Office of Environmental Health and
Safety
Bloodborne Pathogen Training for
Low Risk Personnel
Revised: May 20, 2015
Training Support
This training module must be taken during normal working hours so
that
you have ready access to Taylor Kriete, Biological Safety Officer. He
is available at (504) 952-1337
to answer any questions you have related
to this training.
Contents
- Introduction
- Bloodborne Pathogen Information
- Risk Determination
- Exposure Response
- Work Practices
I.
Introduction
- Personnel who may encounter blood or body fluids, but
not as part of regular job duties, are considered as “low risk” and
must complete this training every five years as required by OSHA and
State of Louisiana Office of Risk Management.
- This training includes hyperlinks(indicated
by red underlined text)
to provide you with additional information.
- Click here
to view the OSHA standard.
Definitions
- Blood includes
human blood, human
blood components, and products made from human blood.
- Bloodborne Pathogens are
pathogenic microorganisms present in human blood and other body fluids
that can cause disease in humans, including hepatitis B virus (HBV),
hepatitis C virus (HCV), and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV).
- Occupational Exposure is
reasonably anticipated skin, eye, mucous membrane, or parenteral
contact with blood or OPIM that may result from the performance of the
employee’s duties.
- Other Potentially Infectious
Materials (OPIM) are materials other than human blood that can
contain bloodborne pathogens and may potentially be infectious. OPIM
include
HIV-containing cell or tissue cultures or organ cultures and HIV- or
HBV-containing culture medium or other solutions.
Examples of
OPIM
Cerebrospinal, synovial, pleural,
amniotic, pericardial, and peritoneal fluids; semen; vaginal secretions.
Any material fluid contaminated with blood; saliva in dental
procedures.
Bodily fluids in emergency situations that cannot be recognized.
Unfixed human tissues or organs.
Unfixed tissues or organs from HIV- or
HBV-infected animals.
HIV or HBV cell cultures or culture medium.
II. Bloodborne Pathogens
Common BBP Diseases
- AIDS is the acquired
immunodeficiency
syndrome, a serious illness that harms the body's ability to fight
infection, and is caused by the HIV virus. Though infected individuals
may not initially have symptoms of HIV infection, it may still be
possible for them to spread disease.
- Hepatitis B is an
infectious illness
caused by HBV which causes inflammation of the liver, liver infection,
cirrhosis, and liver cancer. Hepatitis B is far more common than HIV
and is present in very high concentrations in the blood of infected
persons. A vaccination is available for Hepatitis B.
- Hepatitis C is an
infectious disease
affecting the liver. Symptoms for both HBV and HCV include flu-like
illness, jaundice, dark urine, extreme fatigue, nausea, abdominal and
joint point, and rash. No vaccine is currently available for Hepatitis
C.
Modes of
Transmission
- Transmission can be via direct and indirect contact.
- Transmission can occur through:
- Accidental punctures from sharp objects (i.e., needles,
broken glass, or other contaminated sharps).
- Contact between broken or damaged skin and infected body
fluids (e.g., open sores, cuts, abrasions, acne, or any sort of damaged
or broken skin such as blisters).
- Exposure to mucous membranes, eyes, nose, or mouth.
- BBPs are not known to be transmitted across intact skin.
III. Risk Determination
Exposure Risk Determination
Personnel are classified as high
risk if they:
- Perform direct patient care activities likely to result in
direct or indirect exposure to blood or body fluids.
- Handle human blood, body fluids, tissues or organs.
- Handle equipment, materials or waste that may be
contaminated with human blood, body fluids or OPIMs.
- Routinely administer first aid.
- Have potential for to be exposed to blood, body fluids or
OPIM in their job duties.
- Examples: Physicians, dentists, laboratory workers,
healthcare workers, plumbers and custodial staff, shelter workers,
child welfare workers, police officers and others who carry weapons,
first responders, firefighters, kitchen staff (that may handle sharp
equipment), and public safety workers.
Low
risk personnel do not perform any activity listed above (e.g.,
clerical, administrative staff, IT).
Employee Risk Determination
- The Office of Compliance initially assigns risk levels
and associated training for all employees based on job title and
department.
- Each supervisor will validate the assigned risk level by
reviewing tasks and procedures associated with the employee’s exposure
to human blood, body fluids, or OPIMs.
- If the employee’s risk level changes due to supervisory
review or the assignment of new tasks, notify the
Biological
Safety Officer so that the correct training module can
be assigned.
Student Risk Determination
- Students enrolled in the Schools of Public Health and
Graduate Studies are initially classified as low risk.
- If due to the nature of their work a School of Public
Health or Graduate Studies student should in fact be classified as high
risk, notify the
Biological Safety Officer so that the correct training
module can be assigned.
- Since Public Health and Graduate Studies students are
not required to be vaccinated for hepatitis B, the “high risk” student
will obtain the Hepatitis B vaccination (or verify they are already
vaccinated) or complete the
Hepatitis B Consent/Declination form (appendix A to the
ECP) indicating that they decline the vaccination. Provide the
immunization record or signed Consent/Declination form to Student
Health.
IV. Exposure Response
Exposure Incident
Exposure Incident: a
specific eye, mouth, other mucous membrane, non-intact skin, or a
puncture contact with blood or other potentially infectious materials
that results from the performance of a person's duties.
For example:
- Needlesticks or scrapes and cuts with contaminated
sharps.
- Contact with broken skin through cuts or rashes.
- Splashes to the eyes, nose or mouth.
Exposure Response
The following actions should be taken immediately after
exposure:
- Administer first aid. Wash the needlestick or cut with soap
and water. Notify your supervisor as soon as feasible.
- If exposure is by splashes or infectious materials to the
nose, mouth or eyes, the affected area should be flushed extensively
with water, saline or sterile irrigating solution.
- Document the routes of exposure, the biological material of
exposure, and how the incident occurred.
- Seek medical attention as soon as possible. HIV prophylaxis
is most effective if started within two hours of exposure.
After initial treatment is complete, make an appointment with
your healthcare provider as soon as possible for appropriate follow-up.
For more information on exposure response actions, see Section 9
of the
Exposure Control Plan .
Post-Treatment Actions
Following an exposure incident, the supervisor must report the
incident and complete the appropriate reporting form(s) as outlined in
the
Incident and Accident Reporting and Investigation Policy .
Counseling for employees and students is available through the
Campus Assistance Program (568-8888). The Student Health Clinic can
provide access to the Expert Review Panel on behalf of students.
V. Work Practices
Waste Disposal
- Do not handle blood, OPIM or any biological materials without
proper training.
- As working knowledge, bioboxes with red biohazard liners are
used to dispose of biohazardous waste. Sharps containers are used to
dispose of all contaminated sharps (i.e., needles, scalpels).
- All equipment and containers used to store, transport, or ship
blood, OPIM or any biological materials must have a label with the word
“biohazard” and the biohazard symbol.
- Labels and signs shall be fluorescent orange or orange-red with
lettering and symbols in a contrasting color.
Spill Response
Should a incident or spill occur involving blood or
OPIM, contact University Police immediately. University Police will
notify Environmental Health and Safety to assist in cleaning up the
spill.
- Secure the area, keeping all personnel clear of spill.
- Stand by during spill response and cleanup activity to
provide information and assistance.
- Refer to the
Biological Spill Response Policy for additional spill
response guidance.
Training Support
If you have questions or comments, please contact Taylor Kriete,
Biological Safety Officer at (504) 952-1337 or tkriete@lsuhsc.edu
.