GENERAL

Do you meet the CDC and OSHA’s Bloodborne pathogens standards?

A career in any field can be intellectually and financially rewarding. Nevertheless, there are risks that a person has to bear or is exposed to in the course of one’s employment. Bloodborne pathogens are infectious materials that can cause fatal illness or death if exposed to them.

The Center for Disease Control (CDC) recommends that blood and body fluid precautions be taken for all patients, regardless of their HIV infection status. Bloodborne pathogens (BBP) transmission can result from blood and other body fluids and can cause Hepatitis B, Hepatitis C, and Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) on exposure through puncture wounds such as needlestick injuries or splashes to the mucous membranes of the eyes, nose, or mouth. Bloodborne pathogens exposure could occur in a lab environment, when employed in a laundry or as a housekeeper, as a tattoo artist, a hairstylist, bioremediation personnel, or as a workplace first aider. it is for this reason, that the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA’s) reach is so far-reaching. 

Employers are required by OSHA’s Bloodborne standard (BBP standard) to provide annual OSHA bloodborne pathogens training to employees having occupational exposure to blood or other potentially infectious materials (OPIM), irrespective of prior training or education. Employers are further required to have policies and procedures implemented in the workplace that are aligned to OSHA’s  Universal Precautions and OSHA BBP Standards to protect and empower high-risk individuals with the knowledge and tools needed to be safe in the workplace. Employees should be trained to react responsibly to instances of exposure should they do occur. 

Universal precautions according to OSHA include:

  • The wearing of gloves and other protective barriers in the examination of patients and when using needles, scalpels, and other shape instruments.
  • The washing of hands and other skin surfaces that are contaminated with blood or body fluids after a procedure or examination.
  • The changing of gloves between patients and that gloves not be reused ever again.

The IACET accredited online bloodborne pathogens training certification course, by Erin Azuse, RN BSN,  will gear anyone working in a setting that exposes them to BBP pathogens or other infectious material, such as courier workers and primary care facility staff to act accordingly. The estimated timeframe to complete the course is 1 hour (up to 10 hours).

The course will address the following learning objectives:

  • Defines what are Bloodborne Pathogens (BBP) 
  • Identifies methods of BBP transmission and prevention
  • Compares Hepatitis B, Hepatitis C, and HIV Infection
  • Explains the concepts of Universal Precautions and Standard Precautions
  • Lists OSHA’s bloodborne pathogens Standard
  • Reviews the purpose of personal protective equipment and
  • Recalls the concepts of work practice and engineering controls
  • Explains what to do if exposed to blood or OPIM

To enroll in this course or to learn more about its contents visit Bloodborne Pathogens Training so that you comply with the CDC’s and OSHA’s bloodborne pathogens standards.

References:

Bloodborne-Pathogens-training. (n.d.). https://www.hipaaexams.com/compliance-training-courses/OSHA-Bloodborne-Pathogens-training.

Fairfax, R. e. (2007, January 9). Occupational Safety and Health Administration. United States Department Of Labor. Retrieved 09 13, 2021, from https://www.osha.gov/laws-regs/standardinterpretations/2007-01-09

OSHA Bloodborne Pathogens Training Requirements. (2017, September 27). Bloodborne training. Retrieved September 13, 2021, from https://bloodbornepathogenstraining.com/

WHAT ARE UNIVERSAL PRECAUTIONS? WHAT ARE BLOODBORNE PATHOGENS? (n.d.). Aftermath. Retrieved 09 13, 2021, from https://www.aftermath.com/content/universal-precautions-bloodborne-pathogens/