STANDARD
PRECAUTIONS
TRAINING
Northern Virginia Training Coalition
in compliance with OSHA regulations
INTRODUCTION:
The Occupational Safety and Health
Administration (OSHA) issued the
Bloodborne Pathogen Occupational
Exposure standard on December 6, 1991.
This was the first standard to stress the need
for established practices to protect
employees from exposure to biological
hazards.
OSHA REQUIRES THE FOLLOWING:
Written Infection Control Plan
Engineering Controls
Proper Housekeeping Procedures
Annual Training
Hepatitis B Vaccine Program
Medical counseling and follow-up
post-exposure
OBJECTIVES:
At the end of this session you will be able
to:
Define pathogens and bloodborne
pathogens, how they are transmitted, and
who is at risk.
Discuss causes and symptoms of
common diseases caused by bloodborne
pathogens.
Discuss Tuberculosis, its causes and
symptoms.
Use standard precautions for prevention
of such diseases.
Describe actions to take if exposed to
bloodborne pathogens.
Use proper reporting procedures.
Explain the Material Safety Data Sheet
(MSDS), and how it’s used.
WHAT ARE PATHOGENS?
Microorganisms that can infect and
cause disease in people who are exposed
to them.
WHERE ARE THEY FOUND?
Blood, semen, vaginal fluid/secretions,
spinal fluid, saliva, feces. (Mention of
sweat is optional.)
WHAT ARE BLOODBORNE
PATHOGENS?
Microorganisms present in blood that
can infect and cause disease in people
exposed to that infected blood.
WHAT ARE THE MOST COMMON
BLOODBORNE PATHOGENS?
Hepatitis B and C
Malaria
Syphilis
HIV
West Nile virus (discussion optional)
WHO IS AT RISK (includes but not
limited to)?
Physicians, nurses, laboratory personnel,
emergency workers, direct care workers,
people in positions requiring
certification in first aid, anyone who
may come in contact with potentially
infectious materials during performance
of their normal job duties.
ABOUT HEPATITIS:
Hepatitis is a liver disease;
Most prevalent forms are Hepatitis B
(HBV) and Hepatitis C (HCV);
Most often transmitted through
breaks in the skin or via mucous
membranes.
HEPATITIS B:
Symptoms: loss of appetite, fatigue,
abdominal discomfort, enlarged liver,
jaundice, abnormal liver function tests.
Facts:
Can go undetected for 10, 20, even up to
40 years.
Only 1/3 of adults will have symptoms
when they first become infected.
About 50% of those with HBV never
have symptoms.
Liver damage or acute chronic illness
can cause death.
There is NO cure for Hepatitis B.
A required vaccination program is
available through your organization to
prevent infection – it’s 90% effective.
HEPATITIS B IS SPREAD THROUGH:
intravenous drug use
blood transfusions
other exposure to infected blood
sexual contact
HEPATITIS B VACCINE PROGRAM
1. Given in three doses:
-- dose #1
-- dose #2: one month after the first
-- dose #3: six months after the first
2. Given in deltoid muscle.
3. People with yeast allergies or who have
already had Hepatitis B cannot use the
vaccine.
4. Pregnant must check with physician
prior to being vaccinated.
5. Preventive only – NOT A CURE!
HEPATITIS C:
Symptoms: loss of appetite; fatigue;
abdominal discomfort, enlarged liver;
jaundice. The most common is extreme
fatigue.
FACTS:
Only a blood test can distinguish
between HBV and HCV.
About 4 million Americans are currently
infected with Hepatitis C.
150,000 to 170,000 more people are
infected each year.
Having one form of Hepatitis does not
protect you against the others.
60-85% develop chronic infection.
THERE IS NO VACCINE FOR
HEPATITIS C!
HEPATITIS C IS SPREAD THROUGH
BLOOD TO BLOOD CONTACT:
Intravenous drug use;
Blood transfusions;
Exposure to infected blood;
Sexual contact.
HUMAN IMMUNODEFICIENCY
VIRUS (HIV)
Can cause Acquired Immunodeficiency
Syndrome (AIDS).
Symptoms may include fatigue, diarrhea,
swollen glands, weight loss.
Minor symptoms can begin as early as 6-
10 weeks but could take up to 10 years.
Transmitted in the blood and other body
fluids such as semen and vaginal
secretions.
Casual contact to tears or saliva has not
been known to transmit the AIDS virus.
Only live virus, from a live host, can
transmit the disease.
HIV IS SPREAD THROUGH:
Sexual contact
Needle stick
Mother to fetus
TUBERCULOSIS (TB)
Airborne rather than bloodborne.
Symptoms may appear within 12 weeks,
or it may take years.
Symptoms include cough plus two or
more of the following: chest pain,
fatigue, weight loss, night sweats,
productive cough, bloody sputum.
Can be treated with antibiotics; one
strain is resistant to treatment.
Full recovery if treated properly.
Skin tests and/or x-rays can detect
presence of bacteria.
At particular risk are people in close
contact with the infected person, i.e.
caregivers, family members, residents of
group homes.
WEST NILE VIRUS (Discussion
optional)
Insect borne
At risk are people bitten by mosquitoes
Creates flu-like symptoms: headache,
fever, stiff neck, etc.
Can lead to encephalitis, meningitis,
seizures
Can be treated to the extent that the
listed diseases can be treated
Avoid areas where mosquitoes breed;
wear clothes that prevent exposure, and
use insect repellant when exposure is
likely.
STANDARD PRECAUTIONS FOR
PREVENTING EXPOSURE TO
BLOODBORNE DISEASES (formerly
Universal Precautions)
Standard Precautions were developed by
the Center for Disease Control (CDC) to
prevent the transmission of bloodborne
pathogens when providing first aid or
health care.
STANDARD
PRECAUTIONS:
Behaviors that
prevent the spread of
communicable
diseases.
STANDARD PRECAUTIONS
INCLUDE:
1. Personal Hygiene
2. Barrier Protection (including Personal
Protective Equipment or PPE)
3. Preventive Housekeeping
PERSONAL HYGIENE BEHAVIORS:
1. HANDWASHING: This is the single
most effective method for preventing the
spread of disease and infection!!!
Use soap and warm water.
Rub vigorously for 20 seconds; increase
to 60 seconds if you have come in
contact with infectious materials.
Rinse thoroughly.
Dry thoroughly.
Turn water off with paper towels (not
your clean hands!).
Use paper towel to open door (not your
clean hands!), then discard in trash.
2. COVER MOUTH AND NOSE
WHEN COUGHING AND/OR
SNEEZING, ETC.
3. Wear clean clothing, and keep body
clean.
BARRIER PROTECTION
BEHAVIORS:
These behaviors create a barrier between
you and transient pathogens.
1. Your skin is your best protective
barrier -- infecting agents enter your
body through a break in your skin.
Bandage cuts and other skin breaks
2. Use latex gloves (or equivalent
protective glove if allergic to latex).
Be sure gloves are not
torn/punctured.
Use only once then properly discard.
Grasp from the inside, and remove
by turning inside out.
Determine consumers’ tolerance for
latex before use.
3. Use other personal protective
equipment (PPE) appropriate for your
job duties. (May include mask,
goggles, face shields, gowns, gloves,
aprons, steel toed shoes, etc.)
PREVENTIVE HOUSEKEEPING
METHODS
1. Routine cleaning throughout the facility
is mandatory.
2. Use proper methods for disposal of
waste.
Place sharp objects (lancets for
testing blood, broken glass, etc.) in
hard-sided container and secure top
before placing in waste container.
Double bag other contaminated
objects (paper towels used to clean
up blood, disposable gloves, etc.),
and place in outside container or
according to your standard
procedures.
3. Cleaning blood spattered areas:
Clean immediately
Mix disinfecting solution (1part
disinfectant to 10 parts water)
Cover area with paper towel
Put on utility gloves
Pour disinfecting solution on outer
edges of spill
Soak up spill
Clean area with disinfectant solution
Double bag all used materials and
seal
Wash or discard gloves
Wash hands using approved
technique
THE MATERIAL SAFETY DATA
SHEET (MSDS)
WHAT IS IT? A document that gives
detailed information about potentially
hazardous materials.
WHAT IS THE MANAFACTURER’S
RESPONSIBILITY?
To determine what hazards are
associated with the material;
To prepare a MSDS for the material;
To provide the MSDS to any
recipients of the material.
WHAT IS THE EMPLOYER’S
RESPONSIBILITY?
To provide the MSDS to affected
employees;
To provide training;
To make the MSDS immediately
available in the workplace.
WHAT IS THE EMPLOYEE’S
RESPONSIBILITY?
To participate in training;
To read and understand the MSDS
for any hazardous materials used in
his/her job.
WHAT ARE PATHOGENS?
WHERE ARE THEY FOUND?
WHAT ARE BLOODBORNE
PATHOGENS?
WHAT ARE THE MOST COMMON
BLOODBORNE PATHOGENS?
WHO IS AT RISK?
AT RISK POSITION TITLES IN THE ServiceSource
NETWORK
Shop Supervisors – Rehabilitation & Production Staff
Life Skills Instructors
Rehabilitation Aids
Rehabilitation Counselors – Employment Center
Production Coordinators – Employment Center
Machine Operators – Employment Center
Substitute Enclave Supervisors
Janitorial and laundry employees handling dirty laundry
Food Service Site Supervisors and Workers
Community Rehabilitation Specialists and Instructors
Project and Assistant Project Managers
Shipping and Receiving Supervisors
Enclave Supervisors
Van Drivers
Transportation Coordinator
Rehabilitation Coordinator
Employment Development Specialist
Skills Trainers
NOTES ON HEPATITIS
HEPATITIS B:
Symptoms:
Facts:
How it’s spread:
HBV Program:
HEPATITIS C:
Symptoms:
Facts:
How it’s spread:
HUMAN IMMUNODEFICIENCY
VIRUS (HIV)
Facts:
How it’s spread:
TUBERCULOSIS (TB)
Facts:
How it’s spread:
BARRIER PROTECTION
BEHAVIORS:
1.
2.
3.
PREVENTIVE HOUSEKEEPING
METHODS:
1.
2.
3.
HEPATITIS B SYMPTOMS:
Loss of appetite
Fatigue
Abdominal discomfort
Enlarged liver
Jaundice,
Abnormal live function tests
HEPATITIS C SYMPTOMS:
Loss of appetite
Fatigue
Abdominal discomfort
Enlarged liver
Jaundice
THE MOST COMMON IS EXTREME
FATIGUE!!