Leader s Guide E4017. Bloodborne Pathogens: Always Protect Yourself

Transcription

1 E4017 Bloodborne Pathogens: Always Protect Yourself 1

2 Table of Contents Introduction 3 Video Overview.3 Video Outline.4 Preparing for and Conducting a Presentation. 7 Discussion Ideas..8 Quiz..9 Quiz Answers

3 Bloodborne Pathogens - Always Protect Yourself Introduction This is designed to help you conduct a successful safety presentation. This Guide includes the following material: Video Overview: A brief summary of the program content. Video Outline: A more detailed overview of the program contents. You can refer to the outline when you talk about the video before or after it is presented. Preparing for and Conducting the Presentation: Information that will help you prepare the training setting, help you relate the program to your specific work situation, and provide objectives for focusing your presentation. Discussion Ideas: A number of ideas that can help encourage discussions related to the topic of the video. Review Questions and Answers: A quiz that may be copied and given to participants as a record of their attendance and to document how well they understood the information that was presented. Answers to the review questions are provided separately. Video Overview Bloodborne Pathogens Bloodborne Pathogens describes what bloodborne pathogens are, how they can be transmitted and how we can protect ourselves from them. Bloodborne pathogens are infectious viruses or bacteria that can be found in a person s blood or other bodily fluids, such as saliva,.semen and amniotic fluid. Three of the most common bloodborne pathogens are HIV (Human Immunodeficiency virus, which causes AIDS), Hepatitis B virus and Hepatitis C virus. Bloodborne pathogens are transmitted through the direct contact with the blood or bodily fluid of an infected person. Protection from the hazards of bloodborne pathogens is achieved through education and awareness, personal protective equipment, and safe work practices. 3

4 I. Introduction Video Outline The video begins with scenes of a worker in a warehouse who is looking in a box on the lower rack of shelving. A co-worker comes up behind her and calls her name. She starts to stand up, and her head strikes a nail sticking out of a pallet on the shelf above her. Her injury starts to bleed, so a first aid provider is called to deal with the injury. II. What Are Bloodborne Pathogens? Bloodborne pathogens are infectious viruses or bacteria that can be found in a person s blood or other bodily fluids, such as saliva,.semen and amniotic fluid. Three of the most common bloodborne pathogens are HIV (Human Immunodeficiency virus, which causes AIDS), Hepatitis B virus and Hepatitis C virus. The virus that causes AIDS is the most well know bloodborne pathogen. However, it is not likely that you would be exposed to the AIDS virus in a typical work situation or emergency. Hepatitis B, which can cause liver disease, is more easily transmitted. However, there is a vaccine that protects from infection. Hepatitis C causes a slowly progressing disease, such liver cancer and cirrhosis. Although risk of transmission is fairly low, there is no vaccine for hepatitis C, so prevention is extremely important. III. How are Bloodborne Pathogens Transmitted? Bloodborne pathogens are not transmitted by casual contact, such as touching a person or sharing the same equipment or facilities. To become infected, the infectious blood or bodily fluid has to get inside your body. Here are the most common ways for them to enter your body: through mucus membranes, such as your eyes, nose and mouth through non-intact skin, like a cut, a sore, a rash, or even dry, cracked skin through a puncture wound from a sharp object such as a needle or broken glass contaminated with blood IV. Who is at Risk for Exposure? People at greatest risk are first aid providers, especially in workplace settings. However, most of us could come in contact with blood or bodily fluid from an injured person or during an emergency. 4

5 V. Protection The three main elements of protection are: Awareness Personal protective equipment Work practices Awareness - The best way to protect yourself from bloodborne pathogens is by following a concept called Universal Precautions. This means you assume that all human blood and body fluids are infectious. Using personal protective equipment is the most universal way to follow Universal Precautions. Personal Protective Equipment - Single use gloves are an excellent form of protection for most first aid situations. They should be a part of your workplace first aid supplies. In serious injuries, if blood might splatter, eye or face protection may be necessary. A gown or other protective clothing keeps blood and body fluids off your skin and work clothes. CPR masks for mouth-to-mouth resuscitation have one-way valves that prevent blood or other fluid from entering the rescuers mouth or nose. Work Practices - There are several important work practices that also provide protection. When removing gloves or other equipment, turn them inside out while being removed, which keeps the contaminants inside. Place them in designated containers where they can be decontaminated or discarded. Washing your hands or other exposed skin is also extremely important. Using plenty of soap or a disinfectant gel, wash thoroughly on both sides of your hands, between your fingers and under your fingernails. If any fluids have contacted your eyes, nose or mouth, flush thoroughly with water. If you have gotten a puncture wound, wash the area thoroughly and contact your supervisor immediately for medical attention. Clean Up - Contaminated clothing should be removed as soon as possible and placed in a plastic bag. Clothing should then be disposed of or washed at the highest temperature setting for the fabric. If the workplace has been contaminated, put on the appropriate PPE and clean all surfaces with a disinfectant, such as bleach diluted 1 part to 10 parts water. EPA registered hard-surface disinfectants may be more appropriate for some surfaces. Broken glass or other sharp objects should be picked up with tongs or brushed into a dust pan. Wear gloves that resist both liquids and cuts. Contaminated waste should be placed in the appropriate bio-hazard containers with the bio-hazard warning label. Always check with your supervisor if you are uncertain how to dispose of the material. 5

6 VI. OSHA Requirements If there is a possibility that employees could come in contact with bloodborne pathogens in the workplace, OSHA requires that employers take these steps. Develop a written Exposure Control Plan with information and procedures to protect employees from exposure and transmission of bloodborne pathogens. Provide appropriate PPE for employees who may come in contact with bloodborne pathogens. Train employees about the hazards of bloodborne pathogens and how to protect themselves from exposure. Provide Hepatitis B vaccination at no charge to employees who may be exposed to bloodborne pathogens or who are designated responders. Provide immediate evaluation of employees who have been exposed to blood or body fluid to determine the appropriate treatment. This includes a written report about the incident including tests that were taken. VII. Conclusion The diseases caused by bloodborne pathogens can be serious, have long term impact, and can be potentially fatal. So follow the Universal Precautions, use the appropriate PPE before you assist the injured person, make sure to wash your hands or any exposed skin thoroughly, clean up any contamination in the workplace, dispose of contaminated waste in the designated biohazard container, and wash or dispose of any contaminated clothing. Avoiding bloodborne pathogen exposure is all about protecting yourself. 6

7 Preparing for and Conducting the Presentation Before presenting the video, review each section of this Leader's Guide and view the video before the presentation. Make sure the presentation area is quiet, has good lighting, unobstructed access and good climate control. Check the seating arrangement and the audiovisual equipment to ensure that all participants will be able to see and hear the videotape program. If extension cords are to be used, secure them in such a way that they won t become a tripping hazard. Begin the meeting by welcoming the participants. Introduce yourself and give each person the opportunity to become acquainted if there are new people joining the training session. Make everyone aware of the importance your organization places on protecting employee s health and safety and how everyone must be an active member of the safety team. Explain that the primary purpose of Bloodborne Pathogens is to provide viewers with information about bloodborne pathogens, their hazards, and how to protect yourself from exposure. Next, introduce the video and then play it without interruption. After the video is complete, you can tailor any discussion to your specific situations. You can refer to the Discussion Ideas section of this Guide for additional ideas. If you want to review the content of the program with participants you can refer to the Program Outline in this Guide. After the discussion, give a copy of the Quiz included in this Guide to the participants and ask them to complete the questions. Maintain copies of an attendance record and each participant's quiz as written documentation of the training performed. 7

8 Discussion Ideas In addition to discussion topics you may have planned, the following questions may be used to encourage discussions. 1. Describe some workplace situations in which you could be expsoes to bloodborne pathogens. 2. Talk about the steps you should take if you encounter an co-worker who is bleeding. 3. Does anyone have a story about yourself or someone you know who was unintentionally exposed to a bloodborne pathogen? What caused the exposure and how was the person affected? 4. Discuss the measures you should have in place at home to protect from exposure to bloodborne pathogens. 8

9 Bloodborne Pathogens Always Protect Yourself Quiz Name Date 1. Select the correct description of bloodborne pathogens: A. Toxic chemicals that are found in human blood. B. Radioactive isotopes found in human blood. C. Infectious viruses or bacteria found in human blood or bodily fluids. 2. Which of the following are examples of bloodborne pathogens? A. Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) B. Hepatitis B C. Hepatitis C D. All of the above 3. There is a vaccine for Hepatitis B, but not for Hepatitis C. 4. Bloodborne pathogens are usually transmitted between people by casual contact, such as a pat on the back? 5. Being exposed to a person s blood infected with a bloodborne pathogen automatically means you will become infected. 6. Designated first aid providers in the workplace have increased risk of exposure to bloodborne pathogens. 7. How are bloodborne pathogens transmitted between people? A. Through the mucus membrane of the eyes, nose or mouth. B. Through a handshake. C. Through a cut, crack, sore or other openings in the skin. D. Through a puncture of the skin with a sharp object contaminated with blood. 8. Which of the following describes the concept of Universal Precautions? A. Avoiding any contact with a person who has a cold. B. Taking extra vitamin C during the winter months. C. Assuming that all human blood and body fluids are infectious. 9

10 9. One of the best forms of PPE to protect from bloodborne pathogen exposure is: A. Steel toed boots B. Single use rubber gloves C. Hardhat D. Ear plugs 10. Clothing and waste contaminated with bloodborne pathogens can be placed in a regular trash can. 11. If you are exposed to a bloodborne pathogen, it is OK to wait several days before you are evaluated by a medical professional. 10

11 Bloodborne Pathogens Always Protect Yourself Quiz Answers 1. C 2. D 3. A 4. B 5. B 6. A 7. A, C, D 8. C 9. B 10. B 11. B 11