Bloodborne Pathogens GHS training

1. Control of Biological
Agents GHS IS A PART OF
THIS TRAINING

2. Training Objectives
There are over 100 types of bloodborne
pathogens, such as viruses, bacteria, and
parasites, that can be present in the blood or
other body fluids of infected humans.
Although the two most publicized are the
human immunodeficiency virus, or HIV, and
the hepatitus B or HBV virus, others are also
dangerous, such as malaria, syphilis, Lyme
disease, and the Epstein-Barr virus.

3. • Government Safety Regulation Requirements
• Definitions
• Symptoms and Effects
• Method of Transmission
• Exposure Control Plan

4. Two things to remember ALWAYS

5. And

6. Plus ALWAYS CONSIDER THE
FOLLOWING
• Risk Identification & Assessment
• Controls
• Hepatitis B Vaccine
• Response Procedures
• Labeling and Identification

7. • Compile list of tasks with possible exposure
• If exposure is possible, an Exposure Control
Plan is required
• Develop work procedures
• Labeling of materials
• Vaccination available
Government Safety OHS Regulation

8. • Biological Agents include:
– Viruses
– Bacterium
– Prion
– Fungus
– Some other biological agents
Definitions

9. • Bloodborne Diseases
– Bloodborne pathogens such as:
• Hepatitis B and C (HBV, HCV)
• Other Government Safety specified biohazardous
materials
Definitions

10. • Occupational Exposure
– Reasonably anticipated exposure as a result of
employment
Definitions

11. • HIV: Human Immunodeficiency Virus
– Causes AIDS
– No cure or vaccination
• HBV: Hepatitis B virus
– Causes liver disease
– Vaccination available
• HCV: Hepatitis C virus
– Causes liver disease, liver cancer
– No cure
Symptoms and Effects

12. • HIV
– Causes AIDS (Acquired Immune Deficiency
Syndrome)
– May take many years before AIDS develops
– HIV attacks the body’s immune system
– AIDS is a fatal disease
Symptoms and Effects

13. • Hepatitis B Virus (HBV)
– Short or long term liver swelling
– Permanent liver damage and scarring (cirrhosis)
– Liver cancer in some
Symptoms and Effects

14. Symptoms and Effects
• Hepatitis B Virus - continued
– Symptoms range from flu-like to none at all
– Person is infectious even if no symptoms
– 1% die from initial infection
– 10% are chronically infected

15. • Hepatitis C Virus (HCV)
– Acute and chronic liver disease
– More likely to cause chronic hepatitis, liver
scarring and liver cancer than HBV
Symptoms and Effects

16. Symptoms and Effects
• Hepatitis C Virus – continued
– Often no symptoms initially
– 90% become chronically infected
– 10% of population in Canada is affected

17. • Transmitted through contact with infected
human blood and other body fluids such as:
Method of Transmission
• Semen
• Vaginal fluids
• Cerebrospinal fluid
• Synovial fluid
• Pleural fluid
• Peritoneal fluid
• Amniotic fluid
• Saliva – HBV only

18. • May be transmitted in 3 ways:
– Through cut or punctured skin
– Splash of infectious fluid on mucous membranes
(eyes, mouth, nose)
– Splash of infectious fluid onto non-intact skin
Method of Transmission

19. • HIV
– very fragile outside the human body
• HBV
– can live in dried blood for 10 days or more
• HCV
– unknown how long it survives in the environment
Method of Transmission

20. • The Exposure Control Plan must:
– Be in writing
– List responsibilities
– Include:
• Risk assessment
• Training
• Written work procedures
• Hygiene and decontamination facilities
Exposure Control Plan

21. Exposure Control Plan
• The Exposure Control Plan – continued
– Health monitoring
– Documentation

22. • The Plan is based on:
– Statistical information
– History at similar workplaces
– Known exposures and/or near misses
– Input from workers
Exposure Control Plan

23. • Risk Assessment
– A systematic approach to quantify a risk
– Components include:
• Likelihood
• Frequency
• Consequence
Risk Assessment

24. • Identify at risk jobs/tasks. Examples
include:
Risk Assessment
• Police
• Firefighters
• Parks workers
• Solid waste disposal workers
• Cleaning Staff
• Sewage workers
• Recreation staff
• Plumbers
• Road Crews
• First Aid Attendants

25. 1. Elimination
2. Substitution
3. Engineering Controls
4. Work Practice Controls, which may include
– Standard Infection Control Precautions
– Good housekeeping practices
– Safe work procedures
5. Personal Protective Equipment
Risk Controls

26. 1. Elimination
• Must be the 1st option
– Is it necessary to do the task?
– Can it be done another way?
Risk Controls

27. 2. Substitution
– Substitute the process with a less hazardous
procedure
– Substitute the process with an alternate
procedure
Risk Controls

28. 3. Engineering Controls
– Remove or isolate the hazard(s)
– Use of:
• tools to control
• sharps containers
• splatter guards
• biohazard cabinets
• good laboratory practices
Risk Controls

29. 4. Work Practice Controls
– Reduce the likelihood of exposure by altering the
way a task is performed
Risk Controls

30. • Work Practice Controls include:
– Standard Infection Control Precautions
• Treat all human blood and other potentially infectious
materials as infectious.
• Take appropriate precautions in all cases
• Do not assume there is low risk
Risk Controls

31. • Work Practice Controls include:
– Housekeeping practices
• Identify locations of concern
• Clean high risk areas
• Size and nature of the spill
• Cleaning instructions
• Type of disinfectant (MSDS)
Risk Controls

32. • Work Practice Controls include:
– Safe Work Procedures
Risk Controls

33. 5. Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)
– Vital in all situations
– Must be available to workers
– Must be suitable to the hazard
– Workers must be instructed in its use
– Must fit properly
Risk Controls

34. • PPE may include:
– Face shields
– Gloves
– Aprons, gowns, shoe covers
Risk Controls

35. Risk Controls
• Safe Work Procedures
• General rules
• Handling and
disposal of
contaminated
laundry
• Picking up sharps
• Removing
disposable gloves
• Handling garbage
• Hand washing
• Spill cleanup
• What to do if
exposed

36. • General Rules
– Wash hands and remove protective clothing
before eating, drinking, smoking, handling contact
lenses, applying lip balm or cosmetics
Risk Controls

37. Risk Controls
• General Rules - continued
– Keep hands away from eyes, nose, and mouth
– Frequent hand washing is best defense against
spreading infection

38. • Contaminated Laundry
– Isolate and minimize handling
– Separate contaminated laundry from other
laundry
– Bag the laundry at point of use
– Identify if taken to outside facilities
– Do not sort or rinse on site
Risk Controls

39. • Picking Up Sharps (1)
– Must be trained
– Use the proper equipment and PPE
– No sharps in pockets
– Do not put sharps in regular garbage
Risk Controls

40. • Picking Up Sharps (2)
– Disposable waterproof gloves
– Place container next to sharp (do not hold)
– Use tongs or pliers (or pick up by shaft)
– Place the needle end or sharp end first
– Do not fill container
– Dispose of container
Risk Controls

41. Risk Controls – Removing Disposable
Gloves

42. • Handling Garbage (1)
– Handle as little as possible
– Watch for sharps
– Do not compress
– Do not reach into containers with bare hands
– Do not pick up loose garbage unless using
puncture/liquid resistant gloves
Risk Controls

43. • Handling Garbage (2)
– Do not completely fill bags
– Hold by top of bag only
– Hold away from the body
– Do not support bottom of bag with your hand
Risk Controls

44. • Hand Washing (1)
– One of the most important and easiest
prevention practices
– Frequent hand washing is the best defense
against spreading infection
– Keep hands away from your eyes, nose and
mouth
Risk Controls

45. • Hand Washing (2)
– Wash hands and remove protective clothing:
• Before eating, drinking, smoking, handling contact
lenses, applying lip balm or cosmetics
• Suspect glove torn or leaking
• After removing gloves
• After contact with with blood or body fluids
• Before leaving work area
Risk Controls

46. Proper hand washing

47. • Spill Cleanup and Decontamination
– Use proper PPE
– Spills must be cleaned up immediately
– Use a freshly mixed 1:10 bleach solution or an
approved germicide / disinfectant
– Refer to written safe work procedures
Risk Controls

48. • What to do if exposed (1)
– Get First Aid if injury requires it
– Get medical attention immediately
– Report the incident to your supervisor
– Document – complete the report form
Exposure Response

49. • What To Do If Exposed (2)
– Sharp Injury or Bite
• Let the wound bleed freely
• Promote bleeding
• Wash the affected area
• Seek medical attention immediately
Exposure Response

50. • What To Do If Exposed (3)
– Contact With Intact Skin
• Immediately wash exposed area
• Do not use bleach or caustic disinfectant
• Vehicles should carry waterless hand cleaner
• Remember: intact skin is a barrier to transmission of
diseases
Exposure Response

51. • What To Do If Exposed (4)
– Contact With Non-Intact Skin or Mucous
Membranes
• Immediately flush the affected area with large amounts
of water
• Seek medical attention immediately (treat as a medical
emergency)
Exposure Response

52. • Medical Evaluation
– Type of fluid or material
– Type of exposure
– Status of the source
– Status of the worker
All medical information is confidential
Exposure Response

53. • Reporting the Exposure
– Report all exposures/injuries where:
• injury penetrates through intact skin or mucous
membrane
• there is an exposure to non-intact skin (healing wound,
dermatitis, chapped or scraped skin)
Exposure Response

54. • If a vaccine is available for a known
occupational hazard (as per Government
Safety Regulation) the employer will make it
available to workers free of charge.
Vaccinations

55. • Protect yourself on and off the job – know
what you are working with
• Practice good personal hygiene
• Follow procedures. Use gloves and protective
clothing
• Wash your hands often
• Keep areas clean - report problems
immediately to supervisors
Review

56. • Today’s discussion included:
– Government Safety Regulations
– Definitions
– Symptoms and Effects
– Method of Transmission
– Exposure Control Plan
– Risk Assessments and Controls
– Exposure Response, and
– Vaccinations
Summary