Austin Community College

WHY THIS TRAINING?OSHA & Texas Department of State Health Services

Bloodborne Pathogen standard

– OSHA and the TDSHS requires anyone whose job could result in exposure to BB pathogens to complete the training

OSHA BBP regulations are found in 29CFR 1910.1030TDSHS BBP regulations are found in TX Health & Safety Code 81.304

– ACC also has a BBP Program that must be followed. It can be found at the EHS On-line Safety Manual in the Bio-hazard/ Blood Borne Pathogens section…

www.austincc.edu/ehs/safetymanual

Remember: The more you know, the better you will perform in real situations!

6 Course Objectives1. Know what Bloodborne pathogens are2. Recognize potentially contaminated material3. Identify exposure routes4. Know how to protect yourself5. Know what to do if you are exposed6. Know how to clean up a spill

Who is covered by the standard?

• All employees who could be “reasonably anticipated”, as the result of performing their job duties, to face contact with blood and other potentially infectious materials

• “Good Samaritan” acts such as assisting a co-worker with a nosebleed would not be considered occupational exposure

Some Departments/Personnel

that are at Risk:• Nursing Education• Dental Education• Custodial Services• Biology Laboratory Faculty and Staff• Law Enforcement Personnel• Childcare• Paramedics and Emergency Medical

Technicians• Anyone providing first-response

medical care

How does exposure occur?

• Most common: needle sticks

• Cuts from other contaminated sharps (scalpels, broken glass, etc.)

• Contact of mucous membranes (for example; the eyes, nose, mouth) or broken (cut or abraded) skin with contaminated blood

Exposure Control Plan

• Identifies jobs and tasks where occupational exposure to blood or other potentially infectious material occurs

• Describes how the employer will:– Use engineering and work practice controls– Ensure use of Personal Protective Equipment– Provide training– Provide medical surveillance– Provide Hepatitis B (HBV) vaccinations– Use signs and labels

Exposure Control Plan• Written plan required • Plan must be reviewed at least annually to reflect

changes in:– Tasks, procedures, or assignments which affect exposure– Technology that will eliminate or reduce exposure

• Annual review must document employer’s consideration and implementation of safer medical devices

• Must solicit input from potentially exposed employees in the identification, evaluation, and selection of engineering and work practice controls

• Plan must be accessible to employees• ACC Exposure Control/Bloodborne Pathogen Plan is found on line

at:– www.austincc.edu/ehs/safety manual

What is a BB Pathogen?Microorganisms that are carried

in the blood that can cause disease in humans

Common BB Pathogen Diseases

• Malaria• Brucellosis• Syphilis• Hepatitis B(HBV)• Hepatitis C(HCV)• Human

Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV)

Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV)

• HIV is the virus that leads to AIDS

• HIV depletes the immune system

• HIV does not survive well outside the body

• No threat on contracting HIV through casual contactFurther information on HIV can be found at www.cdc.gov

Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV)

• Many people infected with HIV have no symptoms for 10 years or more

• Following may be warning signs of advanced HIV infection: – Rapid Weight Loss Dry Cough– Recurring Fever Profuse Night Sweats– Fatigue Swollen Lymph Glands– Diarrhea for more than 1 week Pneumonia

– Red, brown, pink, or purplish blotches on or under the skin or inside the mouth nose or eyelids

– White spots or unusual blemishes on the tongue, or in the mouth or throat

Hepatitis B (HBV)• 1—1.25 million

Americans are chronically infected

• Symptoms include: jaundice, fatigue, abdominal pain, loss of appetite, intermittent nausea , vomiting

• Vaccination available since 1982

• May lead to chronic liver disease, liver cancer, and death

• HBV can survive for at least one week in dried blood

• Symptoms can occur 1-9 months after exposureFurther information on HBV can be found at www.cdc.gov

Hepatitis C (HCV)

• Hepatitis C is the most common chronic Bloodborne infection in the United States

• Symptoms include: jaundice, fatigue, abdominal pain, loss of appetite, intermittent nausea, vomiting

• May lead to chronic liver disease and deathFurther information on HBC can be found at www.cdc.gov

Potentially Infectious Bodily Fluids

• Blood• Saliva• Vomit• Urine• Semen or vaginal

secretions

• Skin tissue, cell cultures

• Any other bodily fluids, including……

Transmission Potential

• Contact with another person’s blood or bodily fluid that may contain blood

• Mucous membranes: eyes, mouth, nose

• Non-intact skin• Contaminated

sharps/needles

Possible Exposure Incidents

• Administering first aid• Post-accident cleanup• Handling of returned

product• Janitorial or maintenance

work• Handling of any waste

products• Industrial accidents

Universal Precautions• Use of proper PPE• Treat all blood and

bodily fluids as if they are contaminated

• Proper cleanup and decontamination

• Disposal of all contaminated material in the proper manner

Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)

• Anything that is used to protect a person from exposure

• Latex or Nitrile gloves, goggles, CPR mouth barriers, aprons, respirators

PPE Rules to Remember• Always check PPE for defects or

tears before using• If PPE becomes torn or defective,

remove immediately and get new

• Remove PPE before leaving a contaminated area

• Do not reuse disposable equipment

• Discard all contaminated PPE in red Bio-hazard bags

Choosing appropriate PPE

• For small spills and areas of contamination, use safety glasses and nitrile gloves

• For larger areas of contamination with greater potential for contact from splashes, Tyvek coveralls, face shields or face masks should be worn along with gloves and safety glasses.

Decontamination• When cleaning up surfaces use 10% bleach solution

or approved disinfectant • Do an initial wipe up• Spray spill or contaminated area, allow it to stand

for 15 minutes, and then wipe up• Dispose of all wipes in biohazard containers• PPE and any contaminated disposable cleaning

equipment should be disposed of in biohazard containers

Hand Washing• Wash hands

immediately after removing PPE

• Use a soft antibacterial soap

• A hand sanitizer can be used but wash with soap and water as soon as possible.

Definition: Regulated Medical Waste

• Liquid or semi-liquid blood or other potentially infectious material (OPIM)

• Contaminated items that would release blood or OPIM when compressed

• Contaminated sharps• Pathological and

microbiological waste containing blood or OPIM

Signs & Labels• Labels must include the

universal biohazard symbol, and the term “Biohazard” must be attached to:– containers of regulated

biohazard waste– refrigerators or freezers

containing blood or OPIM– containers used to store,

transport, or ship blood or OPIM

Exposure Incident

• A specific incident of contact with potentially infectious bodily fluid

• Infiltrations of mucous membranes or open skin surfaces, as well as puncture wounds from sharps, are exposures

• Report all incidents involving blood or bodily fluids to supervisor within 1 hour

• Post-exposure medical evaluations and follow-up are offered at no charge

ACC Post-exposure Procedures

Responsibility of employee to notify supervisor within ONE (1) hour of exposure

Responsibility of the supervisor is to contact EHS within ONE (1) hour after notified of exposure

Following the report of an exposure, the employee will be sent for a confidential medical evaluation and follow-up

Post-exposure Evaluation Procedures Consist of

• A confidential medical evaluation

• Documenting routes of exposure

• Identifying whose blood was involved (source)

• Test source individuals blood (with individuals consent)

• Provide test results to exposed employee

Hepatitis B VaccinationsACC Employees who may have potential exposure to blood borne pathogens but DO NOT wish to receive the Hepatitis B vaccination must sign a form from the EHS Department stating they decline the vaccination at this time.

You may change your mind at any time – Just contact the EHS Office and request

a Hepatitis B vaccination.

Hepatitis B Vaccination

• Strongly endorsed by medical communities

• Offered to all potentially exposed employees

• Provided free to employees

• Declination form - Must sign one if you don’t want vaccine

Recordkeeping RequirementsMedical Records include:• Hepatitis B vaccination status• Any post-exposure evaluation and follow-up

results

Training Records include:• Training dates• Contents of the training• Signature of trainer and trainee

In ConclusionBB pathogen rules are in place for

your health and safety

Failure to follow them is a risk that does not need to be taken

Call or email: David WatkinsAustin Community College

Environmental Health & Safety Dept. 512-223-1034 or rwatkin1@austincc.edu

Austin Community College’s Blood Borne Pathogen Plan can be found at www.austincc.edu/ehs/safety manual