Control of Biological Agents. Training Objectives By the end of this session participants will:...
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Transcript of Control of Biological Agents. Training Objectives By the end of this session participants will:...
Training Objectives
By the end of this session participants will:
• Understand WorkSafeBC Regulations regarding this topic
• Understand the purpose of the program
• Be able to identify Biological Hazards and control procedures
• WorkSafeBC Regulation Requirements• Definitions• Symptoms and Effects• Method of Transmission• Exposure Control Plan
Agenda
Agenda (continued)
• Risk Identification & Assessment• Controls• Hepatitis B Vaccine• Response Procedures• Labeling and Identification
• Compile list of tasks with possible exposure
• If exposure is possible, an Exposure Control Plan is required
• Develop work procedures• Labeling of materials• Vaccination available
WorkSafeBC OHS Regulation
• Biological Agents include:• Viruses• Bacterium• Prion• Fungus• Some other biological agents
Definitions
• Bloodborne Diseases• Bloodborne pathogens such as:
• Hepatitis B and C (HBV, HCV)• Other WorkSafeBC specified biohazardous
materials
Definitions
• HIV: Human Immunodeficiency Virus• Causes AIDS• No cure or vaccination
• HBV: Hepatitis B virus• Causes liver disease• Vaccination available
• HCV: Hepatitis C virus• Causes liver disease, liver cancer• No cure
Symptoms and Effects
• HIV• Causes AIDS (Acquired Immune
Deficiency Syndrome)• May take many years before AIDS
develops• HIV attacks the body’s immune system• AIDS is a fatal disease
Symptoms and Effects
• Hepatitis B Virus (HBV)• Short or long term liver swelling• Permanent liver damage and scarring
(cirrhosis)• Liver cancer in some
Symptoms and Effects
Symptoms and Effects
• Hepatitis B Virus - continued
• Symptoms range from flu-like to none at all• Person is infectious even if no symptoms• 1% die from initial infection• 10% are chronically infected
• Hepatitis C Virus (HCV)• Acute and chronic liver disease• More likely to cause chronic hepatitis, liver
scarring and liver cancer than HBV
Symptoms and Effects
Symptoms and Effects
• Hepatitis C Virus – continued
• Often no symptoms initially• 90% become chronically infected• 1 – 2 % of population in BC is affected
• Transmitted through contact with infected human blood and other body fluids such as:
Method of Transmission
• May be transmitted in 3 ways:• Through cut or punctured skin• Splash of infectious fluid on mucous
membranes (eyes, mouth, nose)• Splash of infectious fluid onto non-intact
skin
Method of Transmission
• HIV• very fragile outside the human body
• HBV• can live in dried blood for 10 days or more
• HCV• unknown how long it survives in the
environment
Method of Transmission
• The Exposure Control Plan must:• Be in writing• List responsibilities• Include:
• Risk assessment• Training• Written work procedures• Hygiene and decontamination facilities
Exposure Control Plan
• The Plan is based on:• Statistical information• History at similar workplaces• Known exposures and/or near misses• Input from workers
Exposure Control Plan
• Risk Assessment• A systematic approach to quantify a risk• Components include:
• Likelihood• Frequency• Consequence
Risk Assessment
1. Elimination
2. Substitution
3. Engineering Controls
4. Work Practice Controls, which may include• Standard Infection Control Precautions• Good housekeeping practices• Safe work procedures
5. Personal Protective Equipment
Risk Controls
1. Elimination• Must be the 1st option
• Is it necessary to do the task?• Can it be done another way?
Risk Controls
2. Substitution• Substitute the process with a less
hazardous procedure• Substitute the process with an alternate
procedure
Risk Controls
3. Engineering Controls• Remove or isolate the hazard(s)• Use of:
• tools to control• sharps containers• splatter guards• biohazard cabinets• good laboratory practices
Risk Controls
4. Work Practice Controls• Reduce the likelihood of exposure by
altering the way a task is performed
Risk Controls
• Work Practice Controls include:• Standard Infection Control Precautions
• Treat all human blood and other potentially infectious materials as infectious.
• Take appropriate precautions in all cases• Do not assume there is low risk
Risk Controls
• Work Practice Controls include:• Housekeeping practices
• Identify locations of concern• Clean high risk areas• Size and nature of the spill• Cleaning instructions• Type of disinfectant (MSDS)
Risk Controls
5. Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)• Vital in all situations• Must be available to workers• Must be suitable to the hazard• Workers must be instructed in its use• Must fit properly
Risk Controls
• General Rules• Wash hands and remove protective
clothing before eating, drinking, smoking, handling contact lenses, applying lip balm or cosmetics
Risk Controls
Risk Controls
• General Rules - continued
• Keep hands away from eyes, nose, and mouth
• Frequent hand washing is best defense against spreading infection
• Contaminated Laundry• Isolate and minimize handling• Separate contaminated laundry from other
laundry• Bag the laundry at point of use• Identify if taken to outside facilities• Do not sort or rinse on site
Risk Controls
• Picking Up Sharps (1)• Must be trained• Use the proper equipment and PPE• No sharps in pockets• Do not put sharps in regular garbage
Risk Controls
• Picking Up Sharps (2)• Disposable waterproof gloves• Place container next to sharp (do not hold)• Use tongs or pliers (or pick up by shaft)• Place the needle end or sharp end first• Do not fill container• Dispose of container
Risk Controls
• Handling Garbage (1)• Handle as little as possible• Watch for sharps• Do not compress• Do not reach into containers with bare
hands• Do not pick up loose garbage unless using
puncture/liquid resistant gloves
Risk Controls
• Handling Garbage (2)• Do not completely fill bags• Hold by top of bag only• Hold away from the body• Do not support bottom of bag with your
hand
Risk Controls
• Hand Washing (1)• One of the most important and easiest
prevention practices• Frequent hand washing is the best
defense against spreading infection• Keep hands away from your eyes, nose
and mouth
Risk Controls
• Hand Washing (2)• Wash hands and remove protective
clothing:• Before eating, drinking, smoking, handling
contact lenses, applying lip balm or cosmetics• Suspect glove torn or leaking• After removing gloves• After contact with with blood or body fluids• Before leaving work area
Risk Controls
• Spill Cleanup and Decontamination• Use proper PPE• Spills must be cleaned up immediately• Use a freshly mixed 1:10 bleach solution or
an approved germicide / disinfectant• Refer to written safe work procedures
Risk Controls
• What to do if exposed (1)• Get First Aid if injury requires it• Get medical attention immediately• Report the incident to your supervisor• Document – complete the report form
Exposure Response
• What To Do If Exposed (2)• Sharp Injury or Bite
• Let the wound bleed freely• Promote bleeding• Wash the affected area• Seek medical attention immediately
Exposure Response
• What To Do If Exposed (3)• Contact With Intact Skin
• Immediately wash exposed area• Do not use bleach or caustic disinfectant• Vehicles should carry waterless hand cleaner• Remember: intact skin is a barrier to
transmission of diseases
Exposure Response
• What To Do If Exposed (4)• Contact With Non-Intact Skin or Mucous
Membranes• Immediately flush the affected area with large
amounts of water• Seek medical attention immediately (treat as a
medical emergency)
Exposure Response
• Medical Evaluation• Type of fluid or material• Type of exposure• Status of the source• Status of the worker
All medical information is confidential
Exposure Response
• Reporting the Exposure• Report all exposures/injuries where:
• injury penetrates through intact skin or mucous membrane
• there is an exposure to non-intact skin (healing wound, dermatitis, chapped or scraped skin)
Exposure Response
• If a vaccine is available for a known occupational hazard (as per WorkSafeBC Regulation) the employer will make it available to workers free of charge.
Vaccinations
• Protect yourself on and off the job – know what you are working with
• Practice good personal hygiene• Follow procedures. Use gloves and
protective clothing• Wash your hands often• Keep areas clean - report problems
immediately to supervisors
Review
• Today’s discussion included:• WorkSafeBC Regulations• Definitions• Symptoms and Effects• Method of Transmission• Exposure Control Plan• Risk Assessments and Controls• Exposure Response, and• Vaccinations
Summary