
Be Part of the Ultimate Safety & Compliance Community
Trending news, knowledge-building content, and more – all personalized to you!
OSHA requires employers to implement a bloodborne pathogen exposure control plan for the workplace that details protective measures for employees as well as reporting requirements. But is enough being done to ensure exposures aren�t leading to more infections? It�s the employer's responsibility to determine which job classifications or specific tasks and procedures involve occupational exposure and to encourage workers to report incidents.
Employees designated as first responders have a risk of exposure, but any worker electing to help an injured coworker could be exposed to blood and other potentially infectious materials (OPIMs). When employees fail to report exposure, or even potential exposure, to bloodborne pathogens at work, they don�t receive appropriate assessment and care. This can lead to extremely serious health consequences, including hospitalization.
As soon as safely possible after a potential exposure, employees should remove any potentially contaminated clothing and wash the affected area with soap and water. (NOTE: Application of antiseptics is not a substitute for washing.) If there is exposure to the eyes, nose, or mouth, flush them thoroughly with water, saline, or sterile irritants. If a sharps injury occurs, wash the exposed area with soap and water but don�t �milk� or squeeze the wound to avoid additional exposure. It�s important that employees understand there�s no medical evidence that using antiseptics like hydrogen peroxide will reduce the risk of transmission of any bloodborne pathogens.
Documenting exposures in a way that ensures confidentiality is vital. Without documentation, employers are unable to investigate and identify causes. Without understanding causes, remediations cannot be made to protect responders or prevent recurrence.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) completed a study that revealed several reasons employees are reluctant to report a bloodborne pathogen exposure. These include:
Protecting workers is as simple as 1-2-3. Employers should ensure workers follow these guidelines:
Employers can ensure worker protection by:
Employers must protect workers from the risk of exposure to bloodborne pathogens. This includes protecting responders from illness or hospitalization resulting from unreported exposures. Protecting workers requires continual communication of hazards, proper training and supplies, assurance of accountability, and a positive safety culture.
OSHA requires employers to implement a bloodborne pathogen exposure control plan for the workplace that details protective measures for employees as well as reporting requirements. But is enough being done to ensure exposures aren�t leading to more infections? It�s the employer's responsibility to determine which job classifications or specific tasks and procedures involve occupational exposure and to encourage workers to report incidents.
Employees designated as first responders have a risk of exposure, but any worker electing to help an injured coworker could be exposed to blood and other potentially infectious materials (OPIMs). When employees fail to report exposure, or even potential exposure, to bloodborne pathogens at work, they don�t receive appropriate assessment and care. This can lead to extremely serious health consequences, including hospitalization.
As soon as safely possible after a potential exposure, employees should remove any potentially contaminated clothing and wash the affected area with soap and water. (NOTE: Application of antiseptics is not a substitute for washing.) If there is exposure to the eyes, nose, or mouth, flush them thoroughly with water, saline, or sterile irritants. If a sharps injury occurs, wash the exposed area with soap and water but don�t �milk� or squeeze the wound to avoid additional exposure. It�s important that employees understand there�s no medical evidence that using antiseptics like hydrogen peroxide will reduce the risk of transmission of any bloodborne pathogens.
Documenting exposures in a way that ensures confidentiality is vital. Without documentation, employers are unable to investigate and identify causes. Without understanding causes, remediations cannot be made to protect responders or prevent recurrence.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) completed a study that revealed several reasons employees are reluctant to report a bloodborne pathogen exposure. These include:
Protecting workers is as simple as 1-2-3. Employers should ensure workers follow these guidelines:
Employers can ensure worker protection by:
Employers must protect workers from the risk of exposure to bloodborne pathogens. This includes protecting responders from illness or hospitalization resulting from unreported exposures. Protecting workers requires continual communication of hazards, proper training and supplies, assurance of accountability, and a positive safety culture.