Blood Borne Pathogens Prevention

Employees in various jobs are at a risk of being subjected to various blood borne pathogens, which include Hepatitis B, C, and HIV/AIDS. First aid unit members, housekeeping personnel in some jobs, nurses and other healthcare members are an example of employees who are at the risk of being exposed.Blood borne pathogens means the blood borne disease which is spread by the contaminated blood. These include, Hepatitis B, C, and HIV/AIDS.These diseases are lethal and blood and body fluid precautions are the way of control of these to minimize the transmission of these diseases. Blood for transfusion is screened for these blood borne diseases before being used for the purpose.The simplest way to prevent these diseases is needle exchanges used by intravenous drug users and simple hand washing. If you handle human blood products as whole blood, serum, plasma, white cells or platelets, or work with animals which are primates and are infected with hepatitis B or other blood borne pathogens or handle needles, knives, scissors or scalpels which have been used by others, kindly begin the Blood borne Pathogens Training Program. Its a set of precautions especially designed to prevent the transmission of various blood borne diseases such as Hepatitis B, C, and HIV/AIDS.

The universal precautions apply to the following:

Blood
Semen
Bodily fluids which contain visible blood
Vaginal fluid
Pleural, synovial, peritoneal, amniotic, and pericardial fluids
scalpels, needles, other sharp instruments

Universal precautions are achieved by the following barriers:

gowns
gloves
aprons
protective eyewear

These precautions do not apply to the following:

nasal
secretions
feces
sweat
sputum
tears
vomits
urine

Program Description:

Exposure Control Plan

A written Exposure Control Plan is included by each department. Tasks and procedures involving exposure are mentioned and personnel protective equipment is also provided to the employees who are at the risk of exposure.  Labeling, housekeeping, training and medical surveillance are conducted.

Training

Training must be provided to the employees before they are given their tasks, on annual basis. Training is provided through a web based program, Protection Against Blood borne Pathogens.

Medical Surveillance

Those who are subject to exposure to blood borne pathogens are offered vaccination, free of cost. Though it is recommended but an employee can decline or accept it.

The purpose of this program is to control the risk of infection of transmission of blood borne pathogens in the employees who work in an environment where they are at a risk of being subject to various diseases.