help individuals with HIV live
longer healthier lives. However, these infected
individuals still have the virus in their system. If an
individual with HIV infection has a T-Cell count lower
than 200 and an opportunistic infection then they are
considered to have AIDS.
What is HBV and why is it
dangerous?
• Hepatitis B Virus (HBV is a form of viral hepatitis. The
incubation period of hepatitis B ranges from 45 to 160
days.
• On average just below .4 percent of health care workers
are exposed annually.
• Individuals infected with hepatitis B are 12 to 300 times
more likely to contract cancer or cirrhosis of the liver.
There is no cure for HBV, however there is a vaccine
for prevention. Workers who have direct exposure to
blood and other potentially infectious materials on the
job run a risk of contracting bloodborne infections
from HBV, HIV which causes AIDS, and other
pathogens
What is the most common way of
contracting HIV and HBV?
• Unprotected Sex with an infected partner.
• IV drug user sharing potentially infected needles.
• Accidental cuts/needle sticks with an infected
sharp.
• Mothers passing the virus on to newborns
during birthing process or shortly after by breast
feeding.
What is “Regulated Waste”?
• Regulated Waste is defined as any item which
leaks blood or flakes dried blood. This waste
must be disposed of in biohazardous containers
or bags.
What is NOT
Regulated Waste?
• Chux, Urine soaked diapers, diapers with feces,
used disposable gloves, anything that does not
contain visible blood, or that does not drip
blood or flake dried blood.
How could exposure occur at the
workplace?
• Exposure could occur during first aid
emergencies when there are blood and/body
fluids present, or when cleaning up after first aid
emergencies when there are blood and/body
fluids present.
What is an
“Exposure Control Plan”?
• An Exposure Control Plan is the agency’s
method of compliance with the OSHA
standards. It is a collection of information on
how HHCS is complying with OSHA standards.
This information includes how to select PPE,
The HBV Immunization Process, and other
information relevant to the Bloodborne
Pathogen Standards.
What are the 3 main elements of
protection against exposure?
• Attitude
• Personal Protective Equipment
• Housekeeping
Why is Attitude important in helping
to prevent exposure?
• By adopting a safety conscious frame of mind
and using the personal protective equipment
provided, staff can greatly reduce the risk of
exposure to bloodborne pathogens. Wearing
gloves, gowns, face shields, etc. when required
will reduce risks.
How can PPE be important in
helping to prevent exposure?
• PPE such as disposable gloves create a barrier
between skin and PIM’s. (Potential Infections
Materials)
How can housekeeping
help prevent exposure?
• Cleaning potentially infectious materials upon
discovery with a solution of 1 part bleach to 10
parts water less than 24 hours and allowing the
solution to stand for at least 20 minutes old and
wiping with paper towels will eliminate the risk
of spreading infections.
How can Personal Hygiene help
reduce the risk of infection?
• Wash any area of the body that become exposed
to Potential Infections Materials (PIM’s)
immediately with antibacterial soap under
running water. Virus and bacteria require a
route of entry, an opening in the skin. If there
are no openings in the skin then immediately
wash the exposed area.
What is an “exposure incident”?
• An exposure incident is a specific eye, nose,
mouth or broken skin contact with potentially
infectious materials.
What is PPE?
PPE stands for Personal Protective Equipment,
e.g.., latex disposable gloves, disposable gowns,
face shield, etc.
What items of PPE can help prevent
exposure?
• This is a really tricky question. What is needed
will greatly depend upon the abilities of those
consumers you work with. Some will require
that staff wear no more than latex disposable
gloves from time to time, other require more
protective equipment to be worn.
• Personal Protective Equipment can be
considered as: Gloves, Gowns, Breathing
barriers, Goggles, Head caps.
What is meant by the term
“Universal
Precautions”?
• In a very simple term it means…. Everyone’s
blood and body fluids are considered to be
infected with bloodborne pathogens, regardless
of status. Universal Precautions is a part of
“Attitude”
What are OPIM’s
(Other Potentially Infectious
Materials)?
• These are body fluids other than blood that can
carry HIV or HBV., semen, vaginal secretion,
amniotic fluids, cerebrospinal fluids, plureal
fluids
• NOT Sweat
• NOT Tears
• NOT Salvia (unless blood is present)
• NOT Feces (unless blood is present)
How are OPIM’s disinfected?
• An OSHA approved mixture of 1 part bleach to
10 parts water is used to disinfect. This mixture
must be less than 24 hours old in order to
maintain its potency.
Should PPE be worn all the time at
the workplace?
Personal Protective Equipment should be used when:
• Assisting someone with menstrual care.
• Assisting someone with toileting
• Assisting someone with oral hygiene.
• Assisting someone with shaving
• Providing First Aid
• Handling dirty laundry
How can hands be disinfected when
there is not a sink available?
• By using antibacterial waterless hand cleaner,
hands can be disinfected until a sink becomes
available.
Where are Potentially Infected Materials
Discarded?
If an item has visible blood it is to be discarded
in a red bags or containers with the biohazard
symbol. The red bag will be placed into a box
marked for biohazardouos waste, sealed and
labeled with the date and address, and the
address where the box was sealed.
Location of OSHA Spill Kit
• During OSHA training staff are made aware of
the location of the OSHA spill kits and First aid
Kits
• Both are in the dining area along with the CPR
mask.