This document provides guidance to officers of the Plant City Police Department on bloodborne pathogens and universal precautions. It discusses Hepatitis B and HIV, noting their symptoms and risks. The document outlines required annual training and details procedures for handling exposure incidents, evidence, and personal protective equipment. Officers must complete all training slides, wear proper PPE, and follow decontamination procedures to minimize health risks from exposure to blood or other potentially infectious materials. Any exposure incident requires immediate reporting and medical follow-up.

1. Bloodborne Pathogens
Plant City Police Department

2. Annual Requirement
 In accordance with the Plant City Police
Department Standard Operating Procedure all
officers must be provided with bloodborne
pathogen training annually. Please review the
information provided in this lesson by
reviewing each slide carefully.
 While there is no examination associated with
this lesson, each slide must be reviewed to
recieve credit for completion.

3. What are Bloodborne Pathogens
 Bloodborne Pathogens are disease causing
microorganisms that may be present in
human blood. They may be transmitted
with any exposure to blood or other
potentially infectious material.
 Two pathogens of significance are
Hepatitis B Virus (HBV) and Human
Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV)

4. Hepatitis B
 What is Hepatitis B?
◦ One of the five viruses that causes illness directly affecting the
liver
◦ Major cause of viral hepatitis which is preventable through
immunization
 Hepatitis B Symptoms:
◦ Weakness, fatigue, anorexia, nausea, abdominal pain, fever,
headache, possible jaundice (A yellow discoloration of the skin)
◦ Blood will test positive for the HBV surface antigen within 2 to
6 weeks after symptoms develop
◦ May show no symptoms, and therefore not be diagnosed

5. HBV Facts
 200 out of 8700 health care workers contracting
Hepatitis B will die yearly.
 HBV is more persistent than HIV in that it is able
to survive for at least a week in dried blood on
environment surfaces or contaminated
instruments.
 Approximately 85% of patients recover in 6 - 8
weeks.

6. What is HIV?
 Human Immunodeficiency Virus is a virus
that infects immune system T4 blood cells
in humans and renders them less effective
in preventing disease
 It is the virus identified as being
responsible for Acquired
Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS)

7. HIV Symptoms
 Night sweats, weight loss, fever, fatigue, gland
pain or swelling, muscle or joint pain
 May feel fine and not be aware of exposure to
HIV for as much as 8 to 10 years
 Blood tests may not show positive for as long as
a year, and therefore multiple tests may be
required to determine if the person has been
infected

8. HIV Facts
 Estimates in the US say that 1 out of 250 people
are infected with HIV
 There are over 100 case reports of health care
workers whose HIV infection is associated with
occupational exposure
 Over 200,000 AIDS patients have been reported
to the CDC, 84 of which are health care workers
with no other identified reason for infection

9. Universal Precautions to be Taken by
PCPD Members
 Wear disposable surgical gloves when contact with blood or other
potentially infectious materials, or a member of a high risk group, is
likely.
 Wash hands thoroughly as soon as possible after contact with blood or
other potentially infectious materials or a member of a high risk
group. Members should wash hands even if gloves were worn during
contact.
 When hand washing facilities aren't present, an antiseptic hand cleanser
should be used until they are. When using such a cleanser, officers
should allow hands to air dry by rubbing them together in a vigorous
manner before engaging in other activities.
 Carefully bandage open wounds and cuts on their hands and lower arms
to avoid contact with contaminated objects. Bandages should be sealed
on four sides and should be changed if they become soiled or wet.

10. Universal Precautions to be Taken by
PCPD Members, cont.
 Supervisors should be observant for open wounds and cuts on
their subordinates and ensure proper precautions are taken.
 Members are cautioned to be aware that, in the event
contaminated substances transfer to their hands or clothing, any
object they touch or come into contact with may also become
contaminated.
 Gloves should be removed after contact with injured persons or
members of a high risk group, between tasks, and when
departing an accident or crime scene. Contaminated clothing
must be removed immediately or as soon thereafter as possible.
 All departmental property and equipment should be cleaned and
decontaminated with an appropriate disinfectant after contact
with blood or other potentially infected materials.

11. Universal Precautions to be Taken by
PCPD Members, cont.
 Members should not eat, drink, smoke, handle contact
lenses, or apply cosmetics or lip balm in situations where
there is a likelihood of exposure to blood or other
potentially infectious materials.
 Members should wear personal protective equipment
(PPE), as appropriate, given the nature of the specific
hazard
 Contaminated personal protective equipment and other
contaminated materials should be properly disposed of in a
red biohazard bag or container.

12. Conducting Searches
 Officers should use extraordinary care when conducting
searches of persons, places, and things.
 Officers should never blindly place their hands into areas
where there may be sharp objects that could puncture the
skin
 Vehicles, pockets, purses, luggage, backpacks, bedding
and other objects should be searched slowly and
methodically
 Members should never attempt to break, bend, shear,
recap or otherwise manipulate needles or syringes by hand

13. Entering and Remaining in Crime
Scenes
 Officer responding to crime scenes contaminated with blood or body fluids
should exercise extreme care to avoid contact with contaminated
substances, whether those substances are wet or dry
 Once the situation is assessed, personal protective equipment should be
worn, as necessary, to safely process or remain at the scene
 Eye protection and facemasks should be worn whenever collecting blood
or body fluids as evidence
 Members should wear eye protection in situations where blood or body
fluid splash is likely
 Members should not smoke, eat, or drink at a crime scene. Members
should be aware that they will contaminate all objects they touch if they
themselves are contaminated

14. Entering and Remaining in Crime
Scenes, cont.
 In keeping with good investigative practices, unauthorized
persons should not be permitted to enter crime scenes until
investigative activities and decontamination have been completed
 If, in the members professional judgment, the use of personal
protective equipment would prevent them from performing a
needed medical or emergency procedure or would pose an
increased hazard to their safety, the wearing of personal
protective equipment may be waived. Great care and sound
judgment must be exercised in the event PPE is not utilized
 Contaminated personal protective equipment should be removed
immediately upon exiting the crime scene and placed in an
appropriate biohazard container or red biohazard bag.

15. Handling Evidence/Property
 Extraordinary care must be taken when handling evidence or property contaminated
with blood or other potentially infectious materials. Gloves and other PPE should be
worn as necessary.
 Contaminated sharps should be picked up using mechanical means, such as pliers,
tweezers, tongs or other devices, or with appropriate hand protection
 All contaminated evidence/property should be placed in appropriate containers,
according to the condition of the item
 - Liquids should be placed in bottles or left in their original container if possible
- Syringes and other sharps should be placed into leak-proof, puncture resistant
containers that should always remain upright and never be allowed to overfill
- Wet items should be air-dried prior to packaging, when possible
- Items that are dry should be properly sealed (Double bagged) before submission

16. Handling Evidence/Property
 Refrigerators, freezers and all packaging used to ship or
store contaminated evidence or property should be labeled
with bio-hazardous warning labels and the agency's name,
address, and date collected. Labeling should be
accomplished in a way that will prevent loss or
unintentional removal of the labels.
 No food or drink should be stored in a refrigerator, freezer
or other container together with contaminated evidence or
property, unless such food or drink is also contaminated
and has been properly packaged and labeled.

17. Personal Protective Equipment
 The appropriate use of personal protective equipment is essential to
health and safety. Personal protective equipment is useless if it is not
used when needed, or if it is used improperly
 If an officer has or develops an allergy to any personal protective
equipment or device (Such as vinyl gloves), they should advise their
supervisor. The supervisor should arrange for alternative types of
equipment, such as hypoallergenic gloves, glove liners, etc., to be
supplied to the employee.
 Gloves should be worn by all employees whenever hand contact with
blood or other potentially infectious materials is anticipated.
 Disposable, single-use gloves must be replaced as soon as possible if they
are contaminated, torn, punctured or otherwise lose their ability to
function as a barrier
 Disposable gloves should not be washed or decontaminated for re-use

18. Personal Protective Equipment, cont.
 Utility gloves, such as those made of vinyl, leather or other heavy material can be
decontaminated for re-use if their integrity has not been compromised. Utility
gloves must be discarded if they exhibit signs of deterioration or otherwise lose their
ability to function as a barrier.
 Eye protection devices, such as goggles, glasses with side shields, face shields, etc.,
should be worn whenever splashes, spray, splatter, or dropping of blood or other
infectious materials may occur.
 Protective body clothing, such as gowns or aprons, should be worn when body
exposure to blood or other infectious materials is anticipated. If a garment is
penetrated by blood or other potentially infectious materials, it should be removed
immediately or as soon thereafter as possible.
 Contaminated PPE should be removed prior to leaving the work area or scene, if
feasible. The removed PPD should be placed in an appropriate bio-hazardous waste
container for disposal.

19. Removing Gloves
Grasp the outer surface of one
glove with the other gloved
hand
"rubber to rubber" and pull off
the
glove. Discard the glove into
the
designated receptacle.
2. Removing the second glove.
Note that the person touches
only
the "inside" surface of the
glove
with his bare hand.

20. Availability of Personal Protective
Equipment
 An infectious disease kit containing the following types of PPE will be available to all
personnel having occupational exposure:
 Decontamination and clean up materials will be distributed to all sergeants
 Replacement PPE materials will be available from the police department's property
room
 PPE will be considered appropriate only if it doesn't allow blood or other potentially
infectious materials to pass through to or reach the member's work clothes, skin or
mucous membranes under normal conditions of use and for the duration of time that
the PPE will be in use
 Additional inventory of all listed equipment is maintained by the Administrative
Services Division. In cases of emergency, PPE reserves are available from the
equipment room located in the Uniform Patrol Squad Room.
 Any use of PPE while working with bio-hazardous materials (excluding the routine
use of gloves/hand wipes, etc) must be documented in the applicable
incident/offense report.
 "Bio-hazardous materials" warning labels and containers should be placed at all
locations where property and evidence packaging materials are located.

21. Availability of Personal Protective
Equipment
Disposable surgical gloves
Fluid resistant disposable gowns
Eye protection
Face mask/shield
Disposable shoe covers
Liquid hand disinfectant
Disposable towelettes
C.P.R. Rescue Mask
Red Bag for bio-hazardous Waste

22. Cleaning Contaminated Areas &
Clothing
 Equipment contaminated with blood or other potentially infectious
materials should be decontaminated before being stored or returned
to service. If decontamination procedures cannot be effected
immediately, the equipment will be taken out of service and secured
to avoid accidental contact. A "bio-hazardous warning" label will
then be attached until cleaning occurs.
 Under no circumstances should disposable equipment be cleaned and
then re-used
 Non-disposable equipment that cannot be decontaminated should be
discarded in the proper manner in a biohazard waste container/red
bag. Discarding of contaminated non-disposable equipment must be
reported via memorandum to the members chain of command in
order to obtain replacement. The memorandum must describe the
circumstances surrounding the contamination and the related report
number.

23. Cleaning Contaminated Areas &
Clothing
 Contaminated equipment and surfaces should be
cleaned with hot soapy water and an approved
disinfectant or a solution containing one (1) part bleach
to ten (10) parts water. It should be noted that, once
the bleach solution is mixed, it becomes ineffective
after approximately 24 hours.
 Contaminated areas, such as rooms, vehicle interiors,
and holding cells should be disinfected prior to being
reoccupied. A "bio-hazardous warning" notice should
be posted on all contaminated areas until
decontamination procedures are completed.

24. Cleaning Contaminated Items/Areas,
cont.
 Bio-hazardous waste and cleaning materials should be placed into
appropriately labeled waste bags that have been constructed to prevent
leakage. All waste bags must be tied or taped shut. Torn bags or those
contaminated from the outside should be placed into a second bag. All
contaminated disposable equipment should be sealed in a container, bag,
or red bag (if appropriate) and properly labeled with a Bio-Hazardous
Material tag and brought to the Department's storage and pick up location
to await disposal. Contaminated equipment or materials destined for
disposal should never be placed into ordinary trash receptacles.
 If a uniform or other article of clothing is soiled with blood or other
potentially infectious materials, it should be changed as soon as
possible. The clothing must then be placed in a color-coded leak proof
bag and labeled "Bio-hazard". Contaminated laundry will be transported
to a site selected by the agency to perform laundering. Members must
not clean contaminated laundry or take it home to be cleaned.

25. Documentation of the Exposure
 Documentation of every exposure incident is essential. All exposure incident
will be treated as if the source individual is infectious. There are two forms
which must be completed following and exposure incident:
◦ Plant City Police Department Exposure Incident Report
◦ Exposure Incident Evaluation and Follow-up
 After thoroughly cleaning the affected area with soap and water, the affected
member must report the exposure incident to their immediate supervisor as
soon as possible and then complete the required forms.
 During daytime working hours the affected member should report the Lakeside
Occupational Health Center (2303 Airport Rd., Plant City, FL) and the South
Florida Baptist Hospital for after hour incidents. Officers should provide
documentation to staff. The nurse will provide consultation and, if appropriate,
make and appointment with the City physician for further assessment.
 The affected member should also consult with the Chief of Police regarding the
possibility of obtaining a test of the source individual's blood to determine
infectivity.
 The affected member's supervisors will assist in the completion of all necessary
documentation and decontamination efforts, if needed.