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Bloodborne Pathogens

Purpose and Scope
Definitions
Responsibilities
Procedures
References
  1. PURPOSE AND SCOPE

      These requirements limit occupational exposure to blood and other potentially infectious materials since exposure could result in transmission of bloodborne pathogens which could lead to death. This protocol is mandatory for all University of Utah employees who could reasonably be anticipated, as the result of performing their job duties, to contact blood or other potentially infectious materials. Where exposure to human blood may occur, adherence to the controls, decontamination and disposal sections of this policy is mandatory for students and visitors.


  2. DEFINITIONS
    1. Blood - Human blood, including components and products
    2. Exposure Incident - a specific eye, mouth, non-intact skin, inoculation, or injection contact with blood or other potentially infectious materials that results from the performance of job duties
    3. Other Potentially Infectious Materials - semen, vaginal secretions, cerebrospinal fluid, synovial fluid, pleural fluid, peritoneal fluid, pericardial fluid, amniotic fluid, concentrated HIV and HBV viruses, and saliva in dental settings.
    4. Regulated Waste - any liquid or semi-liquid blood or other potentially infectious materials; contaminated items that would release blood or other potentially infectious materials in a liquid or semi-liquid state if compressed; items that are caked with dried blood or other potentially infectious materials and are capable of releasing these materials during handling; contaminated sharps; and pathological and microbiological wastes containing blood or other potentially infectious materials.
    5. Universal Precautions - refers to a method of infection control in which all human blood and other potentially infectious materials are treated as if known to be infectious for HIV and HBV. It does not apply to feces, nasal secretions, sputum, sweat, tears, urine or vomitus unless they contain visible blood.

  3. RESPONSIBILITIES
    1. Supervisors must ensure: The procedures of this policy are followed. This includes maintaining an Exposure Control Plan for the area, making it available to the workers, enforcing compliance with the plan, ensuring new employees are trained and vaccinations offered, performing follow-ups on incident exposures and providing personal protective equipment as needed.
    2. Workers must: Perform duties as established in their area's Exposure Control Plan and as trained.
    3. Environmental Health and Safety (EH&S) Department conducts independent reviews of research protocols, consults with laboratory directors and staff to implement biosafety practices and procedures, works closely with laboratory staff to ensure proper handling and disposal of infectious waste, tracks certification of biosafety cabinets, maintains the University's Biosafety Manual, facilitates laboratory compliance with federal, state, and local regulations, and responds to and assists with the mitigation of emergencies and spills involving biohazardous materials.

  4. PROCEDURES
    1. Exposure Control Plan: Each area with potentially exposed employees must have a written Exposure Control Plan to minimize exposure. At a minimum, the plan must list tasks and procedures as well as job classification where occupational exposure occurs. It must include the schedule for implementing provisions of the standard and the procedure for evaluating circumstances surrounding exposure incidents. It must be reviewed annually. Draft plans are available from the Department of Environmental Health and Safety.
    2. Methods of Compliance: Universal precautions, engineering and work practice controls must be implemented. Where occupational exposure remains after institution of these controls, personal protective equipment shall be used.
    3. Hepatitis B Vaccination: Vaccinations shall be made available to all employees who have occupational exposure to blood within 10 working days of assignment, at no cost to them.
    4. Post-Exposure Evaluation and Follow-up: Following any exposure incident, the individual must immediately wash the effected area. The incident must be reported to the supervisor who must investigate. The supervisor must document the circumstances and measures to prevent recurrence. A confidential medical evaluation and follow-up must be made available to the employee, at no cost to him/her.
    5. Hazard Communication: Material must be labeled and disposed of properly.
    6. Training: Training must be accomplished prior to beginning duties and repeated at least annually. At a minimum, it must consist of access to a copy of the OSHA Bloodborne Pathogen Standard and an explanation of its contents, a general explanation of epidemiology, symptoms and mode of transportation of bloodborne pathogens, an explanation of the Exposure Control Plan as well as an opportunity for interactive questions and answers with the person conducting the session.
    7. Regulated Waste Disposal: At the University Hospital and School of Medicine the waste and sharps containers are collected as "potentially infectious waste" in all trash containers. Other sites must properly contain the material and contact Environmental Health and Safety for collection.
    8. Records: Medical records must be maintained for the duration of employment plus 30 years.

  5. REFERENCES
    1. OSHA Bloodborne Pathogen Standard, 29 CFR 1910.1030.
    2. University of Utah Biosafety Manual and Exposure Control Plan.
    3. Biosafety in Microbiological and Biomedical Laboratories. Richmond, Jonathan Y., and Robert W. McKinney (Eds.) (1999). Centers for Disease Control. Atlanta, GA, and National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD. HHS Publication Number (CDC) 93-8395.

    11/97
    2/19/02