BLOODBORNE BLOODBORNE PATHOGENSPATHOGENS

Arkansas Workers’ Compensation Arkansas Workers’ Compensation CommissionCommission

Health and Safety DivisionHealth and Safety Division

Bloodborne pathogensBloodborne pathogens are are microorganisms such as viruses or microorganisms such as viruses or bacteria that are carried in blood and bacteria that are carried in blood and can cause disease in people. can cause disease in people.

They include:They include:Malaria, Malaria, Syphilis, Syphilis, Brucellosis, Brucellosis, Hepatitis B (HBV), Hepatitis B (HBV), and and Human Human

Immunodeficiency Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV)Virus (HIV)

Hepatitis B (HBV)Hepatitis B (HBV)Approximately 300,000 people are Approximately 300,000 people are

infected with HBV annually. Of these infected with HBV annually. Of these cases, a small percentage are fatal.cases, a small percentage are fatal.

Hepatitis B is a virus that infects the Hepatitis B is a virus that infects the liver. Hepatitis B is transmitted primarily liver. Hepatitis B is transmitted primarily through "blood to blood" contact. through "blood to blood" contact.

Hepatitis B can lead to more serious Hepatitis B can lead to more serious conditions such as cirrhosis and liver conditions such as cirrhosis and liver cancer. cancer.

The Hepatitis B virus can survive in The Hepatitis B virus can survive in dried blood for up to 7 days. dried blood for up to 7 days.

This virus is a primary This virus is a primary concern for concern for housekeepers, housekeepers, custodians, laundry custodians, laundry personnel and other personnel and other employees who may employees who may come in contact with come in contact with blood or potentially blood or potentially infectious materials in a infectious materials in a non first-aid or medical non first-aid or medical care situation. care situation.

Symptoms of Hepatitis B:Symptoms of Hepatitis B:Like a mild "flu“ - A sense of Like a mild "flu“ - A sense of

fatigue, possible stomach pain, fatigue, possible stomach pain, loss of appetite, and even loss of appetite, and even nausea. People who are nausea. People who are infected with HBV will often infected with HBV will often show no symptoms for some show no symptoms for some time. It can take time. It can take 1-9 months1-9 months before symptoms become before symptoms become noticeable.noticeable.

Human Immunodeficiency Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV)Virus (HIV)

AIDS -AIDS - or or Acquired Immune Acquired Immune Deficiency SyndromeDeficiency Syndrome, is caused by , is caused by HIV. HIV.

HIV attacks the body's immune HIV attacks the body's immune system, weakening it so that it system, weakening it so that it cannot fight other deadly diseases. cannot fight other deadly diseases.

AIDS is a fatal disease, and while AIDS is a fatal disease, and while treatment for it is improving, there treatment for it is improving, there is no known cure.is no known cure.

Symptoms of HIV:Symptoms of HIV: Symptoms of HIV Symptoms of HIV

infection often include infection often include weakness, fever, sore weakness, fever, sore throat, nausea, throat, nausea, headaches, diarrhea, a headaches, diarrhea, a white coating on the white coating on the tongue, weight loss, and tongue, weight loss, and swollen lymph glands.swollen lymph glands.

HBV and HIV can be transmitted HBV and HIV can be transmitted through contact with infected through contact with infected human human bloodblood and and other potentially other potentially infectious body fluidsinfectious body fluids such as: such as: Semen Semen Vaginal secretions Vaginal secretions Cerebrospinal fluid Cerebrospinal fluid Synovial fluid Synovial fluid Pleural fluid Pleural fluid Peritoneal fluid Peritoneal fluid Amniotic fluid Amniotic fluid Saliva (in dental procedures), and Saliva (in dental procedures), and Any body fluid that is visibly contaminated Any body fluid that is visibly contaminated

with blood.with blood.

Sexual Contact Sexual Contact Sharing of hypodermic needles Sharing of hypodermic needles From mothers to their babies at/before From mothers to their babies at/before

birth birth Accidental puncture from contaminated Accidental puncture from contaminated

needles, broken glass, or other sharps needles, broken glass, or other sharps Contact between broken or damaged skin Contact between broken or damaged skin

and infected body fluids and infected body fluids Contact between mucous membranes and Contact between mucous membranes and

infected body fluids infected body fluids

HBV and HIV are transmitted HBV and HIV are transmitted through:through:

Unbroken skin forms an impervious Unbroken skin forms an impervious barrier against bloodborne pathogens. barrier against bloodborne pathogens. However, infected blood can enter your However, infected blood can enter your system through: system through:

Open sores Open sores Cuts Cuts Abrasions Abrasions Acne Acne Any sort of damaged or broken skin Any sort of damaged or broken skin

such as sunburn or blisterssuch as sunburn or blisters

Bloodborne pathogens can Bloodborne pathogens can also be transmitted through also be transmitted through the mucous membranes of the mucous membranes of the:the:

Eyes Eyes Nose Nose MouthMouth

Treat all blood, Treat all blood, body fluids and body fluids and potentially potentially infectious infectious materials as if they materials as if they are infectious!are infectious!

Universal Universal Precautions:Precautions:

Personal Personal Protective Protective Equipment (PPE)Equipment (PPE)

Always wear PPE in Always wear PPE in exposure situations. exposure situations.

Remove and replace Remove and replace PPE that is torn or PPE that is torn or punctured.punctured.

Remove PPE before Remove PPE before leaving the work area. leaving the work area.

Rules to follow:Rules to follow:

Double gloving provides more protection. Double gloving provides more protection. Cover cuts or sores on your hands with a Cover cuts or sores on your hands with a

bandage before donning your gloves. bandage before donning your gloves. Always inspect your gloves for tears or Always inspect your gloves for tears or

punctures. punctures. If a glove is damaged, don't use it!If a glove is damaged, don't use it! When taking gloves off, do so carefully When taking gloves off, do so carefully

making sure you don't touch the outside of making sure you don't touch the outside of the gloves.the gloves.

Dispose of them in a proper container.Dispose of them in a proper container.

GlovesGlovesShould be made of latex, nitrile, Should be made of latex, nitrile, rubber or other water-impervious rubber or other water-impervious materials.materials.

•AlwaysAlwayscheck your check your gloves gloves for damagefor damagebeforebefore using them using them

GogglesGogglesAnytime there is a risk of Anytime there is a risk of

splashing of contaminated splashing of contaminated fluids, goggles and/or other fluids, goggles and/or other eye protection should be eye protection should be used to protect your eyes. used to protect your eyes.

Splashing could occur while Splashing could occur while cleaning up a spill, during cleaning up a spill, during laboratory procedures, or laboratory procedures, or while providing first aid or while providing first aid or medical assistance. medical assistance.

Face ShieldsFace ShieldsFace shields can be worn Face shields can be worn

in addition to goggles to in addition to goggles to provide additional face provide additional face protection. protection.

A face shield will protect A face shield will protect against splashes to the against splashes to the nose and mouth.nose and mouth.

ApronsApronso Aprons can be worn to Aprons can be worn to

protect your clothing and protect your clothing and to keep blood or other to keep blood or other contaminated fluids from contaminated fluids from soaking through to your soaking through to your skin.skin.

Use Use Universal PrecautionsUniversal Precautions and treat all blood or and treat all blood or potentially infectious body potentially infectious body fluids as if they are fluids as if they are contaminated. contaminated. Avoid contact whenever Avoid contact whenever possible, and whenever it's possible, and whenever it's not, wear not, wear Personal Personal Protective EquipmentProtective Equipment..

RememberRemember! !

Hygiene PracticesHygiene Practices Handwashing is one of the Handwashing is one of the

most important (and easiest) most important (and easiest) practices used to prevent practices used to prevent transmission of bloodborne transmission of bloodborne pathogens. pathogens.

Hands should also be washed Hands should also be washed immediately (or as soon as immediately (or as soon as feasible) after removal of feasible) after removal of gloves or other personal gloves or other personal protective equipment.protective equipment.

If you are working in an area If you are working in an area where there is reasonable where there is reasonable likelihood of exposure, you shouldlikelihood of exposure, you should nevernever: :

EatEat Drink Drink SmokeSmoke Apply cosmetics Apply cosmetics

or lip balmor lip balm Handle contact Handle contact

lenseslenses

Decontamination Decontamination and Sterilizationand Sterilization

Equipment and tools must be cleaned Equipment and tools must be cleaned and decontaminated before servicing or and decontaminated before servicing or being put back to use.being put back to use.

Decontamination should be Decontamination should be accomplished by using a solution of accomplished by using a solution of 5.25% sodium hypochlorite (bleach) 5.25% sodium hypochlorite (bleach) diluted between 1:10 and 1:100 with diluted between 1:10 and 1:100 with water. The standard recommendation is water. The standard recommendation is to use at least a quarter to use at least a quarter cup of bleach per one gallon of water. cup of bleach per one gallon of water.

A Rose … Is a Rose A Rose … Is a Rose ……Is a Rose ……Is a Rose ……

Except When It Might Be A Sharp

SharpsSharpsNeedlesNeedlesScalpelsScalpelsBroken Pipettes Broken Pipettes Broken Broken

GlasswareGlassware

Not SharpsNot SharpsTissuesTissuesSoft TubingSoft TubingBand-AidsBand-Aids

Sharps??!Sharps??!

SharpsSharps

•

NeedlesNeedlesNeedles should Needles should nevernever be be recapped. recapped.

Never break or shear needles. Never break or shear needles. Needles must be disposed of Needles must be disposed of inin labeledlabeled sharps containerssharps containers onlyonly..

Broken GlasswareBroken Glassware Contaminated broken glassware must be Contaminated broken glassware must be

sterilized before it is disturbed or cleaned up. sterilized before it is disturbed or cleaned up. Decontaminated glassware can be disposed of in Decontaminated glassware can be disposed of in

an appropriate sharps container. an appropriate sharps container. Do not pick up broken glassware directly with Do not pick up broken glassware directly with

the hands. Sweep or brush the material into a the hands. Sweep or brush the material into a dustpan. dustpan.

UncontaminatedUncontaminated broken glassware may be broken glassware may be disposed of in a closable, puncture resistant disposed of in a closable, puncture resistant container such as a cardboard box or coffee can. container such as a cardboard box or coffee can.

Signs, Labels, and Signs, Labels, and Color CodingColor CodingWarning labels need to be on Warning labels need to be on

containers of containers of regulated waste, , i.e. containing blood or other i.e. containing blood or other potentially infectious material potentially infectious material andand Other containers used Other containers used

to store, transport, or to store, transport, or ship blood or other ship blood or other potentially infectious potentially infectious materials. materials.

What IS Regulated What IS Regulated Waste?Waste?

Any blood or other potentially infectious Any blood or other potentially infectious materials materials

Contaminated items that could release blood or Contaminated items that could release blood or other potentially infectious materialsother potentially infectious materials

Items that are caked with dried blood or other Items that are caked with dried blood or other potentially infectious materials potentially infectious materials

Contaminated sharps Contaminated sharps Pathological and microbiological wastes Pathological and microbiological wastes

containing blood or other potentially infectious containing blood or other potentially infectious materialsmaterials

All regulated waste must be disposed in properly All regulated waste must be disposed in properly labeled containers or red biohazard bags.labeled containers or red biohazard bags.

LabelsLabels•

Hepatitis B Hepatitis B VaccinationsVaccinations

• Although the vaccine must be offered to you Although the vaccine must be offered to you by your employer, you do not have to accept by your employer, you do not have to accept that offer. that offer.

• You may opt to decline the vaccination series, You may opt to decline the vaccination series, in which case you will be asked to sign a in which case you will be asked to sign a declination form. declination form.

• If you decline the initial offer, you may choose If you decline the initial offer, you may choose to receive the series at anytime during your to receive the series at anytime during your employment thereafteremployment thereafter, for example, if you , for example, if you are exposed on the job at a later date. are exposed on the job at a later date.

The Hepatitis B vaccination is given The Hepatitis B vaccination is given in a series of three shots. in a series of three shots.

The second shot is given one month The second shot is given one month after the first, and after the first, and

The third shot follows five months The third shot follows five months after the second. after the second.

This series gradually builds up the This series gradually builds up the body's immunity to the Hepatitis B body's immunity to the Hepatitis B virus.virus.

OSHA’s OSHA’s RevisionRevision

Became effective April 18, Became effective April 18, 20012001

2 new definitions and 1 term 2 new definitions and 1 term amended:amended:•Sharps with “Engineered Sharps with “Engineered Sharps Injury Protections”Sharps Injury Protections”

•Needle-less SystemsNeedle-less Systems•Engineering ControlsEngineering Controls

Exposure Control Plans Exposure Control Plans must be reviewed must be reviewed annually; the review annually; the review must be documented. must be documented.

Employers must ask Employers must ask their health care their health care workers to help identify, workers to help identify, evaluate and select evaluate and select effective engineering effective engineering controls.controls.

Employers with 11 or more Employers with 11 or more employees must maintain employees must maintain a sharps injury log with a sharps injury log with the following information: the following information: Type and brand of device Type and brand of device involved in incidentinvolved in incident

Location of incident, and Location of incident, and Description of incidentDescription of incident

Summary:Summary:Protect yourself - on and off the Protect yourself - on and off the

job - know the factsjob - know the factsPractice good personal hygienePractice good personal hygieneFollow work rules, use gloves Follow work rules, use gloves

and protective clothingand protective clothingWash your hands often, after Wash your hands often, after

work or exposurework or exposureKeep areas clean - report Keep areas clean - report

problems immediately to problems immediately to supervisorssupervisors