Infection Prevention Manual

EXPOSURE CONTROL PLAN Bloodborne Pathogens I. POLICY: It is the policy of This Agency to adhere to the Department of Labor, Occupational Safety and Health Administration final rule: Code of Federal Regulation, Title 29 Section 1910.1030 - Occupational Exposure to Bloodborne Pathogens, as amended from time to time. II. PURPOSE: The purpose of this Exposure Control Plan is to limit occupational exposure, to promote self protection practices in the delivery of home health care, to provide appropriate treatment to home health care workers in the event of exposure incident, and to promote compliance with Universal Precautions. III. ANNUAL CHECKLIST The following activities are to be performed annually in accordance with this plan. They are taken from the more complete text in the referenced sections below and summarized here for convenience sake. Each referenced section should be read in its totality for complete understanding. A. (Section VI.B.2 -- Handling of needles and other contaminated sharps). This Exposure Control Plan shall be reviewed and updated at least annually and whenever necessary to reflect new or modified tasks and procedures which affect occupational exposure and to reflect new or revised employee positions with occupational exposure. The review and update of this plan shall also: (a) Reflect changes in technology that eliminate or reduce exposure to bloodborne pathogens; and (b) Document annually consideration and implementation of appropriate commercially available and effective safer medical devices designed to eliminate or minimize occupational exposure. [See Attachment A.] The agency solicits input from non-managerial employees responsible for direct patient care who are potentially exposed to injuries from contaminated sharps in the identification, evaluation, and selection of effective engineering and work practice controls and shall document the solicitation in this Exposure Control Plan. [See Attachment A.] B. (Section VI.B.3 -- Eating, Drinking, Smoking, Gloves, etc.) All health care workers will be provided with appropriate orientation, on-the -job training and equipment concerning the handling and disposition of BMW during initial orientation to their position, and at least annually thereafter . C. (Section VI.C -- PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT) Additional training is provided annually and as indicated: T Change in health care worker's position. T New job functions added. D. (Section VII -- INFORMATION AND TRAINING.) Specifies many mandates for annual training. E. (Section X – QUALITY MONITORING) The agency shall assess the health care worker's compliance with Universal Precautions and personal protective practices at least annually . IV. DEFINITIONS: Biomedical Waste - Any solid or liquid waste which may present a threat of infection to humans. Examples include non-liquid tissue and body parts from humans and other primates; laboratory and veterinary waste which contain human disease-causing agents; discarded sharps; and blood, blood products and body fluids from humans and other primates. The following are also included: Used, absorbent materials saturated with blood, body fluids, or excretions or secretions contaminated with blood and absorbent materials saturated with blood or blood products that have dried. Absorbent materials include items such as bandages, gauze and sponges. Non-absorbent disposable devices that have been contaminated with blood, body fluids or