I. PURPOSE
To provide a comprehensive plan that will:
A. Protect
Narragansett School System employees who are occupationally exposed to blood,
other potentially infectious materials, and/or certain other body fluid that
may contain bloodborne pathogens such as immune deficiency virus (HIV) and the
Hepatitis B virus (HBV) and the Hepatitis C virus (HCV).
Bloodborne Pathogen Standard
(29 CFR 1910.1030).
II. EXPOSURE CONTROL PLAN
A. At-Risk
Personnel
Category I: A
list of job classifications in which all employees have occupational exposure:
School nurse-teachers assisting and treating injured
students may come in contact with blood and other bodily fluids.
Special education teachers and aides in
self-contained programs, custodial staff and staff who substitute for them, may
have to clean up after injured persons where they may come in contact with
blood and other bodily fluids.
Category II: A
list of job classifications in which some employees have occupational exposure:
Principals, assistant principals, clinic clerks,
physical education teachers, athletic coaches and playground aides may come in
contact with blood and other bodily fluids in performance of their jobs in
treating injured students.
School bus drivers and school bus aides may have to
clean up after injured persons where they come in contact with blood and other
bodily fluids.
B. Tasks and Procedures in which occupational exposure occurs and are performed by employees in the above job categories.
1. Providing or assisting with
providing emergency first aid;
2. Providing or assisting to
provide area clean-up, disposal of personal protective equipment and/or
contaminated materials or OPIM after blood or body fluid spill;
3. Cleaning, handling and/or
disposing of equipment used for emergency first aid or used for area clean-up;
4. Cleaning, handling and/or
disposing of broken glass, metal, sharps or other equipment which has the
potential to cause a bleeding injury.
C. Infectious
or Potentially Infectious Fluids/Materials
1. All blood/body fluids shall be
considered potentially infectious, i.e.:
a. Blood b. Saliva
c. Urine d. Feces
e. Amniotic fluid f. Semen g. Vaginal
secretions h. Cerebrospinal fluid
i. Pleural fluid j. Synovial
fluid
k. Pericardial fluid
2. Any identifiable fluid or secretion or
grossly contaminated secretion/excretion.
D. Utilization
of Universal Precautions
Universal precautions, whereby all human blood and
OPIM are considered potentially infectious, shall be practiced by all employees
identified as having occupational exposure to bloodborne pathogens.
E. Utilization
of Engineering Controls
Engineering controls, e.g., needle disposal systems,
red biohazard plastic liner bags, etc. shall be used to eliminate and/or
minimize employees' occupational exposure.
Such controls shall be examined and maintained or replaced at least
annually to ensure their effectiveness.
F. Utilization
of Work Practice Controls
Work practice controls, e.g., handwashing, sharps precautions, housekeeping, etc. shall be utilized to minimize and/or eliminate employee's occupational exposure to blood or OPIM.
G. Utilization
of Personal Protective Equipment
Employees subject to occupational exposure shall be provided with personal protective equipment which shall be maintained and used if work practices or engineering controls fail to eliminate exposure to blood or body fluids. Personal protective equipment includes gloves, gowns, eye/face protection.
H. Immunization/Post-
Exposure Follow-up and Treatment
Each employee subject to occupational exposure shall be strongly encouraged to receive Hepatitis B vaccine at no cost to the employee within ten working days of employment. Mandatory declination is necessary.
I. Training
and Education of Employees
Each employee shall receive training and education in accordance with the OSHA Bloodborne Pathogen Standard within ten days of initial employment and at least annually thereafter.
J. Record
Keeping/Compliance
Record-keeping and compliance with this plan shall in accordance with the OSHA Bloodborne Pathogen Standard.
III. IMPLEMENTATION OF THE PLAN
A. Work
Practices
1. Handwashing
a. Environmental Factors
Handwashing facilities including handwashing liquid and paper towels shall be readily accessible in all areas where employees are subject to occupational exposure to bloodborne pathogens. If handwashing facilities are not feasible in a given area or situation, an antiseptic hand cleaner and towels or towelettes shall be provided. Bar soap shall not be left on sinks or counter tops.
b. Practices
Employees shall wash their hands immediately or as soon as feasible after removal of gloves or other personal protective equipment, or if there has been unanticipated contact with blood or body fluids. Hands or skin surfaces shall be washed with soap and water or other approved hand washing solution and mucous membranes shall be flushed with water immediately or as soon as feasible following any contact with blood or body fluids.
2. Sharps Precautions
Disposal
Designated leakproof,
puncture-resistant containers shall be easily accessible to personnel and
located as closely as possible to the areas where sharps are used or use can be
reasonably anticipated. Used needles and
sharps shall be disposed of immediately or as soon as feasible after use. Sharps disposal containers shall not be
filled beyond three-fourths of their capacities and shall be closed prior to
removal or replacement.
3. Equipment
Equipment used shall not
require special handling unless such equipment becomes visibly contaminated
with blood or body fluids. Visibly
contaminated equipment shall be cleansed initially with soap and water followed
by disinfection with approved disinfectant in a manner appropriate to the
item. If cleansing does not adequately
remove blood or body fluids or if decontamination is not feasible, the item shall
be discarded and replaced.
4. General Work Practices
Any and all procedures
involving blood or body fluids shall be performed in a manner that eliminates
or minimizes splashing, spraying, splattering, or generation of droplets of
these substances.
Eating, drinking, smoking,
applying cosmetics or lip balm, and handling of contact lenses shall be
prohibited in work areas where there is reasonable likelihood of occupational
exposure.
B. Personal
Protective Equipment (PPE)
1. General Rules
Whenever
there is risk of occupational exposure, appropriate types and sizes of PPE
shall be provided to all employees at no cost to the employees. PPE shall include but is not limited to
disposable gloves, aprons, face shields, masks, eye protection, and shoe
covers. The Narragansett School System shall provide, repair, maintain,
or dispose of PPE's at no cost to the employee.
PPE shall be used whenever
there is risk of splash, splatter, or aerosolization of potentially infectious
substances.
In general,
PPE shall:
a. Not permit blood or body fluids to pass
through to the employee's clothing, skin or mucous membranes.
b. Be removed when penetrated by blood or body fluids prior to leaving the work area; if visibly contaminated with blood or body fluids. Items shall be disposed of appropriately.
2. Gloves
Supplies of hypoallergenic
gloves or similar alternatives shall be readily accessible in all work areas
where the risk of exposure exists.
Gloves
shall be worn whenever the employee can reasonably anticipate contact with
blood or body fluids, mucous membranes, non-intact skin, and when handling or
touching visibly contaminated items or surfaces. Each employee who has routine exposure to
blood or body fluids shall carry a pair of gloves in his or her pocket to
ensure that protection is immediately available. Disposable single-use gloves shall be
replaced immediately or as soon as feasible if they become contaminated, torn,
punctured, or whenever their ability to function as a barrier has bee
compromised.
Utility gloves shall be
washed and decontaminated provided the integrity of the glove has not been
compromised prior to reuse. Utility
gloves shall be discarded if they begin to peel, become cracked, torn,
punctured, or exhibit other signs of deterioration or compromise.
3. Masks, Eye Protection, Face Shields
Masks in combination with
eye protection devices such as goggles, glasses with solid side shields, chin
length face shields, etc. shall be worn whenever splashed, sprays, splatters,
or droplets of potentially infectious materials may be generated and it can be
reasonably anticipated that there may be contamination of eyes, nose, or
mouth. If masks are used for protection
from blood or other potentially infectious materials, they may be worn until
they are moist; once wet, masks are no longer effective and shall be changed.
C. Housekeeping
Practices
1. The workplace shall be
maintained in a clean and sanitary condition.
Environmental surfaces that have been in contact with blood or body
fluids shall be cleaned and decontaminated with an approved disinfectant
immediately or as soon as feasible after contamination. Work surfaces shall be routinely cleaned and
immediately or as soon as feasible after any spill of blood or body fluid.
2. Reusable bins, pails, cans, and similar
receptacles which are reasonably likely to become contaminated with blood or
other body fluids shall be decontaminated on a regularly scheduled basis.
D. Engineering
Controls
Engineering controls to eliminate or reduce occupational exposure shall be examined, maintained, or replaced annually or as necessary, and shall be available and easily accessible for use by employees.
E. Hepatitis
B Vaccination
Hepatitis B vaccine shall be available to each employee who is subject to occupational exposure at no cost to the employee after completing the required training and within ten working days of employment. After completion of the vaccine, a blood titer shall be taken to ensure appropriate level of immunity.
Each employee who is subject to occupational exposure shall be offered Hepatitis B vaccine series within ten days of hire unless the employee has previously received the complete Hepatitis B vaccine series, antibody testing has revealed that the employee is immune, or the vaccine is contraindicated for medical reasons. Hepatitis B vaccine shall be available to all currently employee personnel subject to occupational exposure and/or after an exposure incident. Any employee subject to occupational exposure (newly hired or currently employed) who declines to accept the Hepatitis B vaccination shall sign a statement noting that he/she has refused the vaccine and understands the risks of such refusal. If, at any time, the employee should decide to accept the vaccine, it shall be made available.
F. Post-Exposure
Evaluation/Follow-up
An employee who suffers an
exposure to blood or body fluids shall report such exposure to his/her
supervisor who shall complete an Employee Accident Report and refer the
employee to the
G. Education
and Training
1. Each employee within ten days of initial hire and at least
annually thereafter receives the following training, information, and
opportunities during working hours and at no cost to the employee:
a. How to obtain a copy of the OSHA regulatory text and an
explanation of its contents.
b. Explanation of and how to obtain a copy of the Narragansett
School System’s Exposure Control Plan.
c. Information regarding:
- Epidemiology and symptoms of bloodborne diseases.
- Ways in which bloodborne pathogens are
transmitted.
- How to recognize tasks that might result in
occupational exposure.
- Types, selection, proper
use, handling, decontamination, and disposal of personal protective equipment.
- Hepatitis B vaccine, e.g., safety, benefits, efficacy, methods of administration, and availability.
- How to report an exposure incident and post exposure evaluation and follow-up.
d.
e. Specific training individualized to the
department and the tasks, responsibilities, and potential for the employee's
risk of occupational exposure.
f. The person conducting the training
shall be knowledgeable in the subject matter covered by the elements contained
in the training program as it relates to the specific workplace that the
training will address.
2. There
is documentation of training session dates, content, names of instructors, and
list of attendees along with their job titles.
3. Training records are maintained for
three years.
Department managers and
employees shall comply with this plan.
I. Review and Update
This plan
shall be reviewed/revised annually and whenever new or modified tasks and
procedures which may involve potential occupational exposure by the affected
department are implemented.
______________________________________________________________________________
References: OSHA Bloodborne Pathogen
Standard 29 CFR 1910.1030
1st
Reading: March 24, 1993
Adopted:
Amended:
1st
2nd
Departmental Plan
Department
Name: _____________________________________
Date: ______________
Work
activities and job classifications in which some employees have exposure to
bloodborne pathogens.
Listed
below are tasks and procedures in our facility in which human blood and other
potentially infectious materials are handled which may result in exposure to
bloodborne pathogens.
Job
Classifications Tasks/Procedures
with potential Blood/Body
Fluid Work Practice
occupational
exposure
_______________ ___________________________ _______________ __________________
_______________ ______________________________ _______________ __________________
_______________ ______________________________ _______________ __________________
_______________ ______________________________ _______________ __________________
_______________ ______________________________ _______________ __________________
Declination
Statement
The following
statement of declination of Hepatitis B vaccination must be signed by an
employee who chooses not to accept the vaccine. The statement can only be signed by the
employee following appropriate training regarding Hepatitis B, Hepatitis B
vaccination, the efficacy, safety, method of administration, and benefits of
vaccination , and that the vaccine and vaccination are provided free of charge
to the employee. The statement is not a
waiver; employees can request and receive the Hepatitis B vaccination at a
later date if they remain occupationally at risk for Hepatitis B.
|
Declination Statement I understand that due to my occupational exposure to blood or other
potentially infectious materials I may be at risk of acquiring Hepatitis B
virus (HBV) infection. I have been
given the opportunity to be vaccinated with Hepatitis B vaccine, at no charge
to myself. However, I decline
Hepatitis B vaccination at this time.
I understand that by declining this vaccine I continue to be at risk
of acquiring Hepatitis B, a serious disease.
If in the future I continue to have occupational exposure to blood or
other potentially infectious materials and I want to be vaccinated with
Hepatitis B vaccine, I can receive the vaccination series at no charge to me. ______________________________ ______________________________ Employee Signature Date |