Bloodborne Pathogens Standard, 29 CFR 1910.1030, was enacted to protect workers from exposure to bloodborne pathogens. The standard requires that employers provide training and education about the risks of exposure and take precautions to protect employees from potential exposure. Employees must also be certified after completion of appropriate training in order for their employer to meet requirements. This guide will help you understand how Bloodborne Pathogens Standard applies to your workplace, what steps you should take as an employer or employee to comply with the standard, and why it's important for all workers who have contact with blood.
Bloodborne pathogens are viruses, bacteria, and other germs that can be transmitted through contact with another person's blood. They include hepatitis B virus (HBV), hepatitis C virus (HCV), human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), and other prions like Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease.
Bloodborne pathogens are found in many places in the workplace, such as on surfaces or equipment where people bleed. There are many ways to prevent exposure to these germs:
- Wash your hands frequently throughout the day--especially after using the bathroom or handling dirty objects like raw meat or trash bags full of used bandages; before eating; after touching an animal who may have been exposed to infected blood; etc. Use gloves when cleaning up blood spills. Practice good hygiene by wearing protective clothing such as long pants and sleeves when working outdoors during warmer months so ticks cannot bite you. If possible, wear disposable face masks while cleaning up large amounts of infected material like vomit/feces from an accident victim
What are bloodborne pathogens?
Bloodborne pathogens are microorganisms that can be transmitted from person to person through the blood. These include viruses such as hepatitis B, hepatitis C and HIV; and bacteria like tetanus or staphylococcal infections.
Bloodborne pathogens can be spread in many ways:
- Through direct contact with infected blood or other bodily fluids (e.g., saliva).
- By sharing needles, syringes or other drug-injection equipment with an infected person.
- By coming into contact with contaminated surfaces (e.g., rags used to wipe up blood spills).
Exposure to these pathogens can lead to serious illness or death if not treated immediately -- so it's important that you know how to protect yourself from them at work!
How can you protect yourself and others in the workplace?
Following the guidelines above will help you to protect yourself, your colleagues, and the public. It is important that you understand what bloodborne pathogens are and how they can be spread. By being aware of the risks involved in handling bodily fluids during patient care or other activities at work, you can take steps to reduce those risks.
Who needs to be certified?
All workers who have direct contact with patients, or who have contact with contaminated items or surfaces that may result in human exposure to bloodborne pathogens, must be trained in proper procedures and understand the risks of noncompliance. The employer has a duty to provide this training.
The training should also address how to protect yourself from exposure. You should know what types of activities could cause you to be exposed, how long it takes for disease transmission after an exposure occurs, and how long you are contagious after an exposure occurs. You should know what symptoms indicate an infection so that you can seek medical attention if necessary (e.g., fever).
In addition to receiving initial training, employees must receive annual refresher training on Bloodborne Pathogens (BBP) within ten days prior to beginning work assignments where BBP hazards exist or at least annually thereafter.
The Certification Process
The certification process is not a one-time event. It's an ongoing process that requires training and education, testing, practice, evaluation, and care and maintenance. If you follow the steps outlined in this article to ensure the safety of patients and staff at your facility then you will be on your way to achieving bloodborne pathogen certification status!
Frequently Asked Questions
- What is the difference between a bloodborne pathogen and a hazardous material?
- What are the risk levels for bloodborne pathogens?
- How often does one need to be trained on this topic?
- How long does it take to complete the course?
The answers to these questions and more can be found below:
Certified workers are better protected against exposure to bloodborne pathogens.
It is important to remember that certified workers are better protected against exposure to bloodborne pathogens. The certification process is designed to make sure that workers are aware of the risks and how to protect themselves. This can help reduce the chance of becoming infected while working in an environment where there may be bloodborne pathogens present.
Conclusion
We hope that this article has helped you better understand the importance of bloodborne pathogens certification in the workplace. By providing workers with an opportunity to get certified, employers can help reduce the risk of exposure to these diseases and ensure a safer environment for everyone involved.