Bloodborne Pathogens (BBPs)
Any employee who is employed in an occupation that increases their risk of exposure to
Bloodborne pathogens is considered high risk.
High Risk Employees in
Counties:
High Risk Employees should be
trained annually and should be offered
a Hepatitis B vaccine free of charge. If
the vaccine is declined, the employee
must sign a declination statement.
Health Department
EMT
Law Enforcement
RULES & REGULATIONS
Possible Exposure
Maintenance
Road Department
Solid Waste
1. OSHA Standard-29CFR 1910.1030 (osha.gov)
2. Safety Culture Act requires the development of a BBP plan.
3. The plan should be updated annually and available to all employees.
4. The goal of the program is to reduce the incidents involving BBPs.
BLOODBORNE PATHOGENS
Are microorganisms (viruses
or bacteria) that are carried
in the blood and cause
disease in human.
HIV
1. HIV is transmitted by blood and other body
fluids. It is most commonly transmitted through:
unprotected sex, drug users (needles), and blood
(transfusions, etc.)
2. HIV attacks the immune system & eventually
leads to AIDS which is fatal. There is no vaccine
and no known cure. HIV can be dormant for many
years.

EXAMPLES
Hepatitis




Human
Immunodeficiency
Virus (HIV) = Aids
Hepatitis-many types
Malaria
Syphilis
Many Others
1. There are many types of Hepatitis: A, B, C, D and E.
2. Hepatitis is transmitted through blood and other bodily
fluids.
3. The highest risk when working around Bloodborne
pathogens is Hepatitis B.
4. Hepatitis infects the liver causing swelling and many
cases leads to cirrhosis.
5. It can survive for six months in a proper environment.
6. It can survive for 1 week in dried blood .
3. The virus is somewhat fragile and will not live
long outside of the human body.
7. A Vaccine is available for Hepatitis B.
Many Others
Are
Bloodborne Pathogens
BBPs can be transmitted through contact with infected
human blood and “other potentially infectious material
(OPIM)” such as:
only in blood?
Universal
Precautions

Any body fluid that is visibly contaminated with
blood.

Semen/Vaginal secretions

Cerebrospinal fluid

Synovial Fluid

Pleural fluid-lungs

Peritoneal fluid

Saliva
ENTRY ROUTES
1. Cuts, open sores
2. Abrasions
3. Acne
Are precautions taken when working
with blood or other body fluids? The
precautions involve protecting yourself
from these materials entering your
body. Specifically, they involve good
judgment & personal protective
equipment (PPE) such as gloves, face
shields, masks, aprons …
4. Sunburn
5. Mucous Membranes (eyes,
nose, and mouth)
6. Accidental puncture from
contaminated needles and
other sharps
GLOVES
•Wear gloves when working around BBPs.
•Wash hands before putting gloves on.
•Examine gloves to ensure the gloves do not
have any holes or tears.
•Remove your gloves (once work is completed) without
using your bare hands.
IF IT’S WET AND ISN’T
YOURS, DON’T TOUCH IT
WITH YOUR BARE HANDS!
PROTECTIONS/PRECAUTIONS:
• Do not eat drink, smoke, apply cosmetics or handle contact
lenses when working with or around BBPs.
• Never recap needle.
• Use PPE such as gloves, face shields, masks (used
during CPR, etc.)
• Use proper labeled sharps containers & proper biological
waste storage.
•Wash Your Hands:
• Never reuse needles, PPE, and other equipment designed for
single use.
1. After using the restroom
2. Before and after working with BBPs
3. Before eating or preparing food.
• Reusable equipment & PPE should be completely disinfected
after each use.
Question: When should I decontaminate?

At the end of a work shift

After any spill of blood or other potentially infectious matter (OPIM)
o

If you are unsure, assume material is contaminated.
After any work procedures that result in BBP contamination.
Question: How do I decontaminate an area?
Use a solution of water and bleach (10:1) ratio. 10 parts water to 1 part bleach or
use an approved disinfectant. Rags other material used for cleaning should be treated
as BBP contaminated biological waste and should be disposed of accordingly.
EXPOSURE
GOT QUESTIONS?
What to do?
1. Immediately clean & wash the
area with antibacterial soap
2. If blood is splashed in the eye or
mucous membrane, flush the
affected area with running water for
at least 10 minutes.
Please direct any questions or concerns to your
Safety Coordinator or contact MACo Senior Loss
Control Specialist
Emelia McEwen, Senior Loss Control Specialist
406 449-4370
3. Report the exposure to your
supervisor
4. Follow the procedures in the
counties BBP exposure control plan
5. Document the exposure incident
(Who, what, where, when, why and
how)
6. Identify the source individual of
the exposure-obtain consent from
the source, test source’s blood
ASAP
7. Make sure that you are tested for
BBPs (at a minimum test for HIV &
Hepatitis B)
7. Get medical counseling and a
WANT MORE INFORMATION?
Occupational Safety & Health Administration (OSHA)
www.osha.gov
Centers for Disease Control
http://www.cdc.gov
Definitions:

Contaminated Sharps means any contaminated object that can penetrate the skin including, but not
limited to, needles, scalpels, broken glass, broken capillary tubes, and exposed ends of dental wires.

Cerebrospinal fluid - is a clear bodily fluid that occupies the subarachnoid space and the ventricular
system around and inside the brain. In essence, the brain "floats" in it.

Synovial Fluid - is a thick, stringy fluid found in the cavities of synovial joints. With its egg-like
consistency (synovial comes from Latin for "egg"), synovial fluid reduces friction between the articular
cartilage and other tissues in joints to lubricate and cushion them during movement.

Pleural fluid - fluid that has collected in the pleural space -- the between the membranes that line the
lungs.

Peritoneal fluid - is a liquid that is made in the abdominal cavity to lubricate the surface of the tissue
that lines the abdominal wall and pelvic cavity and covers most of the organs in the abdomen.
Additional Information:
Proper Waste Disposal
All regulated waste must be placed in properly labeled containers or red biohazard bags for disposal at an
approved facility.
Discarded feminine hygiene products, such as sanitary napkins, are not generally considered regulated waste.
Under most circumstances, the absorbent material in such products prevents the release of liquid or semiliquid blood or the flaking off of dried blood. Feminine hygiene products should be discarded into waste
containers lined with plastic or wax paper bags to protect housekeeping employees from physical contact with
the contents.
Check with your supervisor for specific requirements and procedures for handling and disposing of
wastes at your county.
Signs, Labels & Color Coding
Some common exceptions to the labeling requirements are:

Containers of blood, blood components, and blood products bearing an FDA required label that have
been released for transfusion or other clinical uses.

Individual containers of blood or OPIM that are placed in secondary labeled containers during storage,
transport, shipment, or disposal.

Specimen containers, if the facility uses Universal Precautions when handling all specimens, the
containers are recognizable as containing specimens, and the containers remain within the facility.

Regulated waste that has been decontaminated.
Bloodborne Pathogen Quiz
First Name:
Last Name:
County:
Dept:
Place an x in box beside the correct answer
1 If you are exposed to potentially infectious materials on the job, you may request a
vaccine for which bloodborne disease?
HIV
Syphilis
Hepatitis B
Brucellosis
2 Which of the following materials could contain bloodborne pathogens?
Bloody saliva
Semen
Vaginal secretions
All of the above
3 If you wear gloves when cleaning up an accident site, it is not necessary to wash your
hands afterwards.
True
False
4 Bloodborne pathogens may enter your system through:
Open cuts
Skin abrasions
Dermatitis
Mucous membranes
All of the above
5 You should always treat all body fluids as if they are infectious and avoid direct skin
contact with them.
True
False
6 You should never eat, drink, or smoke in a laboratory or other area where there may
be potential exposure to bloodborne pathogens.
True
False
7 If you have blood or potentially infectious materials splashed into your eye, you should
flush your eye with clean, running water for
2 minutes
5 minutes
10 minutes
15 minutes
8 Uncontaminated sharps may be disposed in regular trash bags.
True
False
9 A quarter cup of household bleach to one gallon of water provides a strong enough
solution to effectively decontaminate most surfaces, tools, and equipment if left for 10
minutes.
True
False
10 Needles should never be recapped.
True
False
NOTE! Please print two copies of this test. One copy goes to your supervisor/instructor, and one should
be sent to the Safety Coordinator.
SIGN YOUR NAME HERE:
Date: