Bloodborne pathogens are a serious health risk in the workplace. Whether you're an employee or an employer, it's important to understand what they are and how they affect your health. In this article, we'll discuss everything from basic information about bloodborne pathogens to how to get certified as someone who handles them frequently.
The Basics
Bloodborne pathogens are viruses and bacteria that can be transmitted through contact with blood or other potentially infectious materials. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that 1 in 16 people carry a hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection, while 1 in 3 people who inject drugs has HCV.
Bloodborne Pathogens Certification is a requirement under Bloodborne Pathogens Standard that mandates employers provide training on how to prevent exposure and protect themselves from contracting these diseases. To ensure compliance with state laws, many employers require their employees to be certified in this area as well as other health and safety topics before they can begin working on-site.
How do you know if you need certification? If your job involves direct contact with patients or bodily fluids like blood or urine then it's likely your employer will require one--especially if there are hazards involved such as needles being used regularly in the workplace environment! Employers should also offer ongoing training sessions throughout each year so workers know how best to keep themselves safe from infection during any given shift."
Why You Need Bloodborne Pathogens Certification
Do you know how to administer first aid to someone who has been exposed to a bloodborne pathogen? Do you know what steps to take if an employee contracts one of these diseases at work? If not, then it's time to get educated!
Bloodborne pathogens are infectious agents that are present in human blood or other body fluids and can be transmitted from person to person through direct contact with infected materials or by indirect contact via fomites (inanimate objects). These include viruses such as HIV/AIDS virus (HIV), hepatitis B virus (HBV), and hepatitis C virus (HCV); parasites like malaria; bacteria such as those found in tetanus and tuberculosis infections; prions causing Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease; fungi like ringworm fungus which causes athlete's foot when it grows on your feet but could also infect your lungs if inhaled through the air during construction projects where mold spores may be present in high concentrations due to humidity levels above 50 percent indoors without adequate ventilation systems installed throughout buildings.
How to Get Certified
- You can take the test online at any time.
- You can also take the certification exam at one of thousands of testing centers across the country.
- You must be 18 years old or older to take this certification test.
- You do not need to be a US citizen or resident alien to take this test; anyone may apply who meets all other requirements listed above and has been issued an unexpired passport by their home country (or permanent resident card).
Responsibilities of the Employer
The employer is responsible for providing training and personal protective equipment to employees. The employer must also ensure that the work environment is safe and free from bloodborne pathogens, and if necessary, provide post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) if there has been an accident involving exposure to BBP.
The recommends that all employers routinely test their employees' blood for HIV and hepatitis B virus (HBV). If you test positive for either virus, your employer must report it within 24 hours of receiving the results.
Taking the Test
Taking the test is easy, but there are some things to consider. First and foremost, you need to make sure you are certified. This means checking your license at least once a year. You can do this through the state board where your certification was granted or by contacting them directly if there's any doubt about whether or not your certification is still valid.
Second, know what rights come along with being certified as a bloodborne pathogen handler--and make sure that those rights are being respected by whoever hires you (or someone else). If they aren't being respected, speak up! It may not seem like much at first glance--but if enough people speak out against these injustices then eventually something will change for good!
Takeaway:
The takeaway from this article is that bloodborne pathogens are a serious threat to healthcare workers and the public. It's important to know how to protect yourself against them, as well as how they're transmitted and what symptoms they cause.
If you want to learn more about bloodborne pathogens, check out our other articles on the topic:
- Bloodborne Pathogens Certification: The Basics and Beyond
- Bloodborne Pathogens Training Requirements for Healthcare Professionals
Conclusion
As you can see, there's a lot to know about bloodborne pathogens certification. It's important that you understand the basics of this certification so that you can get started on your journey toward becoming certified!